In the bustling world of startups, finding product-market fit is the holy grail. In 2018, Superhuman, the email productivity powerhouse, unveiled a game-changing methodology that sent ripples through the tech industry. Let’s dive into the ingenious engine they built to crack the code of product-market fit.

The Superhuman Approach

Rahul Vohra, Superhuman’s founder, recognized that traditional methods fell short. He and his team crafted a data-driven, yet deeply human-centric approach. Here’s how it works:

1.The Critical Question: “How would you feel if you could no longer use Superhuman?” This simple query forms the cornerstone of their methodology.

2.Segmentation is Key: Responses are categorized into:

Very disappointed

Somewhat disappointed

Not disappointed

3.The Magic Number: Superhuman discovered that achieving product-market fit correlates with having at least 40% of users respond “Very disappointed.”

4.Dive Deep with High-Value Users: For those who would be very disappointed, Superhuman asks:

What type of people do you think would most benefit from Superhuman?

What is the main benefit you receive from Superhuman?

How can we improve Superhuman for you?

5.Iterate and Improve: Armed with this invaluable feedback, the team relentlessly refines the product.

Why It Works

This methodology is brilliant in its simplicity and effectiveness. It cuts through the noise, focusing on emotional impact and user value. By identifying and catering to their most enthusiastic users, Superhuman creates a virtuous cycle of improvement and growth.

The impact of this approach extends far beyond Superhuman. Startups worldwide have adopted and adapted this methodology, revolutionizing how they approach product development and market fit.