Stable3 min read
Product-Market Fit
Measure and improve fit signals.
Product-Market Fit phase assesses fit signals — retention, organic growth, customer language, willingness to pay — honestly.
Scaling before PMF burns cash and morale. This phase decides scale vs pivot.
After initial customers; before growth spend and fundraising hype.
- Define PMF metrics for your model.
- Collect qualitative "very disappointed" tests.
- Review cohort retention and expansion.
- Grade fit: weak, emerging, strong.
- Decide next OKR cycle focus.
- Metrics match business model.
- Qual + quant combined.
- Vanity signups as PMF.
- Ignoring churn in enthusiastic vertical.
- Declaring PMF from 3 friends.
/pmf phase. Consumes validation and feedback outputs; updates north star commentary.
Sources & further reading
- Andreessen, M. (2007). The only thing that matters. Pmarca blog.