Product-Market Fit (PMF)
The point at which a product satisfies strong market demand.
PMF is reached when customers love a product enough to keep using it, pay for it and recommend it — shown through retention, organic growth and demand outpacing supply. It is the most important early milestone; scaling before PMF wastes capital.
Examples
Retention curves flatten and word-of-mouth drives growth, signalling PMF. — A founder pivots until usage shows clear PMF.
How it relates to The Startup Foundry
Demonstrating progress toward PMF is central to a high investability score and to qualifying for the Funding Sprint.