The degree to which a product satisfies strong market demand, evidenced by customers actively seeking, using, and recommending the product.
Product-market fit is the critical milestone where a product meets real market needs so effectively that it gains traction organically. Marc Andreessen described it as 'being in a good market with a product that can satisfy that market.' It's often measured by user retention, organic growth, and the difficulty customers would face if the product disappeared.
Context: B2B SaaS
Achieved product-market fit when teams couldn't imagine working without it, leading to viral organic growth
Context: Marketplace
Found fit after focusing on professional photography and host quality, transforming from struggling startup to market leader
Context: Email Client
Used the '40% rule' - surveying users if they'd be very disappointed without the product, achieving PMF at 58%
A methodology for developing businesses and products that aims to shorten product development cycles by adopting a combination of business-hypothesis-driven experimentation, iterative product releases, and validated learning.
A framework for understanding customer motivations by focusing on the 'job' they hire a product or service to do.
A systematic approach to innovation that focuses on understanding and satisfying customer desired outcomes rather than product features.