Industry · Startups
From waitlist to word of mouth.
Before launch, start with the Startup Prelaunch: everyone who joins gets a place in line and a personal link, and every friend they bring moves them up. After launch, Refer a Friend rewards both sides each time a user brings someone new.
Used by startups
How do startups run referrals?
App waitlists, a closed-alpha leaderboard, a hosted launch page and referrals after launch, with a real startup program where there is one.
- Launch waitlist
Markerless motion capture and 3D animationA referral waitlist for the Android version of its Move One app.
TemplateThe Startup Prelaunch - Leaderboard for early access
Open-world multiplayer sandbox game, in closed alphaA closed-alpha waitlist. Players refer friends to climb the leaderboard and get into the game earlier.
TemplateThe Leaderboard Giveaway - Hosted launch page
Money and investing app for womenA waitlist for its new UK trading platform, on a page hosted by Viral Loops.
TemplateThe Startup Prelaunch - Referrals after launch
Every user gets a referral link, and both sides get a reward when a friend signs up. Refer a Friend is on the Plus plan and up.
TemplateRefer a Friend
“Great experience using Viral Loops for our pre-launch campaign to build up our waitlist. Easy to use and integrate into our website…”
What counts as a referral for startups?
You decide where a referral counts. This is the usual route, with the tools that report each step.
All integrationsAn early fan shares their link
Everyone on the waitlist gets a personal link to share by email, WhatsApp or social.
A friend joins the waitlist
Through the form on your site, in Webflow or WordPress, or on a hosted Viral Loops page.
It counts when they join
Every friend who joins moves the referrer up the line. Each sign-up can also fire your Meta Pixel and land in Google Analytics.
The top of the list gets in first
At launch, your dashboard sorts everyone by referrals. Give the top early access or the reward you promised.
Works with
- WebflowWebsite
- WordPressWebsite
MailchimpEmail
HubSpotCRM- MetaAds
- Google AnalyticsAnalytics
SegmentData
MixpanelAnalytics
StripePayments
SlackTeam
Zapier500+ more apps- Webhooks & APIDevelopers
Which template should startups start with?
All templates
The Startup Prelaunch
The Leaderboard Giveaway
Refer a FriendHow did it go for Prentus?
FAQ
Startups FAQ
How do people move up the waitlist?
By inviting friends. Each friend who joins through a person's referral link moves that person up the list. Each person sees their place in line and how many friends they referred.
Do we need a website before launch?
No. Viral Loops hosts both pages: the one where people join and share, and the one invited friends land on. Your own domain works on Plus and up.
How big can the waitlist get?
Start-up covers 1,000 participants, Plus 5,000, Growing 10,000 and Power 25,000. For a larger launch, contact Viral Loops for a quote.
What happens after launch?
Your dashboard lists everyone by successful referrals, so you can give the top early access or the reward you promised. Fraud detection flags anyone worth a second look. When you are ready, a customer referral program runs on Plus and up.
What does it cost to start?
The Startup Prelaunch template is on every plan. Start-up is $35 a month billed annually, or $49 billed monthly, and the free trial gives you 14 days of the Growing plan for up to 10 participants.
Other industries
All industries
Start your waitlist or referral program this week.
Plans start at $35 a month, billed annually. Try it free for 14 days, or talk to our team.