Frequently Asked Questions

EarlyHunt is an AI-powered launch platform that features weekly launches for AI projects and digital products. We connect builders, innovators, and early adopters through a curated platform where creators can showcase their AI projects, compete for recognition, and gain valuable exposure. When you submit your project, it goes through our review process and then goes live on the homepage for 7 days during a weekly competition period. During this time, the community can discover, vote, and interact with your project. Projects launch every Monday at 8:00 AM UTC, and the competition runs for a full week.

Anyone who has built an AI project or digital product can submit to EarlyHunt. You'll need to create an account (using email, Google, or GitHub), have a working website or product URL, and provide accurate information about your project. We welcome projects at any stage - from early prototypes to established products. All submissions are reviewed by our team to ensure quality and relevance before going live.

Creating an account on EarlyHunt is easy and free. You can sign up using three methods: email with a magic link (we'll send you a secure login link), Google OAuth, or GitHub OAuth. Simply click 'Sign In' in the header, choose your preferred method, and you'll be ready to submit your first project. Your account gives you access to the submission form, your personal dashboard to track submissions, and the ability to vote on other projects.

EarlyHunt offers three launch types to suit different needs and budgets: 1. **Free Launch**: Completely free, but requires you to add an EarlyHunt badge/link to your website for verification. You get nofollow backlinks by default, but can earn dofollow backlinks and winner badges if you place in the top 3 of the weekly competition. 2. **Nofollow Launch**: Also free, with no badge requirement. You'll always receive nofollow backlinks, but can still earn winner badges if you place in the top 3. 3. **Premium Launch**: One-time payment of $10. You get guaranteed dofollow backlinks immediately, no badge requirement, and can still compete for winner badges. Premium launches are unlimited and don't count toward weekly slot limits.

Here's a detailed breakdown: **Free Launch**: - Cost: Free - Badge required: Yes (must add EarlyHunt link to your website) - Backlink type: Nofollow by default, dofollow if you win top 3 - Winner badge: Yes, if you win top 3 - Weekly slots: Counts toward 15 free slots per week **Nofollow Launch**: - Cost: Free - Badge required: No - Backlink type: Always nofollow (even if you win) - Winner badge: Yes, if you win top 3 - Weekly slots: Counts toward 15 free slots per week **Premium Launch**: - Cost: $10 one-time payment - Badge required: No - Backlink type: Guaranteed dofollow (immediate) - Winner badge: Yes, if you win top 3 - Weekly slots: Unlimited (doesn't count toward free slots)

EarlyHunt offers flexible pricing options: - **Free Launch**: Completely free, but requires backlink verification - **Nofollow Launch**: Completely free, no requirements - **Premium Launch**: $10 one-time payment for guaranteed dofollow backlinks There are no recurring fees, hidden costs, or subscription charges. You only pay once if you choose the Premium option. All launch types receive the same homepage exposure, voting opportunities, and can compete for weekly winner rewards.

Yes, but only before your project is scheduled and goes live. If you've created a Premium submission draft but haven't completed payment, you can switch to Free or Nofollow launch from your dashboard. However, once your project is approved and scheduled for launch, you cannot change the launch type. If you need to change your launch type, do so before completing the submission process. Contact our support team if you have specific circumstances that require changes to a scheduled project.

Yes. If your project completes a launch week and does not place in the top 3, it becomes eligible for a one-time premium relaunch. Here's how relaunching works: - **Eligibility**: Only projects that have completed a full launch week, did not win #1, #2, or #3, and have not been relaunched before. - **Where to find it**: Go to your Dashboard → **Relaunch** tab. Eligible projects will appear with a "Relaunch" option. - **Cost**: $10 (same as a Premium launch). - **Launch Type**: Your project is upgraded to a full **Premium** launch on relaunch. - **Backlinks**: All EarlyHunt links for that project become **dofollow** (premium SEO benefits). - **Votes**: All existing upvotes are preserved, and you can collect additional votes during the new launch week. - **Scheduling**: You can choose a new launch week when setting up the relaunch. Relaunching gives your project another chance to climb the weekly rankings and earn a winner badge, without losing the momentum and votes from your first launch.

Yes. A relaunch is always treated as a **Premium Launch**: - Your project's launch type is set to **Premium**. - All EarlyHunt backlinks for that project are converted to **dofollow**. - You receive all premium benefits (dofollow links, no badge requirement, unlimited slot for the chosen week). - You still compete for weekly winner badges. The only difference is that relaunches are available **only once per project** and only after a completed, non-winning launch week.

EarlyHunt runs weekly competitions that automatically start every Monday at 8:00 AM UTC and end the following Monday at 7:59 AM UTC. All projects scheduled for a particular week go live simultaneously at the start time. During the 7-day competition period, visitors to EarlyHunt can browse projects, read descriptions, and vote for their favorites. The voting is open to all registered users, and each project displays its current vote count in real-time. At the end of the week, the top 3 projects with the most votes automatically win special recognition, dofollow backlinks (for Free and Premium launches), and exclusive winner badges.

Winners are determined purely by the number of votes received during the weekly competition period. The project with the most votes wins first place, the second most votes wins second place, and the third most votes wins third place. Voting closes automatically when the competition period ends (Monday at 7:59 AM UTC). Results are calculated automatically, and winners are notified via email. The system then awards dofollow backlinks to Free and Premium launch winners, and winner badges to all top 3 projects regardless of launch type.

Weekly competition winners receive several valuable rewards: **All Top 3 Winners Receive:** - Exclusive winner badge to display on your project page - Badge assets you can add to your own website - Featured placement in the Hall of Fame - Increased visibility and credibility **Free & Premium Launch Winners Also Receive:** - Automatic upgrade from nofollow to dofollow backlinks - Enhanced SEO benefits from dofollow links - Priority recognition in search results Note: Nofollow launch winners receive badges but maintain nofollow links as per their launch type.

Yes, you can vote for your own project! We encourage creators to share their projects and get votes from their network. However, we have systems in place to prevent vote manipulation and ensure fair competition. Authentic engagement from real users is what matters most. Focus on creating a great product, sharing it with your community, and providing value to voters - that's the best way to succeed on EarlyHunt.

Each week, EarlyHunt has 15 available slots for free and nofollow launches combined. Premium launches are unlimited and don't count toward this limit. This means you could see anywhere from 1 to 15+ projects competing in any given week, depending on demand. The limited slots create a sense of exclusivity and ensure that each project gets adequate visibility and attention from the community.

To submit your project, you'll need: **Required Information:** - Project name - Website URL (must be a working link) - Short description (10-200 characters) - Full description (50-3000 characters, SEO-optimized) - At least one category (up to 3 categories) - Logo image (uploaded or URL) - Preview image - Launch week selection **Optional Information:** - Screenshots (up to 5 images) - Video URL - Maker/creator name - Twitter/X handle - Website link - Location - Bio We also offer AI autofill that can extract most information automatically from your website URL, making submission faster and easier.

Our AI autofill feature uses advanced algorithms to automatically extract information from your website URL. Simply paste your website URL in the first field of the submission form, and click the 'AI Autofill' button. The system will analyze your website and automatically populate: - Project logo (downloaded and uploaded to our servers) - Preview image - Project name - Categories (from our predefined list) - Full SEO-optimized description (400-500 words, readable with proper formatting) This saves you significant time and ensures your submission is well-optimized. You can always edit any auto-filled information before submitting. The AI analyzes your website's content, metadata, and structure to provide accurate information.

Review times vary by launch type: - **Free & Nofollow Launches**: Typically reviewed within 24-48 hours after submission. Once approved, they enter the queue for the selected launch week. - **Premium Launches**: Receive priority review and are typically approved within 12-24 hours, allowing you to secure your preferred launch week more quickly. All submissions are reviewed by our team to ensure they meet our quality standards, are appropriate for the platform, and have accurate information. You'll receive email notifications when your project is approved, scheduled, or if any changes are needed.

If your submission doesn't meet our guidelines or quality standards, you'll receive an email notification explaining the reason for rejection. Common reasons include: - Incomplete or inaccurate information - Non-functional website URL - Content that violates our terms of service - Spam or low-quality submissions - Inappropriate or offensive content You can address the issues and resubmit your project. We're here to help - if you have questions about a rejection, feel free to contact our support team at hi@earlyhunt.com. Most rejection issues can be easily resolved.

Yes! During the submission process, you'll be able to select from available launch weeks. The system shows you all upcoming weeks with their slot availability, so you can choose the week that works best for your launch timeline. Premium launches have unlimited slots, so they can always secure their preferred week. Free and nofollow launches need to check slot availability (15 slots per week). We recommend submitting early to secure your preferred launch date, especially for popular weeks.

Backlinks are links from other websites pointing to yours, and they come in two types: **Nofollow Links**: - Include a 'nofollow' attribute that tells search engines not to pass SEO value - Don't directly impact your search rankings - Still provide referral traffic and brand exposure - All Free and Nofollow launches start with nofollow links **Dofollow Links**: - Pass SEO authority and link juice to your website - Can improve your search engine rankings - More valuable for SEO purposes - Awarded to Premium launches immediately - Also awarded to Free launch winners who place in top 3 Both link types provide traffic and visibility, but dofollow links have additional SEO benefits.

For Free launches, you need to add an EarlyHunt link to your website before your project can be scheduled. Here's how it works: 1. During submission, you'll reach the 'Backlink Verification' step 2. We provide badge code (in light and dark themes) that you can copy 3. You add ANY link to earlyhunt.com on your website (it doesn't have to be the exact badge - any link works) 4. Our system automatically verifies the link by checking your website's source code 5. Once verified, you can complete your submission and schedule your project The verification happens instantly and automatically. You can add the link anywhere on your website - footer, about page, or even just a simple text link. We're flexible about how you implement it.

Your backlink appears in several places on EarlyHunt: 1. **Project Detail Page**: The main 'Visit Website' button/link on your project's detail page 2. **Homepage Listings**: When your project is featured in weekly competitions 3. **Project Browse Page**: In search results and category listings 4. **Related Projects**: In recommended projects sections All these links point to your website URL and help drive traffic. Winners' dofollow links appear in all the same places but with enhanced SEO value. The backlinks are permanent and remain active even after the competition ends.

Website URLs cannot be changed after submission for security and integrity reasons. This prevents abuse and ensures that backlinks and votes are associated with the correct project. If you need to change your website URL, you would need to submit a new project with the new URL. If you have extenuating circumstances (such as a domain change), contact our support team at hi@earlyhunt.com, and we can discuss potential solutions on a case-by-case basis.

Premium launches cost $10 as a one-time payment. Here's how the process works: 1. During submission, select 'Premium Launch' as your launch type 2. Complete all project information and select your launch week 3. You'll reach the Payment step where you'll see the $10 premium price 4. Click 'Proceed to Payment' to be redirected to our secure payment processor (Polar) 5. Complete payment using credit card or other accepted methods 6. After successful payment, you'll be redirected back to EarlyHunt 7. Your project is automatically scheduled, and you'll receive a confirmation email Payments are processed securely through Polar, a trusted payment platform. Your payment information is never stored on our servers.

We accept all major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) and other payment methods supported by our payment processor, Polar. The payment process is secure, encrypted, and PCI-compliant. We don't store any payment information on our servers - all payment data is handled securely by Polar. If you encounter any payment issues, contact our support team or check with your bank to ensure international transactions are enabled.

If your payment fails, your submission will be saved as a draft. You can: 1. Return to your dashboard 2. Find your draft submission 3. Click to resume/complete it 4. Try the payment again Common reasons for payment failures include: - Insufficient funds - Card declined by bank - International transaction restrictions - Expired card If you continue to experience issues, try a different payment method or contact our support team at hi@earlyhunt.com for assistance. We're here to help ensure your launch goes smoothly.

Premium launch payments are generally non-refundable, as stated in our terms of service. However, we understand that exceptional circumstances may arise. Refunds may be considered for: - Technical errors on our part that prevent your project from launching - Service non-delivery (project not published within 48 hours of scheduled launch) - Duplicate payments - Service cancellation requests made before your project is processed and published Refunds are not available for: - Change of mind about launch dates (you can reschedule) - Projects that don't win competitions - Projects that are rejected due to policy violations To request a refund, contact us at hi@earlyhunt.com with details about your situation.

Your EarlyHunt dashboard provides comprehensive tracking and management tools: **Project Overview:** - List of all your submissions (drafts, pending, scheduled, live, past) - Current status of each project - Vote counts and rankings - Launch dates and competition periods **Project Management:** - Edit draft submissions - Resume incomplete Premium submissions - View project details and analytics - Access to edit scheduled projects **Statistics:** - Total votes across all projects - Number of projects submitted - Project performance metrics You can access your dashboard anytime by clicking on your profile icon in the header navigation.

Yes, but with limitations: **You CAN edit:** - Draft submissions (unpaid Premium launches) - Scheduled projects (before they go live) - Project details like description, categories, screenshots, etc. **You CANNOT edit:** - Website URL (for security reasons) - Launch type (free/nofollow/premium) - Projects that are currently live or have already launched To edit a scheduled project, go to your dashboard, find the project, and click the 'Edit' button. You'll be taken to an edit page where you can update project details. Changes will be reflected once your project goes live. For projects that are already live, contact support if you need critical updates.

You can track your project's performance in real-time through your dashboard: 1. **Real-time Vote Counts**: See current vote totals for each project 2. **Ranking Position**: View where your project ranks during weekly competitions 3. **Status Updates**: Track whether your project is pending, scheduled, live, or past 4. **Email Notifications**: Receive emails when projects are scheduled, go live, or win competitions Vote counts update in real-time as users vote. During active competitions, you can see your ranking compared to other projects in the same week. After competitions end, you'll receive an email notification with final results and any awards you've received.

You can select between 1 and 3 categories for your project. We have 40+ predefined categories covering various aspects of AI and technology, including: - Artificial Intelligence - Machine Learning - Developer Tools - Productivity - Finance & FinTech - Healthcare - Education - Marketing - Design Tools - And many more... Selecting relevant categories helps users discover your project when browsing by category. You can also use our AI autofill feature, which will automatically suggest appropriate categories based on your website content. Choose categories that accurately represent your project's primary functions and target audience.

Your project can be discovered in multiple ways on EarlyHunt: 1. **Homepage**: Featured during your scheduled launch week in 'This Week's Launches' 2. **Browse Page**: Listed in the main projects directory 3. **Category Pages**: Appears when users filter by your selected categories 4. **Search**: Found through keyword searches matching your project name or description 5. **Related Projects**: Suggested in related projects sections on other project pages 6. **Hall of Fame**: Featured permanently if you win a weekly competition 7. **Past Week/Month Sections**: May appear in historical launch sections Additionally, you can share direct links to your project page on social media, in your email newsletter, or anywhere else to drive traffic and votes.

EarlyHunt winner badges are exclusive recognition awards given to the top 3 projects in each weekly competition. These badges: - Display on your project's detail page - Come in both light and dark theme versions - Include your project logo embedded in the badge design - Can be downloaded and added to your own website - Serve as social proof of your achievement - Are permanently associated with your project Badges are awarded automatically to winners and are a great way to showcase your success and build credibility. You'll receive badge assets via email when you win, along with instructions on how to implement them on your website.

Yes, for Free launches, you need to add a link to EarlyHunt on your website as part of the backlink verification process. However, you have flexibility in how you implement it: - You can use our provided badge code (light or dark theme) - You can add a simple text link to earlyhunt.com - You can create your own custom badge/link - The link can be placed anywhere on your website (footer, about page, etc.) As long as there's a link to earlyhunt.com somewhere on your website, the verification will pass. We check your website's source code automatically to verify the link exists. This is required before your Free launch can be scheduled.

EarlyHunt is designed to work seamlessly across all modern browsers and devices: **Supported Browsers:** - Chrome (recommended) - Firefox - Safari - Edge - Opera - Other modern Chromium-based browsers **Device Support:** - Desktop computers (Windows, Mac, Linux) - Tablets (iPad, Android tablets) - Mobile phones (iOS, Android) Our responsive design ensures optimal viewing and functionality on screens of all sizes. All features including submission, voting, and dashboard are fully functional on mobile devices. If you encounter any technical issues, try clearing your browser cache or using a different browser.

We're here to help! You can reach our support team through several channels: **Email**: hi@earlyhunt.com - For general inquiries, questions, or issues - Typically respond within 24-48 hours **Social Media**: - Follow us on X/Twitter: @praneetbrar - Stay updated with platform news and announcements **Through the Platform**: - Check our FAQ page (you're reading it now!) - Review our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy pages - Look for help text and tooltips throughout the platform For urgent issues or payment problems, email is the fastest way to get assistance. Please include relevant details like your project name, email address, and a description of the issue.

If you signed up with email (magic link), you don't have a password - you'll receive a new login link each time you sign in. Simply click 'Sign In', enter your email, and check your inbox for the magic link. If you signed up with Google or GitHub, use those same accounts to log in. If you're having trouble: 1. Make sure you're using the same email address you registered with 2. Try the 'Sign In' process again 3. Check your spam folder for magic link emails 4. Ensure your Google/GitHub account is still active 5. Try clearing your browser cookies and cache If you continue to have issues, contact our support team at hi@earlyhunt.com with your email address, and we'll help you regain access to your account.

EarlyHunt welcomes AI projects and digital products that: - Are legitimate and functional - Have a working website or product URL - Provide value to users - Comply with our Terms of Service - Are not spam, scams, or malicious - Don't contain offensive, illegal, or inappropriate content - Respect intellectual property rights - Are submitted by the actual creators/owners We review all submissions to ensure quality and appropriateness. Projects that violate our policies will be rejected. If you're unsure whether your project qualifies, feel free to submit it - our review team will evaluate it fairly. We're looking to showcase genuine innovation and help creators succeed.

Yes! You can submit as many projects as you like to EarlyHunt. Each project must: - Have a unique website URL - Be a distinct product or service - Go through the submission and review process separately - Compete in its own weekly competition Multiple projects from the same creator are welcome, but each must be a legitimate, separate product. You cannot submit the same project multiple times with different URLs or slight variations. All your projects will appear in your dashboard, making it easy to manage multiple submissions. This is great for agencies, studios, or prolific creators who have built multiple products.

Your project remains on EarlyHunt permanently, even after the weekly competition ends: - **Project Page**: Your detailed project page stays live and accessible via its permanent URL - **Browse Directory**: Continues to appear in search results and category listings - **SEO Benefits**: Backlinks remain active and continue providing SEO value - **Future Discovery**: Users can still find and visit your project anytime - **Hall of Fame**: If you won, you're permanently featured in the Hall of Fame Your project becomes part of EarlyHunt's permanent archive, meaning it continues to drive traffic and provide value long after the competition period. The backlinks, especially dofollow links, continue benefiting your SEO indefinitely.

If you need to remove your project from EarlyHunt, contact our support team at hi@earlyhunt.com with your request. We'll review it and assist with removal if appropriate. However, please note: - Projects that have won competitions may remain visible for historical accuracy - Removal doesn't affect backlinks that have already been established - Once removed, you cannot submit the same project again We generally recommend keeping projects live as they continue to provide value through traffic and SEO benefits. However, we understand that circumstances change, and we're willing to work with you on removal requests on a case-by-case basis. Please provide a clear reason for removal when contacting support.