SideProjectors Platform Help

Helps the user with SideProjectors platform questions — from listing a side project for sale and finding co-founders through buying projects, showcasing work, and maximizing directory backlink value.

Step 1 — Gather context

Ask the user:

1. What do you need help with?

   • A) Selling a project — listing, pricing, description
   • B) Buying a project — finding, evaluating, due diligence
   • C) Finding a co-founder — matching, pitching, structuring equity
   • D) Showcasing a project — visibility, feedback, community engagement
   • E) SEO backlinks — getting listed for the DR69 backlink
   • F) Something else — describe it

2. What's your project?

   • A) SaaS / web app
   • B) Mobile app
   • C) E-commerce / marketplace
   • D) Developer tool / API
   • E) Content site / blog
   • F) Other — describe it

3. What stage is the project?

   • A) Working product with users/revenue
   • B) Working product, no users yet
   • C) MVP / prototype
   • D) Idea stage
   • E) Abandoned — want to sell or find someone to take over

If the user's request already provides most of this context, skip directly to the relevant step. Lead with your best-effort answer using reasonable assumptions (stated explicitly), then ask only the most critical 1-2 clarifying questions at the end.

Step 2 — Route or answer directly

If the request maps to a specialized skill, route:

• Product launch strategy across multiple platforms → /sales-funnel
• Startup directory listing (not buy/sell) → /sales-launchingnext or /sales-microlaunch
• Email marketing to subscribers → /sales-email-marketing
• Landing page / checkout optimization → /sales-checkout
• Audience growth → /sales-audience-growth

Otherwise, answer directly from platform knowledge below.

Step 3 — SideProjectors platform reference

How SideProjectors works

SideProjectors is a peer-to-peer marketplace for side projects — developers list projects for sale, co-founder search, or showcase, and the community browses and connects. Founded by Eric Bae at a Sydney hackathon (~2013), it now has 24,500+ listed projects.

Key difference from other marketplaces: SideProjectors is 100% free with no commissions. Unlike Acquire.com (verified buyers, escrow) or Flippa (auction model, fees), SideProjectors connects buyers and sellers directly with zero platform fees. The tradeoff: no escrow, no payment handling, no due diligence assistance.

Listing types

Type	Purpose	Who it's for
For Sale	Sell your project to a new owner	Developers moving on, want to monetize abandoned work
Co-founder	Find a collaborator or technical co-founder	Solo founders who need help building or growing
Showcase	Share your project for visibility and feedback	Builders wanting community feedback or backlinks

Submission flow

1. Create an account on SideProjectors
2. Submit project details: name, URL, description, tech stack, screenshots
3. Include revenue metrics, user data, and demo if applicable
4. Editorial team reviews the submission
5. If approved, project appears in the marketplace

Requirements

• Must have a working product with a live website or app
• Clear description and quality screenshots required
• All submissions go through editorial review

Categories

631 categories spanning:

• Tech: AI/ML, Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, Mobile, Developer Tools
• Business: SaaS, E-Commerce, Consulting, Marketplaces
• Consumer: Fashion, Health, Sports, Gaming
• Emerging: Blockchain, IoT, Augmented Reality

Pricing model

Feature	Cost
Listing a project	Free
Buying a project	Free (no platform fee)
Commission on sales	None — 0%
Showcasing a project	Free
Co-founder listings	Free

No premium tiers documented. SideProjectors appears to be entirely free — no promoted listings, no featured spots, no paid visibility boosts.

SEO value

• DR69 domain rating — do-follow backlink (highest among launch/project directories)
• Moz DA 48
• Listing stays live permanently after approval
• Backlink is lifetime — not removed
• DR69 is significant — higher than MicroLaunch (DR59) and LaunchingNext (DR51)

Platform metrics

Best-effort — these change as the platform grows.

• 24,528+ projects listed
• ~723 monthly visitors (per third-party estimates)
• 631 categories
• Founded ~2013 in Sydney, Australia
• @sideprojectors on Twitter/X

How transactions work

SideProjectors does NOT handle payments. The platform connects buyers and sellers — everything else happens directly between parties.

• No escrow service
• No payment processing
• No dispute resolution
• No due diligence assistance
• Buyer and seller negotiate and transact independently

Comparison with other marketplaces

Feature	SideProjectors	Acquire.com	Flippa	1Kprojects
Focus	Side projects, any stage	Profitable startups	Websites, apps, domains	Projects under $1K
Listing fee	Free	Free	Paid ($49+)	Free
Commission	0%	Success fee on deals	Success fee	0%
Escrow	No	Yes (built-in)	Yes (built-in)	No
Buyer verification	No	Yes ($2B+ verified)	Basic	No
Due diligence	None	Platform-assisted	Seller-provided	None
Best for	Early/abandoned projects	Revenue-generating SaaS	Established sites	Micro-projects

Step 4 — Actionable guidance

Selling a project — checklist

Step	What to do	Why it matters
1. Clean up the codebase	Remove secrets, add README, document setup	Buyers evaluate code quality before purchasing
2. Gather metrics	Revenue, users, traffic, growth rate	Numbers justify your asking price
3. Write a compelling description	Lead with what the project does and who it's for	First impression determines interest
4. Add quality screenshots	Product in action, dashboard, key features	Visual proof the product works
5. Set a realistic price	Research comparable sales on Acquire.com/Flippa	Overpricing kills interest on a free platform
6. Prepare transfer docs	List all accounts, APIs, domains to transfer	Smooth handoff builds buyer confidence

Pricing your project

Since SideProjectors doesn't provide valuation tools, use these rules of thumb:

• No revenue: Price based on development time × hourly rate × 10-20% (buyers discount heavily for no-revenue projects)
• Some revenue: 1-3x annual revenue for side projects (lower multiples than established SaaS)
• Growing revenue: 2-5x annual revenue if there's a clear growth trajectory
• Factor in: tech stack popularity, code quality, documentation, transferability, user base quality

Buying a project — due diligence

Since SideProjectors has no built-in escrow or verification:

1. Verify the seller — check their profile, other listings, social presence
2. Request a live demo — don't buy without seeing the product running
3. Review the code — ask for a sample or partial access before full purchase
4. Check metrics independently — ask for analytics screenshots, verify traffic claims
5. Use a third-party escrow — Escrow.com or similar for transactions over $500
6. Get everything in writing — what's included (code, domain, accounts, data, support period)
7. Plan the transfer — domain, hosting, API keys, service accounts, DNS

Maximizing your showcase listing

If you're listing to showcase (not sell):

• Treat it as a directory listing for the DR69 backlink
• Write a description optimized for your target keywords
• Link to your landing page (not just your app)
• Engage with community comments
• Pair with other directories: MicroLaunch, LaunchingNext, Product Hunt, BetaList

Gotchas

Best-effort from research — review these, especially items about plan-gated features and integration gotchas that may be outdated.

• No escrow or payment handling. SideProjectors only connects buyers and sellers. All transactions happen peer-to-peer. Use a third-party escrow service for any significant purchase.
• No buyer verification. Unlike Acquire.com (verified buyers with $2B+ in funds), anyone can express interest on SideProjectors. Vet buyers yourself before sharing sensitive project details.
• Traffic is very low. ~723 monthly visitors across the entire site. Don't expect a flood of buyer inquiries — this is a long-tail marketplace. The primary value for many users is the DR69 backlink.
• Must have a working product. Unlike some directories that accept ideas or pre-launch products, SideProjectors requires a live website or app. MVP is fine, but vaporware will be rejected.
• No promoted listings. There's no way to pay for extra visibility. All listings compete equally, which means your description, screenshots, and pricing need to do the heavy lifting.
• Editorial review has no guaranteed timeline. Submissions are reviewed by the team, but there's no documented SLA. Could be hours, could be days.
• Free means no support infrastructure. No dispute resolution, no refund mechanism, no transaction guarantees. You're on your own for the transaction itself.

Related skills

• /sales-launch-directory — Launch strategy across multiple startup directories
• /sales-ctrlaltcc — CtrlAlt.cc platform help (curated tool directory)
• /sales-microlaunch — MicroLaunch platform help (30-day leaderboard, deals marketplace)
• /sales-launchingnext — LaunchingNext platform help (curated startup directory)
• /sales-openlaunch — Open Launch platform help (open-source PH alternative, DR65 backlinks)
• /sales-productburst — ProductBurst platform help (daily/weekly rankings, badges)
• /sales-solopush — SoloPush platform help (indie maker community)
• /sales-huzzler — Huzzler platform help (founder community, weekly Launch Arena competition)
• /sales-firsto — Firsto platform help (fair launch platform, sustained SEO discovery)
• /sales-funnel — Build and optimize sales funnels for conversion
• /sales-digital-products — Sell digital products (ebooks, templates, SaaS)
• /sales-checkout — Optimize landing pages and checkout for conversion
• /sales-do — Not sure which skill to use? The router matches any sales objective to the right skill. Install: npx skills add sales-skills/sales --skills sales-do

Examples

Example 1: Sell an abandoned SaaS project

User says: "I built a SaaS tool 2 years ago but stopped working on it. It has 50 users and $200/mo MRR. How do I sell it on SideProjectors?" Skill does:

1. Walks through the selling checklist: clean code, gather metrics, write description
2. Helps price the project: $200 MRR × 12 = $2,400 ARR, suggest asking $2,400-$7,200 (1-3x)
3. Recommends preparing transfer documentation (domain, hosting, Stripe, API keys)
4. Warns about no escrow — suggests using Escrow.com for the transaction
5. Suggests also listing on Acquire.com for higher-value buyer pool Result: Listing optimized with realistic pricing and safe transaction plan

Example 2: Find a co-founder for a side project

User says: "I have a working MVP but I'm a solo developer and need a business co-founder to help with marketing and sales" Skill does:

1. Recommends creating a co-founder listing (not "for sale")
2. Suggests what to include: product demo, tech stack, traction so far, what skills you need
3. Advises on equity split considerations for side projects
4. Recommends also posting on Indie Hackers and Y Combinator co-founder matching
5. Warns to vet co-founder candidates carefully — meet on video, check references Result: Co-founder listing that attracts the right collaborator

Example 3: Get a DR69 backlink from SideProjectors

User says: "I just want the backlink from SideProjectors for SEO. What's the fastest way?" Skill does:

1. Recommends a showcase listing (not "for sale") to get the do-follow backlink
2. Notes the requirement: must have a working product with a live URL
3. Walks through minimal submission: description, screenshots, category tags
4. Suggests optimizing the listing description for target keywords
5. Recommends pairing with other high-DR directories: MicroLaunch (DR59), LaunchingNext (DR51) Result: Backlink secured as part of a multi-directory SEO strategy

Troubleshooting

Listed a project for sale but no buyers

Symptom: Project has been listed for weeks/months with no inquiries Cause: SideProjectors has ~723 monthly visitors across all 24,500+ listings. Individual listings get a tiny fraction of that traffic. The platform is a long-tail marketplace — most projects sit without activity. Solution: Don't rely on SideProjectors as your only sales channel. Cross-list on Acquire.com (higher-value buyers, built-in escrow), 1Kprojects (if under $1K), and Flippa (auction model, broader audience). Share your SideProjectors listing on Twitter, Indie Hackers, and relevant subreddits. Lower your price if it's been sitting — the market is telling you something.

Worried about getting scammed as a buyer

Symptom: Found an interesting project but concerned about legitimacy Cause: SideProjectors has no buyer protection, no escrow, and no verification. Scams are possible on any peer-to-peer marketplace without safeguards. Solution: Never send payment without verifying: (1) request a live demo over video call, (2) ask for analytics access (Google Analytics, Stripe dashboard), (3) check the seller's online presence and history, (4) use a third-party escrow service like Escrow.com for transactions over $500, (5) get a written agreement listing exactly what's included in the sale and any post-sale support.

Submission rejected or stuck in review

Symptom: Submitted a project but it wasn't approved or there's been no response Cause: SideProjectors requires a working product with a live URL. Idea-stage or pre-launch projects will be rejected. The editorial review timeline is not guaranteed. Solution: Ensure you have a live, working product at the submitted URL. Add quality screenshots and a clear description. If it's been more than a week, email hello@sideprojectors.com to check status. If your project is pre-launch, use a showcase-friendly directory like LaunchingNext or MicroLaunch instead.