retention cohort

Definition

A group of users who started in the same time period, tracked to see how many stick around. The cruel truth about how fast people abandon your product.

Example Usage

Our Week 8 retention cohort shows 35% of users still active, which is solid for consumer social but terrible for enterprise SaaS.

Origin

Data analysis methodology applied to user metrics in the 2000s

Fun Fact

Retention cohort analysis was pioneered by gaming companies tracking player drop-off rates.

Source: Product analytics and metrics terminology

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Go-to-Market

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founder dilution

The reduction in founders' ownership percentage that occurs each time the company raises money or issues new equity. It's the slow, inevitable erosion of ownership that founders signed up for when they took outside capital.

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shadow equity

Informal promises of future equity that aren't documented in legal agreements, often made to early advisors or contributors. A lawsuit waiting to happen, wrapped in a handshake.

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inbound interest

When investors, customers, or acquirers proactively reach out to a startup rather than being solicited. It's the entrepreneurial equivalent of being asked to the dance instead of doing the asking.

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discount rate

The percentage discount early investors get when their notes convert to equity, rewarding them for investing before a priced round. It's the early bird special of startup investing, typically 15-25%.

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fund velocity

The speed at which a venture fund moves through its investment cycle, from raising capital to deploying it to returning capital to LPs. Faster isn't always better—ask anyone who inhaled their food and got heartburn.

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