Vanity Metrics
Numbers that look impressive but don’t reflect real business value or progress.
Vanity metrics — total signups, page views, app downloads — can flatter a pitch without indicating sustainable growth or revenue. Investors quickly see through them, preferring actionable metrics like retention, revenue and unit economics.
Examples
A founder touts 1m downloads but hides 2% retention. — A deck replaces vanity metrics with engagement and revenue.
How it relates to The Startup Foundry
The Foundry helps you focus on the metrics that genuinely move your investability score, not vanity numbers.