The Top Voices Contributor's Guideline

At The Top Voices, we believe in the power of authentic storytelling and practical expertise. If startups and tech professionals had better access to real, actionable insights from the people driving innovation, the entire tech ecosystem — founders, builders, investors, and the communities they serve — would thrive. We aim to cut through the noise, delivering concise, curated, actionable and relevant content that empowers our audience to create, innovate, and grow tech products. To achieve this, we collaborate with insightful voices in the industry to share their expertise and stories.

Below are the guidelines to help you craft your best piece for The Top Voices.

Our Audience

Our readers include:

• Startup founders seeking actionable advice and inspiration.
• Product managers and tech professionals looking for practical insights and trends.
• Investors and mentors aiming to understand emerging talent and startups.
• Various tech and product enthusiasts who want to learn more about startups and tech industry trends and the entire ecosystem.

They appreciate clear, concise writing that provides depth without jargon and offers real-world applications rather than theoretical ideas.

What We Publish

Preference for the “Why” over the “How”:

At The Top Voices, we prioritize articles that focus on answering the question “why” rather than “how”. While instructional content can be valuable, understanding why something is happening provides deeper insight into trends, market shifts, and underlying forces shaping the tech ecosystem. Articles that explore the reasons behind developments, decisions, or innovations empower our audience to grasp the broader context, anticipate changes, and make more informed strategic choices. By answering the “why”, you help readers understand the bigger picture, offering a foundation for creativity and innovation.

We prioritize content that:

1. Delivers value: provide actionable takeaways, unique insights, or new frameworks that readers can apply directly to their work.
2. Tells your experience: share your experiences and lessons learned, both successes and failures, in a narrative style.
3. Highlights trends: discuss emerging technologies, market shifts, and opportunities in the startup ecosystem.
4. Focuses on expertise: bring your deep knowledge of specific industries, challenges, or solutions to the table.

Tone and Style

1. Professional yet relatable: write as if you’re speaking to a peer—be conversational but maintain a professional tone.
2. Concise and clear: avoid industry buzzwords unless they are well-defined. Use short sentences and paragraphs for readability.
3. Evidence-based: back your arguments with data, examples, or credible references where possible.

Author Credibility

Credibility is an essential requirement for our authors. While you don’t need to be a well-known figure, you must possess a deep understanding of the subject matter and clearly demonstrate your expertise in your writing. To achieve this, all insights should be based on the following:

• Practical experience: provide real-world examples to illustrate your points and offer tangible evidence for your claims.
• Research: include findings supported by reliable methods, along with links to credible and relevant sources.
• Real industry expertise: highlight your credentials through a proven track record, whether as a founder, employee, or expert, supported by strong recognition and previous achievements.

Thorough knowledge of a subject alone isn’t enough—you must convincingly showcase your expertise to readers. Case studies from your own practice are another effective way to do this. Referring to supporting research and describing practical examples will further strengthen your credibility. If you have unique data or insights, don’t hesitate to include them.

Article Length

Ideal length: starting from 1,200 words. Shorter pieces can be considered for quick, thought-provoking insights. Longer pieces should offer comprehensive, actionable advice or in-depth analysis.

Topics We Love

• Startup and product growth stories: unique challenges and creative solutions.
• News on the tech and startups industry: venture rounds, product releases, and key industry updates.
• Product development: lessons from building and scaling products.
• Tech trends: AI, blockchain, sustainability, and other transformative technologies.
• Leadership: how to lead small teams, manage stress, and build company culture.
• Sales and marketing strategy: business strategies for growing various products.
• Fundraising: how to handle fundraising and secure investments.

Curated Content

Each piece of content is created by either:

• Guest Expert
• Editor or In-House Author
• Expert Board Member

The content is curated by our Editorial Team and Advisory Board, which we carefully select to provide field-specific expertise for content or curate strategy.

Guest Experts are either invited by our team or they submit their content piece to The Top Voices, and their content is approved by either an Editorial Team or Advisory Board Member.

We do not accept promotional content. However, we accept press releases on relevant news, such as funding rounds, to get the news covered in appropriate sections.

The name, title, bio, photo, and appropriate LinkedIn profile of contributors are shared with readers.

What We Don’t Publish

• Self-promotional pieces or advertisements.
• Generic, vague, or repetitive content.
• Highly technical jargon without accessible explanations.

Submission Process

1. Pitch your article: send your proposed article to editorial@thetopvoices.com.
2. Editing: our editorial team may request revisions to align with our standards and audience expectations.
3. Publication: upon final approval, your piece will be published on our platform and promoted across our channels.

Using Generative AI

We understand that contributors may want to use generative AI tools to brainstorm ideas or gather examples. While these tools can aid the creative process, we do not accept fully AI-written articles. Contributors are responsible for ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and originality of their content. Let's collaborate to maintain the authenticity and high standards that define The Top Voices.

Thank you for considering contributing to The Top Voices. Together, we can empower startups and tech professionals to shape the future.