metrics-briefing

CEO-level metrics interpretation through 9-category framework (market learning, product value, usage, pipeline, retention, B2C->B2B, execution, economics, PMF). For raw analytics data queries, use your analytics skill (e.g., posthog-analytics) instead.

Metrics Briefing

Metrics analysis through CEO Bible Section G — 9 categories. An analytics tool covers some; the rest come from conversations, CRM, and the founder's observations.

Principles (Bible G)

  1. All metrics by target wedge. Segment first, aggregate second.
  2. Behavior > opinions. Usage, money, time spent > compliments.
  3. Pre-PMF metrics answer 5 questions:
    • Are we talking to the right people?
    • Do they share the same painful problem?
    • Do they get value quickly?
    • Do they come back?
    • Can we win them again without heroics?
  4. MRR, CAC, LTV are guardrails, not the steering wheel. Until there is repeatability.

9 CEO Metrics Categories

1. Market Learning (MANUAL — ask the founder)

MetricDefinitionSource
Qualified conversations/week20+ min conversations with target roles; explored problem, trigger, workaround, buyer, urgencyManual — track directly, target 8-12/week
Repeated pain rateSame problem + trigger + workaround recur / total qualified conversationsManual — from conversation notes
Objection concentrationLosses/stalls by top 3 reasons / all lossesManual — from CRM/notes

If conversations < 8/week -> flag hard. This is the main leading indicator.

2. Product Value (Analytics tool: partial)

MetricDefinitionSource
Median TTFVTime from signup to first meaningful successAnalytics — time between signup and first meaningful interaction event
Activation rateTarget accounts hitting critical event sequence within X daysAnalytics — accounts reaching "meaningful result" milestone / total signups
Outcome attainmentActivated accounts achieving promised business resultAnalytics — meaningful result → return usage conversion rate

3. Usage / Engagement (Analytics tool: yes)

MetricDefinitionSource
Retained active target accounts (week 4/8)Accounts still performing core workflowAnalytics — accounts reaching "weekly active user" milestone
Workflow depthCore workflow at target frequency, multiple use casesAnalytics — core action frequency, feature breadth per account
Second-bite rateUsers repeating core action within X daysAnalytics — meaningful result → return usage conversion rate

4. Sales / Pipeline (MANUAL — CRM/conversations)

MetricDefinitionSource
ICP pipeline createdNew opportunities from target wedge per weekManual — CRM
Meeting -> opportunityNew opps / qualified first meetingsManual — CRM
Opportunity -> win rateClosed-won / closed in target wedgeManual — CRM
Median sales cycleDays from first meeting to signatureManual — CRM

5. Retention / Expansion (Analytics tool: partial)

MetricDefinitionSource
Healthy account ratePaid accounts with green usage + outcome + active championAnalytics — accounts at regular/power usage stage, grouped by company
Expansion pull rateHealthy accounts requesting more seats/team rolloutAnalytics — accounts transitioning into team/multi-user stages
Gross logo retentionPaying logos retained once cohorts maturePartial analytics — inferred from sustained usage stages; verify manually

6. B2C -> B2B Conversion (Analytics tool: yes — key category)

MetricDefinitionSource
Target-signup rateSignups from target roles/domains / total signupsAnalytics — filter signups by verified identity + connected integrations
Activated -> PQL rateActivated users hitting enterprise triggersAnalytics — power users reaching multi-team or advanced usage signals, grouped by company
PQL -> sales conversationPQLs that book real sales callPartial analytics + manual CRM tracking
Same-company emergenceActive companies with >1 user or team inviteAnalytics — companies with multiple active users or team invitation events

7. Team Execution (MANUAL)

MetricDefinitionSource
Experiment cycle timeDays from hypothesis to readoutManual — from hypothesis tracker
Hypothesis-linked roadmap %Work tied to hypothesis / total workManual — from backlog
Belief-change rateExperiments ending in keep/kill/reframe / totalManual — from weekly reviews

8. Unit Economics (MANUAL)

MetricDefinitionSource
Net burn / runwayMonthly cash burn; cash / burnManual — finance
Core workflow contribution margin(Revenue - variable delivery costs) / revenueManual — finance
Revenue concentrationTop 3 customers / total ARRManual — finance

9. PMF Detection (MIX)

MetricDefinitionSource
Wedge repeatability scoreLast 10 wins matching same ICP/problem/buyer/onboarding / 10Manual — assessment from CRM and deal notes
Durable revenue ratioRevenue from accounts past trial + healthy >90 days / totalPartial analytics — inferred from sustained regular/power usage stages
Organic pull indexTarget-cohort referrals, unsolicited inbound, expansion requestsPartial analytics — sharing/referral events as signals; verify manually

Analytics Implementation

See your analytics skill (e.g., posthog-analytics) for implementation details and query recipes — funnel event names, attribution model, company grouping, and morning briefing queries.

Vanity Metrics (DO NOT report as progress)

  • Total traffic, total signups, total "active users" mixed
  • Feature count shipped
  • Total pipeline across all segments
  • PR hits, likes, followers
  • Total MRR without durability/health filters
  • B2C DAU that never clusters into accounts
  • "AI usage" with no evidence of business outcome

Metrics That Matter LATER (after PMF)

CAC payback, LTV/CAC, quota attainment, forecast accuracy, mature NRR, Rule of 40, hiring efficiency.

Output Format (max 15 lines)

Metrics for [period]:

Learning: X conversations (target 8-12), pain rate Y%
Product: TTFV Xh, activation Z%
Usage: retained W4 X%, second-bite Y%
B2C->B2B: X signups -> Y activated -> Z PQL, same-co X
Pipeline: X opps, win rate Y%
PMF: repeatability [low/growing], organic pull [none/emerging]
Burn: $X/mo, runway Y months

Conclusion: [what this means for the current stage]
Action: [concrete action]

Follow output preferences from USER.md (language, format, platform constraints).