Getting noticed is harder than ever, but Rajiv Ayyangar (CEO, Product Hunt) says most startups fail for a surprisingly simple reason: lack of clarity and velocity.

In this episode of The Startup Podcast, Rajiv explains what separates breakout startups from the thousands that never gain traction. Drawing on insights from hundreds of Product Hunt launches, Rajiv shares how to craft a tagline that resonates, why launching early (and often) is critical, and how velocity builds a powerful feedback flywheel that accelerates growth.

He also shares what Product Hunt’s biggest winners did differently, why clarity forces better product thinking, and how AI tools are changing the speed of iteration, giving today’s founders a unique advantage if they use them correctly.

In this episode:
* Learn why clarity beats hype every time
* How to craft a tagline that drives viral traction
* Why velocity builds trust and better user feedback
* The power of launching early (and re-launching often)
* Lessons from Notion, Superbase & other Product Hunt standouts

Whether you’re planning your first launch or trying to reignite growth, this conversation is packed with actionable lessons for founders who want to stand out.

Timestamps
00:00 Coming Up
00:30 On Today's Show
02:30 Guest Introduction: Rajiv Ayyangar, CEO of Product Hunt
03:03 The Magic of Getting Noticed: Clarity and Velocity
03:45 The Power of Continuous Launches (and Taglines)
05:23 The Virtuous Cycle of Feedback and Iteration
13:05 The Role of AI Tools in Accelerating Product Development
26:43 Product Hunt and the Importance of Community
33:25 Viral Success Stories
34:31 Voice Input Technologies
36:39 Common Launch Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
48:06 The Journey of a Non-Founder CEO
50:43 Emerging Trends in the Startup Ecosystem
53:31 Final Thoughts and Advice for Founders

The Pact
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Key links
Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A
The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/

Learn more about Chris and Yaniv
Work 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/
Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/
Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/

Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthur
Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/

#Startups #Traction #StartupStrategies #ProductHunt #RajivAyyangar #ProductMarketing #GrowthAcceleration #TheStartupPodcast