Product-market fit is a threshold, not a feature. Before it, growth is effortful and retention leaks; after it, demand pulls the product forward. Teams sense the shift through evidence: rising retention, organic word of mouth, and customers who say they would be disappointed to lose the product.
Reaching it is iterative. Teams refine the value proposition against a defined segment, test with real customers, and adjust until the signals turn. It is rarely a single moment and often needs re-establishing as the market or segment changes.