Agent skill · product strategy · kostja94
pmf-strategy
When the user wants to validate product-market fit, measure PMF, or plan before scaling. Also use when the user mentions "PMF," "product-market fit," "product market fit," "Sean Ellis test," "very disappointed," "vitamin vs painkiller," "PMF validation," "premature scaling," or "validate before scale." For GTM after validation, use gtm-strategy.
Why this skill is useful
Provides specific frameworks and metrics for validating product-market fit that the AI wouldn't reliably generate on its own.
What it needs
About 3k tokens when loaded. Last updated 2026-06-09. 860 stars on the source repository.
What this skill does
Strategies: Product-Market Fit Guides product-market fit (PMF) validation and measurement. PMF occurs when a product precisely meets market needs, creating widespread demand. ~99% of startups fail primarily due to PMF issues (vitamin problems, premature scaling). Use this skill when validating before scaling, measuring PMF, or diagnosing traction problems. When invoking: On first use, if helpful, open with 1–2 sentences on what this skill covers and why it matters, then provide the main output. On subsequent use or when the user asks to skip, go directly to the main output. Definition Product-market fit (Marc Andreessen): "Being in a good market with a product that can satisfy that market." Signals: Customers buying rapidly; usage growing; word-of-mouth spreading organically; high retention, low churn. Sean Ellis 40% Test Question: "How would you feel if you could no longer use [product]?" Response Meaning ---------- --------- Very disappointed Strong PMF signal Somewhat disappointed — Not disappointed — N/A – I no longer use — Threshold: 40%+ answering "very disappointed" = PMF achieved. Below 40% = iterate. Score Action ------- -------- Below 25% Significant changes needed 25–39% Close to PMF; iterate and improve 40%+ PMF achieved Best practice: Survey 40–50 active users (used product 2+ times in last 14 days). Segment by user type—some segments may have PMF while others don't. Limitation: Combine with retention curves, engagement, organic growth; avoid false positives in early stages. Vitamin vs Painkiller Type Definition Adoption ------ ------------- ---------- Painkiller Solves urgent, acute problems; users actively seek solutions Fast adoption; high retention; willing to pay Vitamin Nice-to-have; incremental benefit; users can live without Slow adoption; expensive marketing to succeed ~99% of failures: Solving vitamin problems instead of real pain. …
How to use it
Reference it in AdaL, Claude Code, Cursor or any coding agent — nothing to install:
@skills kostja94/pmf