Traction & metrics
What investors look for at each stage — and how to present it.
Traction & metrics8 min
Product market fit signals seed VCs screen for in 2026
The five behavioral PMF signals seed VCs actually screen for, the thresholds tha…
Traction & metrics7 min
Growth rate benchmark seed rounds need in 2026
The 5–7% WoW YC bar, how it compounds to MoM and ARR, and the two fake-growth pa…
Traction & metrics6 min
Consumer DAU/MAU at seed: what counts as engagement in 2026
Category-adjusted DAU/MAU bands for social, utility, content, and productivity a…
Traction & metrics7 min
Cohort retention seed: the 3 chart shapes VCs ask for
The three cohort retention shapes seed investors pattern-match in seconds, and h…
Traction & metrics6 min
CAC payback seed SaaS: 2026 benchmarks that matter
The 12/18/24-month CAC payback bar by segment, and the narrative that lets seed …
Cornerstone15 min
Traction metrics for VCs in 2026: what IC memos screen for
Most traction guides list SaaS KPIs. In 2026, VCs screen decks through five spec…
Traction & metrics5 min
Seed MRR benchmarks: what VCs expect in 2026
The seed MRR benchmark VCs anchor on in 2026, the AI exception on growth vs reve…