Life & fun · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to How to Start a Startup: The Book

Ultimate insider playbook based on the Y Combinator course

Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. How to Start a Startup: The Book launched in 2015; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   The Startup Playbook▲548

   How-to guide for building your startup from the ground up

   2018 · startup-playbook.com · its alternatives →

2. 2
   Startup Playbook▲22

   Y Combinator's Playbook (by Sam Altman)

   2015 · playbook.samaltman.com · its alternatives →

3. 3
   The Startup Equation▲72

   A visual guidebook for building your startup

   2016 · startupequation.com · its alternatives →

4. 4IW
   I wrote a guidebook on everything I know about applying to Y Combinator▲177

   2012 · guidetoyc.com · its alternatives →

5. 5
   Learning To Launch▲228

   Stop failing. Start launching.

   2016 · learningtolaunch.co · its alternatives →

6. 6
   StartupClass.co▲300

   YC's How to Start a Startup packaged as an online course

   2014 · startupclass.co · its alternatives →

7. 7
   Start Small, Stay Small▲66

   A developer's guide to launching a startup

   2016 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

8. 8
   How To Start A Startup ▲343

   YC Stanford Class as an Audio Podcast Available on iTunes

   2014 · podcasts.apple.com · its alternatives →

9. 9
   The 2020 Startup Sales Playbook▲311

   The definitive guide for early-stage sales teams 🚀

   2019 · close.com · its alternatives →

10. 10
    Hacking Sales (Book)▲93

    The Playbook For Building a High Velocity Sales Machine

    2015 · its alternatives →

11. 11
    Top Startup Books▲282

    A collection of must-read books for startup founders.

    2015 · startupbooks.top · its alternatives →

12. 12
    Entrepreneurship▲62

    Successfully launching new ventures

    2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

13. 13
    The Startup Playbook 2nd Edition▲211

    Founder-to-founder advice on how to create & build a startup

    2020 · startup-playbook.com · its alternatives →

14. 14
    Startup Playbook▲164

    Written by Sam Altman & Illustrated by Gregory Koberger

    2015 · playbook.samaltman.com · its alternatives →

15. 15
    Launching New Ventures▲68

    An entrepreneurial approach

    2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

16. 16
    Disciplined Entrepreneurship▲74

    24 steps to a successful startup

    2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

17. 17
    Early Stage Founders Playbook▲313

    Actionable marketing lessons for indie-hackers

    2022 · its alternatives →

18. 18
    How To Launch▲262

    Startup launch playbook & cost calculator, by The Upstarters

    2017 · its alternatives →

19. 19
    All In Startup▲62

    Launching a new idea when everything is on the line

    2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

20. 20
    Hello, Startup▲76

    A programmer's guide to building products, tech & teams

    2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

21. 21
    Startup CEO▲64

    A field guide to scaling your business

    2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

22. 22
    Hack the Bird▲90

    Advanced Twitter playbook for startups and entrepreneurs

    2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

23. 23
    Growth Engines▲95

    How the most successful startups unlock extraordinary growth

    2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

24. 24
    Synergize▲61

    Releasing the talent in your Startup

    2016 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →