Castlytics/Podcast Attribution/Y Combinator Startup Podcast
Business & Technology

Advertising on Y Combinator Startup Podcast: Attribution Setup, CPM Rates & ROI Guide

Everything you need to know about running ads on Y Combinator Startup Podcast and actually proving the ROI — audience profile, typical costs, and how to set up attribution that captures all your conversions.

Hosted by

Y Combinator

Average downloads

80,000+ per episode

Typical CPM

$15–$28 CPM

Who listens to Y Combinator Startup Podcast

Startup founders, aspiring entrepreneurs, and early-stage investors

Best product fit

Developer toolsSaaSStartup servicesRecruiting

Conversion profile

Smaller but extremely high-quality founder audience. Excellent for tools targeting early-stage companies. Word-of-mouth amplification is exceptionally strong in this community.

How to set up attribution for Y Combinator Startup Podcast ads

60-day attribution window. Tracking links perform well — this audience is digitally native and clicks through. Monitor long-tail survey responses as founders often discover ads weeks later.

The four attribution signals to use

🔗 Tracking link

A unique link for your Y Combinator Startup Podcast campaign in show notes. Captures listeners who click through directly.

🌐 Vanity URL: yourbrand.com/ycombinator-podcast

Host reads your URL on air. First-party detection captures visitors who type it directly with no redirect needed.

🏷️ Unique promo code

A code exclusive to your Y Combinator Startup Podcast placement. Captures listeners who come back days later without clicking anything.

💬 Post-purchase survey

"How did you hear about us?" on your confirmation page. Catches Y Combinator Startup Podcast listeners who searched your brand directly.

Ready to track your Y Combinator Startup Podcast campaign?

Set up four-signal attribution for your Y Combinator Startup Podcast ad in under 30 minutes. Free to start, no credit card required.

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Common questions

How much does it cost to advertise on Y Combinator Startup Podcast?

Y Combinator Startup Podcast typically charges $15–$28 CPM CPM for host-read ads. The exact rate depends on ad placement (pre-roll vs. mid-roll), episode frequency, and whether you are buying directly or through a network.

How do you track conversions from Y Combinator Startup Podcast podcast ads?

Use four attribution signals: a unique tracking link in show notes, a host-read vanity URL (e.g. yourbrand.com/ycombinator-podcast), a unique promo code, and a post-purchase survey. This four-signal approach captures 2–3x more conversions than link tracking alone.

What attribution window should I use for Y Combinator Startup Podcast?

Smaller but extremely high-quality founder audience. Excellent for tools targeting early-stage companies. Word-of-mouth amplification is exceptionally strong in this community.

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