<aside> 👉 Many startups face challenges with go-to-market, often because their product and market aren’t perfectly aligned. The good news is that PMF isn’t a one-time milestone; it’s an ongoing process that you can work on at any stage of your startup.

Here’s a friendly roadmap to help you look at your PMF with a fresh set of eyes.

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📝 Identify Your Current PMF Level

PMF isn't one-size-fits-all, and it's not binary. You don't just "have it" or "don't have it." Instead, think of it as a spectrum. You might have strong PMF with one customer segment but weak PMF with another. Or you might have a ton of engagement but struggle with efficient growth.

Most founders fall somewhere in the middle - they have some positive signals (customers are using the product, some are even paying), but they're also seeing friction points (slow sales cycles, high churn, or growth that feels like pushing a boulder uphill).

The goal of this assessment isn't to judge where you are, but to get clear on your specific situation so you can focus your energy on the right things next.

PMF Self Evaluation & Planning Worksheet:

1. Identifying Current PMF Level
   1. Re-validating Market Assumptions: methods for testing market assumptions and gathering feedback.
   2. Customer Analysis: identifying and understanding customer segments.
2. Updating the PMF Roadmap:
   1. Defining Success Metrics and Milestones
   2. Scaling and Optimization

Identifying Current PMF Level

The 3 Dimensions of Product-Market Fit

• Demand: How much do people need the product? How quickly and how much can you sell your product for?
• Satisfaction: How happy are customers with the product? Are you able to effectively retain customers?
• Efficiency: Can the product grow repeatedly and scale effectively?

(dive deeper: https://www.firstround.com/pmf)

Start Here - Self Assessment:

1. Check the box that best describes (in your opinion) your current level of PMF:

• [ ] No Fit: Struggling to gain traction and validate assumptions
• [ ] Initial Fit: Some customer interest, but inconsistent sales and feedback
• [ ] Moderate Fit: Steady growth, but still adjusting product and market strategies
• [ ] Strong Fit: High demand, customers love the product, and growth is predictable