I eventually got what amounts to essentially a "sponsorship" to continue building my project as I see fit. It didn't come out of Show HN (I don't think I've ever gotten anything directly out of an HN contact), but it was certainly encouraging enough to get me to drive forward on the project and eventually make it what gets me the local attention I receive for it today.
My mode has changed, though. I've learned a lot in that time, and I no longer think of advertising and distribution online as a viable method for most projects. I've had far more success getting real engaged eyes on my projects by engaging people in person.
There is an adage in sales, "go to your customers." It is meant literally. Go physically to where people will not only be interested in your project, but they're also in the mood to "buy" (whatever that might mean for your project. Installing and incorporating into my daily routine a free app on a smartphone is a cost I frequently choose to avoid).
For my wife, that means the vast majority of her sci-fi novel sales have been through three book fairs in the last two years, not the 24/7 Amazon. It's mostly just a hobby for her, and it would take a lot of work to replace her current income, so we haven't done more, but there is definitely s direct correlation between effort in, sales out, which is noticeably absent online. It makes it a lot easier to continue making that effort.
For me, that means presenting at JavaScript and designer meetups.