Talmyn Builder of the Year
An annual recognition for a developer, indie hacker, or technical founder who shipped something genuinely useful this year — open source, a side project, or a full product.
What this offers
A technical feature
We write about what was actually built and the interesting decisions behind it, for a technically literate audience.
Open to solo builders
A one-person side project is read on the same terms as a funded team's product.
No cost to nominate
Free, whether nominating yourself or someone else.
Real portfolio value
A permanent, linkable feature — useful for job hunting, fundraising, or just credibility.
Who this is for
Developers, indie hackers, and technical founders who shipped something real this year — code that exists and works, not just an idea.
How it works
- Nominate a builder. What they built and a link to see it.
- An editor reviews it. We look at the actual project, not just the pitch.
- Strong nominees are featured. Added to the current year's list.
- The year's pick is announced. A full technical feature on the work.
Rules & eligibility
- This is free to enter, and always will be — we never charge a submission fee.
- No age, location, industry, or follower-count requirement. Selection is about the work itself, not who you are.
- Submitting doesn't guarantee publication or a reply beyond the automatic confirmation — we get more submissions than we can feature, and we'd rather say that upfront than overpromise.
- One nomination per person or company at a time. If yours isn't selected this round, you're welcome to be nominated again later.
- Selection is editorial, not a public vote — we're not obligated to name a winner every single cycle if nothing meets the bar.
How do I actually apply?
I link directly to what was built — the repo, the live product, the demo — and explain the one technical decision I'm most proud of or found hardest. Working code beats a description of code every time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it cost anything to submit?
No. It's free to submit to Talmyn Builder of the Year, and free to be featured if selected. We don't charge for consideration, and we never will.
How long does it take to hear back?
If your nomination is selected, you'll hear from an editor directly. If it isn't, we don't send a rejection notice — the volume we receive makes that impractical.
Can I submit on behalf of someone else?
Only with their knowledge and involvement — we want the real details, and that usually means hearing from the person or team directly.
What happens if I'm not selected?
Nothing gets published without being selected first. Unselected submissions simply aren't used, and you're welcome to submit again later.
Does this run every year?
Yes — Talmyn Builder of the Year is evergreen. It runs all year, every year, with no deadline to catch.
Selection is editorial and unpaid on both sides — no one is charged to submit, and no one is paid for work we publish. Talmyn's editorial standards apply the same way here as everywhere else on the site.
Submit
Current nominees
The first entries are being reviewed now — check back soon, or be one of the first to submit yours below.