TL;DR: Most Indian founders are building too much, too early — here’s a focused 3-step playbook to find product-market fit without wasting cycles.
Right now, too many early-stage Indian founders are stuck in the MVP-to-nowhere loop. You’ve launched, added features, maybe even some traction — but the growth curve is flat. Why? Because PMF isn’t a checklist item. It’s a discovery process. And most don’t have a structured path to get there.
The Tactical 3-Step Playbook
Here’s how first-time founders in India can stop guessing and start moving toward PMF:
- 1. Launch Deep Customer Interviews: Talk to early adopters — not friends, not family. Use a Typeform or Google Form to pre-qualify leads, then do 20 one-on-one calls. Ask: “What problem were you solving when you found us?” Listen for emotional language — that’s signal.
- 2. Run the 40% PMF Test: Made popular by Sean Ellis, this test simply asks: “How disappointed would you be if you could no longer use our product?” If 40% say “very disappointed,” you’re close to PMF. Airtable + WhatsApp + Forms works well to scale this in India.
- 3. Analyse Churn vs Activation: Early-stage SaaS folks — this is gold. Use Airtable to track activation events (like first campaign sent, first payment received) and compare with churn over 2-week periods. If more than 50% churn before first value hit — you’re pushing a feature, not a need.
The Strategic Framework Behind This
This isn’t about just hacking through data. The backbone is a Build–Measure–Refine loop. Build small experiments based on real user feedback, measure actual usage and intent, then refine your offering. Meesho evolved by watching Tier 2 seller behavior and refining seller onboarding in short loops. PMF is not found in a lab — it’s earned in the wild.
How to Apply This in Your Startup
Here’s your week 1 sprint:
- Launch a 10-question Airtable form targeting your early users — ask why they tried you, what triggered need.
- Schedule 10 interviews — record them (with consent).
- Run the 40% PMF test with your top 50 users — analyze results.
- Map first 3 value events in your product and track drop-offs after each.
Key Takeaways
- Don’t chase features — chase understanding.
- Use local tools (Forms, Airtable, WhatsApp) to run structured tests fast.
- PMF is early traction + user emotion + repeat usage, not a launch day.
Trend Signal: Based on High signals from 2 sources. Urgency: 10/10
Sources: I Hit PMF in India — Here’s Exactly What I Did (Reddit post), From MVP to PMF – What A Solo SaaS Build Taught Me
