Directory index · Tech press · researched October 2026
Inc42
inc42.comInc42 is a tech publication for startups and new products. We went through its submission pages in October 2026: what it costs, the link you get, who gets in and how to submit.
How much does Inc42 cost?
Listing on Inc42 is free if you wait your turn.
The Startup Spotlight FAQ says there is no fee to apply. Coverage is subject to editorial discretion: the form says only 1 in 20+ startups make the Spotlight, and applicants should meet most of its stated criteria. No backlink or badge requirement is stated. The FAQ says discovery takes about 30 days in an ideal case; rejected applications remain in Inc42's database for quarterly discovery initiatives.
- Free application and editorial consideration; coverage is not guaranteed
- If selected: featured profile on Inc42.com and listing on Inc42 Datalabs
- Possible citation in research reports and visibility through investor decks and ecosystem briefings
- The submission page links to a package promoted as leveraging Inc42 editorial capabilities, reach and brand credibility
- The linked 2019 resource summary mentioned a 25% discount through the end of 2019
- No current package tiers, deliverables or prices were visible; the article was truncated by a free-account reading prompt
Extras they sell
- BrandLabs campaign / advertising inquiry
- Inc42's brand-marketing arm offers custom content and campaign services, with production and distribution. Its inquiry form asks for a budget band rather than quoting a package price: less than Rs 5 lakhs ($7.5k), Rs 5-15 lakhs ($7.5k-$22k), Rs 15-50 lakhs ($22k-$70k), or Rs 50 lakhs ($70k) and above. These are budget choices, not published service prices.
Does Inc42 give a dofollow backlink?
Inc42 links to your site with a nofollow link, which asks Google not to count it.
Its Ahrefs Domain Rating is 80.
Who gets into Inc42, and how fast?
Inc42 picks only a few of the products submitted.
New listings are shown to its audience: on the homepage, in a newsletter or on social media.
The FAQ says: “In an ideal case, your startup will be discovered once it passes through editorial discretion and that takes about 30 days.” If shortlisted, it says Inc42 will reach out and, if all goes well, the startup will be discovered within 30 days of that outreach.
How much traffic does Inc42 get?
Similarweb ranks inc42.com #47,604 in the world by traffic.
What Inc42 says about its audience: The submission landing page claims “25M+ Monthly Reach,” “1M+ Social Media Followers,” and “250K+ Active Newsletter Subscribers.” The Tally form separately says selected profiles can be discovered by “2.5 Mn+ monthly readers.” The 2019 Booster article summary claimed “over 20 Mn people in India every month.”
How do you submit to Inc42?
You submit to Inc42 through a form on their site.
What the form asks for
- Startup Name
- Legal Entity name
- Founders & Roles (with LinkedIn URLs)
- Year You Started Up
- HQ Location (City & State)
- Website
- X
- Mobile Number
- Email Address
- Your 1-Line Pitch (Max 150 characters)
- What problem are you solving? For whom? (Tell us the pain point you're fixing.)
- Primary Sector / Industry
- Business Model
- Top 3 Competitors You’re Disrupting
- Traction Snapshot (Revenue, MAUs, GMV, etc.)
- Current Monthly Run Rate or ARR
- Funding Details: Amount Raised
- Funding Details: Rounds & Dates
- Funding Details: Valuation
- Funding Details: Top Investors
- Your Cap Table Summary (Optional, % wise)
- Major Milestones or Partnerships (Recent wins? Brag here.)
- Team Size & Department Breakdown
- Your Vision: Where are you headed next?
- Upload Your Brand Assets (Logos, Product Screens, Founders' Photo)
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Researched 29 October 2026 from Inc42's own pages. Prices and terms change, so check before you pay. Something out of date? Report a correction.