What is a good product-market fit score?

A Sean Ellis score of 40%+ is considered strong PMF. Scores of 50%+ indicate exceptional fit. Below 40%, you're still searching for PMF and should focus on customer discovery and iteration.

How long does it take to achieve product-market fit?

It varies widely. Some products achieve PMF in 6 months, others take 2-3 years. The key is to test early and often rather than waiting for a magical moment. Continuous validation accelerates the path to PMF.

Can you have product-market fit in one segment but not others?

Yes. PMF is segment-specific. You might have strong PMF with small businesses but weak PMF with enterprises. Focus on the segment where you have the strongest fit before expanding.

What's the difference between product-market fit and product-channel fit?

Product-market fit means your product solves a real problem for a real market. Product-channel fit means you've found a scalable way to reach that market. You need both to build a successful business.

How do I test PMF without existing customers?

Use pre-launch validation methods: landing page tests, concierge MVPs, and competitor analysis. Valid8's validation platform can assess PMF potential before you build a full product. ---

Free AI Product-Market Fit Checker

By Valid8 Editorial Team | 2026-01-29

Free product market fit test using AI to analyze user feedback, market trends, and competitor data. Get a clear PMF score in minutes.

> TL;DR: 42% of startups fail because they build products nobody wants. This free product market fit test uses AI to analyze user feedback, market trends, and competitor data, giving you a clear PMF score that reveals whether you're solving a real problem for a real market.

# Product-Market Fit Test: Are You Building What People Actually Want?

The most dangerous assumption in startups is believing you have product-market fit when you don't. According to CB Insights, 42% of startups fail because they build products nobody wants. Not because of bad technology, not because of poor execution, but because they never validated whether their product solves a real problem for a real market. Poor PMF is one of the 5 signs your startup will fail.

Product-market fit (PMF) is the holy grail of startups. It's the difference between struggling to acquire customers and having them pull your product from your hands. But how do you know if you've achieved it? A proper product market fit test answers this question before you've burned through your runway.

Use our free AI PMF Checker below to get an instant assessment of where your product stands on the product-market fit spectrum.

What Does a Product Market Fit Test Measure?

Marc Andreessen, who coined the term, defines product-market fit as "being in a good market with a product that can satisfy that market." That sounds simple, but in practice, PMF is nuanced and difficult to measure.

Product-market fit exists when:

Customers actively seek out your product (organic growth)
Retention rates are high (customers stick around)
Word-of-mouth is strong (customers refer others)
Sales cycles shorten (less convincing required)
Churn is low (customers don't leave)

Conversely, you don't have PMF when:

You're constantly chasing customers
Retention is weak (high churn)
Growth requires heavy paid acquisition
Customers use your product but don't love it
Sales cycles are long and painful

The Sean Ellis Test: The Gold Standard for PMF

The most widely used product market fit test was developed by Sean Ellis, the growth hacker who helped companies like Dropbox and LogMeIn achieve explosive growth. His test is deceptively simple:

Ask your users: "How would you feel if you could no longer use this product?" Measure the percentage who answer: "Very disappointed."

According to Ellis's research, if 40% or more of your users would be "very disappointed" without your product, you've likely achieved product-market fit. Below 40%, you're still searching.

This metric works because it measures emotional attachment, not just usage. Customers who would be "very disappointed" are the ones who will stick around, refer others, and resist competitive alternatives.

Why the Sean Ellis Test Works

The genius of the Sean Ellis test is that it cuts through vanity metrics. You might have:

10,000 users (but are they engaged?)
$50,000 MRR (but is it sustainable?)
5% month-over-month growth (but is it accelerating?)

None of these metrics tell you whether customers need your product. The "very disappointed" metric does.

Beyond the Sean Ellis Test: Comprehensive PMF Validation

While the Sean Ellis test is powerful, it's not the only product market fit test available. A comprehensive PMF assessment should include:

1. Retention Cohort Analysis

What it measures: How many customers stick around over time. PMF signal: