Accepted startups

Currently, we accept only small online businesses that are under $100k. We welcome startups all over the world except in countries that are under international sanctions. We accept startups with recurring and non-recurring revenue business models.

Your startup could be built with custom code or no-code tools. We don't have limitations on the tech stack that you use. All project assets (codebase, IP, brand, website, social media accounts, domain, and existing customers) should be easily transferable to the new owner.

We monitor the market daily and have a vast pool of buyers who share their deals with us. So, we created a simple snippet (see Valuations section) where you can refer to properly evaluate your startup based on performance metrics (traffic and revenue).

In two words: your startup should match our acceptance criteria and has an excellent valuation to be accepted.

Categories of startups we list:

1. Micro-SaaS;

2. Web and mobile apps;

3. E-commerce;

4. Newsletters and content sites;

5. Extensions, add-ons and WordPress plugins;

6. Shopify apps;

7. Directories, databases and marketplaces;

8. Communities;

9. Agencies;

10. Info products;

11. Bots and crypto projects.

Acceptance criteria

To get published, your project should match our acceptance criteria. These criteria were defined by chatting with our buyers and researching what they're looking for. If you check all of the points, your startup will be accepted.

The minimum requirements that our quality team review before publishing your project are the following:

1. Proven business model, meaning having at least ten paying users;

2. Including a quality email list or customer database where the new owner can find real value;

3. At least three months old;

4. Matching one of the categories of startups we list;

5. Fully working without significant errors.

Our minimum requirements are based on the demand that we have. Most buyers are interested in profitable revenue-generating projects that need some tweaks and growth to get ROI.

So we want to keep our platform friendly for both sides and create only meaningful relationships where you can find a buyer for your project or a future partner or investor. That's the main reason we have such high standards.

Pre-revenue startups

We rarely post pre-revenue startups and balance the number of listings on the platform. Based on our experience, the ideal balance is having 80% of profitable startups and 20% of pre-revenue.

To get accepted, your pre-revenue project should be unique. For example, we don't have a similar startup listed, or your project has the potential for monetization and growth. Besides this, your pre-revenue startup should match the acceptance criteria described above.

Forbidden startups

However, no matter how attractive a startup could be, we don't accept startups that are related to the following:

1. Adult entertainment;

2. Gambling;

3. Weapons;

4. Alcohol businesses;

5. Tobacco products;

6. Drug paraphernalia;

7. Pyramids or other illegal schemes;

8. Countries subject to international sanctions.

We believe in a better world, so we should help people evolve, not degrade. That's why we don't allow doing business on our marketplace to the above industries. Also, we don't list beta or "coming soon" startups. Therefore, your listing should be genuine and fully working; if not, we don't publish it.

Your website should function so buyers can create an account and test everything before making an offer. Our buyers trust us, so we have a strict curation process to ensure every side receives what they expect.

Valuations

Our buyers evaluate your startup based on performance (revenue/traffic) and data. Based on information about previous acquisitions, we created a simple formula, so you can better understand what to expect.

We evaluate micro-SaaS startups based on this pricing formula:

1. Pre-revenue startups (zero revenue): $500 - $1,500;

2. Startups with up to $500 in ARR: $2,000 - $3,000;

3. Startups from $500 to $1,000 in ARR: $3,000 - $6,000;

4. Startups from $1,000 in ARR: 3x ARR - 6x ARR.

Summary

Microns is a platform where it's so hard to get accepted compared to others, but once your startup is approved, you will effortlessly sell your project and receive a bunch of positive emotions.

Buyers evaluate your project based on performance and growth potential. They look at your metrics, customers, and product from all sides. So the more traction your startup has, the better for you.

There are two sides of your startup: development and growth. One thing is to build your project, but the other challenging part is to grow it. Buyers look at both but know the second is more critical for them. That's why you need to have an email list or customer database to increase the value of your project.

Exit is one of the stages of the lifecycle of your startup, so take it responsibly and prepare for it. Keep growing your project, prepare all assets for transfer, and create documentation or video tutorials of how your business works, so the new owner understands how to continue operating it without you.