How Obsession with NPS Drove $10M ARR Growth

Beginning with a single-player mode allowed Polarsteps to validate core product value before adding social features.

"People were using it in what we would call single player mode...that already was enough for us to really get...the first year or so of growth."

• Focus on core functionality that provides standalone value.
• Use initial user feedback to guide feature development.
• Expand features based on validated user needs.

Keeping focus on a single metric and not getting distracted is key to achieving product-market fit and startup success.

"It's so easy to get distracted...most entrepreneurs that I've seen eventually succeed...had this very sharp vision of what success means."

• Avoid distractions like non-core opportunities that dilute focus.
• Agree on key objectives with your team and investors.
• Consistent execution on your vision leads to success.

During crises, maintaining focus on your core product and strategy can help navigate uncertainty and prepare for recovery.

"Are we gonna build all kinds of COVID optimized features? Or are we just gonna stick to our initial roadmap...luckily we chose the second."

• Stay true to your long-term vision despite short-term challenges.
• Avoid reactive pivots that may not align with core strengths.
• Prepare for post-crisis recovery by strengthening your product.

Early-stage startups benefit more from investing time in product enhancements rather than pursuing partnerships that may divert focus.

"Partnerships were causing way too much distraction...I'd rather bring us...a small improvement to the product."

• Opportunity cost of time is high; prioritize core product development.
• Small product improvements can have compounding growth effects.
• Partnerships may not yield significant returns relative to effort.

Listening to user needs can reveal organic monetization opportunities that align with your product's value.

"People started asking...I'm uploading all the same photos...if you're looking for validation, there you have it."

• Use user feedback to identify what users are willing to pay for.
• Integrate monetization seamlessly into the user experience.
• User validation can de-risk monetization efforts.

Balancing a startup with part-time work requires careful time management but allows you to develop your product without full financial risk.

"We started working 4 days per week in our full-time job...which means we had 2 days per week...we could actually work on a product."

• Reduce day job hours to create dedicated time for your startup.
• Secure early funding to supplement income and free up more time.
• Maintain focus on key objectives despite limited resources.

In consumer apps, delivering a highly polished product can be more important than rushing to market, as user delight drives viral growth.

"We've always been really, really quality driven...we've always tried to...make it look beautiful because we find it really important."

• Invest in user experience to make users fall in love with your product.
• A polished product encourages users to recommend it to others.
• Quality can be a competitive advantage in consumer markets.

Assembling a team with complementary skills is vital for independently developing your product and pushing towards product-market fit.

"We had one CTO...a designer...a creative director...and myself doing all the CEO stuff, finance, raising investments."

• Include technical, design, product, and business skills in your founding team.
• Early investment in design helps in product and pitching to investors.
• Diverse competencies enable rapid iteration and growth.

Utilizing Net Promoter Score (NPS) as your main metric can drive organic growth and improve your product based on user feedback.

"We’ve always used Net Promoter Score as...the number one metric to organize the whole company around."

• NPS reflects user willingness to recommend your product.
• Acting on NPS feedback improves satisfaction and drives referrals.
• Aligning the team on NPS focuses efforts on delivering user value.

Aligning your team and investors on a single key metric is crucial for maintaining focus and achieving product-market fit.

"One thing I very often say is, agree with your investors and your co-founding team and all the people in your company on one metric."

• Unify your team around a single, clear metric to drive decision-making.
• Ensure investors support your focus to prevent distractions.
• Maintain sharp vision and avoid getting sidetracked by non-core opportunities.