SFS_04Startup Foundation System™ 6–8 weeks; permanent monthly cadence

PMF Validation

Prove solution-fit with real usage and real revenue. Measure leading PMF signals. Decide: persevere, pivot, or kill.

Why it matters

PMF is measured, not declared. We install the Sean Ellis 40% Must-Have benchmark, Rahul Vohra's PMF Engine, retention-curve analysis, and a Go/Pivot/Persevere decision memo — so PMF becomes an instrument, not an opinion.

Scope covered

Sean Ellis Must-Have score survey (40% benchmark)

Rahul Vohra PMF Engine + Superhuman method

Retention & cohort curve (the smile curve)

Activation rate + aha-moment instrumentation

Willingness-to-pay (real money, not LOIs)

Go / Pivot / Persevere decision memo

How we run it

Our methodology

A senior-led delivery sequence — not a template dump. Each phase is operated with your team, not handed over as a deck.

1
PMF metric design
Week 1
Define the PMF metrics — Sean Ellis score, retention curve flattening, organic growth, NPS — per segment.
2
Quantitative PMF survey
Week 1–3
Run the Sean Ellis 'how disappointed' survey on 200+ active users; segment results by ICP and use-case.
3
Retention & engagement cohorts
Week 3–5
Build retention curves by cohort and segment; identify the segments where retention flattens (true PMF signal).
4
Qualitative PMF interviews
Week 5–7
Run 15–25 'super-user' interviews to extract the real value loop, language and substitutes.
5
PMF posture & monthly cadence
Week 7–8
Codify PMF posture (pre / approaching / achieved) per segment; install the monthly PMF review ritual.