Checklist: Reaching Product Market Fit (PMF)

Ah, Product Market Fit – that elusive state where customers actually want what you're selling. It's like finding the perfect avocado at the grocery store: when you've got it, you know it, and life is suddenly beautiful.

The "oops, we forgot about customers" Syndrome

Let's paint a picture: imagine a startup called "LeftSock," founded by three enthusiastic entrepreneurs who believed they'd solved the age-old problem of missing left socks. Their revolutionary product? A washing machine that only accepts left socks. Sounds brilliant, right? Well, after burning through their life savings and their families money, they realized something crucial: people generally prefer to wash both socks at the same time. Who knew?This is a classic case of failing to achieve Product Market Fit. LeftSock had a product, but the market was missing.

The "we're changing the world, one useless feature at a time" Trap

Then there's "InstaPet," the app that lets you virtually pet other people's animals. The founders were convinced they'd created the next big thing in social media. They spent months perfecting the "realistic fur physics" and "purr audio quality."But here's the kicker: real pet owners preferred actually petting their own pets. And people without pets? Well, they were more interested in apps that helped them avoid real-life animal encounters. InstaPet had built a solution to a problem that didn't exist – a classic PMF faux pas.

Why product market fit matters

1. It keeps the lights on: Achieving PMF means people will actually pay for your product.
2. It prevents "pivot fatigue": Without PMF, you'll be pivoting more than you could imagine.
3. It attracts investors: VCs love PMF almost as much as they love their deal terms.
4. It gives your team a reason to show up: Nothing kills motivation faster than building something nobody wants.

How to find product market fit

1. Talk to real humans: Yes, that means leaving your cave and interacting with potential customers.
2. Listen more than you talk: Your mom was right – you have two ears and one mouth for a reason.
3. Be willing to kill your darlings: That feature you spent six months on? If customers don't want it, it's time to say goodbye.
4. Iterate, iterate, iterate: Think of your product like a block of marble – keep chipping away until you reveal the masterpiece within.

Remember, achieving product market fit is like finding true love. It might take a few awkward dates (or product versions), some painful rejections, and possibly a restraining order or two. But when you find it, it's magic.

The world is waiting for the next big thing – just make sure it's something people actually want.

Know if you've already achieved product market fit? Check out this checklist.