Growth idea action plan
HN 'Show HN' with an unusually specific hook
Post a Show HN with a concrete, surprising demo and a tight story that invites technical discussion.
Why this can grow a startup
Hacker News rewards novelty and clarity, especially when readers can quickly try the thing.
Company example
Show HN launches
Source and metric
Source: news.ycombinator.com · Browse news.ycombinator.com tactics
Source discovered: March 19, 2026
GrowthDex operator note
When to use it
Use this when Hacker News is relevant to 0-100, 100-1K and you can run a bounded test with a free budget.
When not to use it
Do not use it as a substitute for customer evidence, a clear owner, or a measurable stop condition. Local platform rules and market behavior still need checking.
Founder checklist
- Read news.ycombinator.com and identify what is directly supported.
- Choose one channel context: Hacker News.
- Define the test around one observable customer behavior.
- Set an owner, evidence window, and stop condition before launch.
Explore the context
Advisory bridge
Apply this with an operator
Choose product surfaces that compound distribution without hiding weak activation or retention.