The base
Every editorial launch on Early Launch starts with the same three parts.
A permanent page for the product. A page with a stable address that describes what the product is, who it is for, and what we found. See the permanent launch page: what goes on it.
A founder interview. A published conversation, written up from a real exchange with you. See the founder interview, step by step.
An assessment. A concise, honest view of the product from the editor. At the higher levels it grows into a full review. See the product review: what we look at and how we write it.
All of it is signed by Zach Bowman, and all of it is written to be read months later.
What the higher levels add
The levels are described in detail in Basic, Full and Premium Evidence Launch compared. In outline:
- A deeper review of the product
- A founder profile that tells the story behind the product
- Quote cards you can share
- A library of reusable assets drawn from the coverage
- Testing and comparisons with alternatives
- Update rights, so the coverage can be revised as the product changes
- Support with distribution
What is not included
We do not promise traffic, signups, or revenue. We publish pages and they are as useful as they turn out to be. We do not promise a positive verdict. A review reports what we find. We do not edit our assessment to please a founder, though we correct factual errors. And we do not guarantee placement on any other site.
What we need from you
Access to the product so that we can see it working. Time for an interview. Accurate information about what the product does, who uses it, and what it costs. Honest answers about limitations.
If we cannot see the product working, we cannot review it. See what to prepare before you submit your launch.
Who writes it
The editor writes the reviews and conducts the interviews. The same person signs every piece, and the author page and methodology are public, so you know how the work is done.
Independence
We publish a single disclosure notice about possible commercial and ownership relationships. Our assessments are formed independently of them. See what an honest review does that a badge does not.
The self-serve option
If you want to run your own launch, there is a kit for that. See the Early Launch Kit.
Reading the list as a founder
The simplest way to use this list is to ask what you want to be able to do in six months. If you want a findable description and a conversation on record, the base is enough. If you want something to hand to partners and customers, look at the parts that include reusable materials. If you expect the product to change quickly, look at the parts that allow for updates.
What every launch has in common
Whatever the level, a launch here shares a few traits: it is written by the editor, it is based on what we could see and what the founder told us, it is dated, and it is published at an address that does not change. None of these depends on payment.
A note on tone
We write in plain, measured language. You will not find “revolutionary” or “game changing” in our coverage unless a founder is quoted saying it. We would rather be accurate and a little dry than excited and wrong.
What you can quote
You are free to quote the interview, since it is your account, and to quote the parts of the review that you find useful, with attribution. We ask that you do not edit quotes to change their meaning, and that if you use a selection, you do not present it as the whole.
Next
Return to the pillar, how to launch a product on Early Launch, or submit your launch when you are ready.
