34% of startup failures are due to poor Product Market Fit
How to Improve
Product Market Fit
Get from 25% to 40%+ by systematically converting "somewhat disappointed" users into champions
Focus on the "Somewhat Disappointed"
These users see value but aren't sold yet. They're on the fence—and they're your biggest opportunity to move the PMF needle.
Very Disappointed
25%
✅ Already love you
✅ Study why they're champions
✅ Don't over-optimize for them
Somewhat Disappointed
40%
🎯 Convert these to champions
🎯 This is where PMF happens
🎯 Find & fix their blockers
Not Disappointed
35%
❌ Not your target market
❌ Don't waste time here
❌ Focus elsewhere
The 5-Step Improvement Framework
Systematically move your PMF score from weak to strong
Survey & Segment
Run your PMF survey and segment responses. Calculate your current score and identify the "somewhat disappointed" cohort—these are the users on the fence.
Analyze "Somewhat Disappointed" Feedback
Read every open-ended response from "somewhat disappointed" users. What features are missing? What's too hard? What alternatives are they still using?
Compare with "Very Disappointed" Users
What do your champions have that "somewhat" users don't? Maybe they use a specific feature, completed onboarding fully, or came from a different channel.
Prioritize & Build
Build what would convert "somewhat" users into champions—not new features for people who already love you. Focus on removing friction and closing gaps.
Re-survey & Iterate
Run the PMF survey monthly. Did your changes move the needle? Keep iterating until you hit 40%+. Track progress over time and celebrate improvements.
Common Reasons Users Stay "Somewhat Disappointed"
Missing Critical Feature
"I like it but I need [feature] to fully switch over from [competitor]"
Onboarding Friction
"Setup was confusing. Took me 2 weeks to get value. I'm still not sure I'm using it right"
Integration Gaps
"Works great but doesn't integrate with [tool I can't live without]"
Performance Issues
"Love the concept but it's too slow / crashes / has bugs that block my workflow"
Unclear Value Prop
"Not sure what problem this solves vs. [competitor]. Feels similar but more expensive"
Pricing Concerns
"Good product but too expensive for the value I'm getting right now"
The Math: Getting to 40%
Current State
25% PMF• 25% Very Disappointed (Champions)
• 40% Somewhat Disappointed (Your opportunity)
• 35% Not Disappointed (Wrong market)
The Strategy
Convert just 15% of "Somewhat" → "Very Disappointed"
25% (current) + 15% (converted) =
40% PMF
Target State
40% PMF ✅• 40% Very Disappointed (Strong PMF!)
• 25% Somewhat Disappointed (Still room to grow)
• 35% Not Disappointed (Ignore them)
Your PMF Journey
Start Improving Your PMF Today
Run monthly PMF surveys, analyze feedback, and systematically convert "somewhat disappointed" users into champions.
No credit card required • Track improvements over time