Early on, most of us aren’t short on data, we’re short on clarity.
At OrbiQ, I’ve seen how easy it is to drown in dashboards while still feeling unsure. What’s helped our teams most is narrowing focus to a few metrics that actually shape decisions.
Here are the 7 I find consistently useful for pre-PMF teams:
- Customer Interviews Completed – Direct conversations surface truths you won’t find in dashboards.
- Problem Validation Score – Not every pain is worth solving, measure how deep it goes.
- Activation Rate – Are users getting to the “aha moment” where value clicks?
- Retention Cohorts – Who’s coming back? That tells you if the value sticks.
- CAC – Even early estimates can highlight unsustainable acquisition paths.
- Organic Inbound Signals – Unprompted interest is a powerful signal, even in small numbers.
- North Star Metric – One number tied to real user value (not vanity).
What I try to avoid early on:
- Page views
- Likes and impressions
- Signups without usage
These can feel good but rarely inform real decisions.
As for tools:
You don’t need a full data stack. Tools like Mixpanel, Typeform, Notion, and Google Sheets are often more than enough.
A simple approach I lean on:
- Frame a clear question
- Pull just enough data
- Make the call
- Reflect and adjust
A line like “Activation doubled after onboarding change” tends to spark better discussions than any dashboard ever has.
Takeaway:
If a metric doesn’t help you learn faster or move with more confidence, it’s noise.
