Key Metrics for Consumer Startups

Growth is the primary metric that consumer startups must focus on, with a target of at least 15% month-over-month growth to achieve significant user base expansion. Consumer companies often monetize later, requiring a strong foundation of user growth through organic methods before introducing paid advertising. Organic growth methods such as virality and network effects are critical, as demonstrated by examples like Facebook, where users tag friends in photos, and Wordle, which encourages players to share their scores. By building mechanisms that naturally lead to user sharing and engagement, startups can sustain growth without continuous advertising spend.