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Discover Startups
What it is
Discover Startups is a web directory and matchmaking platform for early-stage, product-based startups. Its free Directory gives founders a profile, visibility to investors, media, buyers, and partners, plus watchlist notifications. Investors, journalists, retail buyers, and brand partners can search by stage, sector, location, and other criteria, then contact founders directly through their inbox without per-introduction fees. Each submission is reviewed to confirm the startup is real, the founder is reachable, and the information is honest; revenue or stage is not an acceptance gate. Service businesses are not accepted. The paid Matchmaker plan adds AI-powered matching for press, retail, investor, and event opportunities, with curated opportunities founders can pursue or pass on. Founders can edit profiles, pause matching for selected audiences, and add audiences they want to reach. Matchmaker also includes a founder-only WhatsApp community and member events and webinars. It is in an invite-only beta: applications are hand-reviewed, invitations go out in small batches, and billing starts only after invitation. Matchmaker costs £49.99 per month once invited.
For and against
For
- Free Directory includes a startup profile and watchlist notifications.
- Searchers can filter by stage, sector, and location.
- Founders can be contacted directly through their inbox.
- Matchmaker includes curated opportunities and member events.
Against
- Service businesses are not accepted.
- Matchmaker is invite-only and still in beta.
- Matchmaker costs £49.99 per month once invited.
The verdict
Discover Startups pairs founder profiles with direct searcher contact, while Matchmaker adds curated opportunity matching. The free Directory is available without the beta invitation required for the paid plan.
Who it suits
The Directory suits product-based founders seeking visibility and searchers looking for early-stage startups. Matchmaker is for founders who receive an invitation to its beta and want opportunity matching and community features.
Plans and prices
The Directory
Dedicated startup profile · visible to investors, media, buyers and partners · watchlist notifications
Read 4 Oct 2026 · discoverstartups.com
Matchmaker
Includes Directory · AI-powered opportunity matching · curated introductions · founder-only WhatsApp community
Read 4 Oct 2026 · discoverstartups.com
On the record
- Beta access
- Matchmaker is invite-only; applications are hand-reviewed, invites go out in small batches, and applicants are billed only once invited.discoverstartups.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Community and events
- Matchmaker includes a founder-only WhatsApp community and member events and webinars.discoverstartups.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Contact flow
- Searchers can contact founders directly through their inbox, with no middlemen or per-introduction fees.discoverstartups.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Founder controls
- Founders can edit their profile, pause matching for specific audiences and add audiences they want to be matched with.discoverstartups.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Founder directory
- The free Directory provides a startup profile, visibility to investors, media, buyers and partners, and watchlist notifications.discoverstartups.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Limits
- The service accepts product-based startups and does not take service businesses.discoverstartups.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Maker
- The About page identifies Georgie Brown as the founder of Discover Startups.discoverstartups.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Matching
- Matchmaker offers AI-powered matching across press, retail, investor and event opportunities, with curated opportunities founders can apply for or pass on.discoverstartups.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Product
- Discover Startups is a vetted directory and matchmaking platform for early-stage, product-based founders.discoverstartups.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Searchers
- The service is for investors, journalists, retail buyers and brand partners looking for early-stage startups.discoverstartups.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Search filters
- Searchers can filter the directory by stage, sector, location and more.discoverstartups.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Vetting
- Every submission is reviewed to check that the startup is real, the founder is reachable and the data is honest; revenue or stage is not used as a gate.discoverstartups.com · read 4 Oct 2026
