I Built This
An ongoing showcase for things people actually built and shipped — side projects, open source, first products. Show it, don't just describe it.
What this offers
A real showcase, not a pitch deck
We link directly to the working thing — a live product, a repo, a demo — and write about the specific build.
Any size welcome
A weekend project is read the same way as a year-long build.
No cost, ever
Free to submit, free to be featured.
A permanent, linkable feature
Useful for a portfolio, a job hunt, or just proof it exists.
Who this is for
Anyone who built and shipped something real — a solo developer, a small team, a first-time maker — with a working link to show for it.
How it works
- Submit what you built. A link to the live thing, plus what it does and why you built it.
- An editor checks it out. We actually look at the working product, not just the description.
- If it's a fit, we follow up. A short round of questions before publishing.
- It goes live. Added to the current showcase, and you're notified.
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 submission per person or company at a time. If it isn't selected, you're welcome to submit again later with something new.
- Selection is editorial, not a queue — we're not obligated to publish every submission, and we won't pad the list with entries that aren't ready.
How do I actually apply?
I include a working link — not a screenshot, not a description, an actual thing someone can click and use — and I explain the one part of building it that was hardest or most interesting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it cost anything to submit?
No. It's free to submit to I Built This, 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 submission 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 — I Built This 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. See can companies pay to appear in Talmyn's rankings or awards for the full answer.
Submit
Meet the cohort
The first entries are being reviewed now — check back soon, or be one of the first to submit yours below.