North Star and instrumentation
One primary outcome metric, AARRR as diagnostic layers, and the five-event Minimum Instrumentation Set before launch spend.
North Star metrics and AARRR (Acquisition, Activation, Retention, Revenue, Referral) are how Exiid ties growth work to one primary outcome and five instrumented events. Funnels diagnose; loops design.
Who this is for
For: operators whose spend rises faster than their understanding of what drives revenue.
Useful when: you need growth infrastructure, not another campaign list.
What must be true
Before launch motion, five events must fire. This is the Minimum Instrumentation Set from Growth Architecture:
| Event | Rule |
|---|---|
| Activation | Behavior that predicts retention, not signup |
| Retention | Repeat behavior on a named cadence |
| Revenue | Cohort-based, not calendar month vanity |
| Loop | Moment output becomes another user's input |
| Kill | Churn or abandon with cause captured at event time |
No spend on an un-instrumented surface.
01 — One North Star per venture
Each venture picks one primary outcome metric (examples):
- MedLibrary: path completion on instrumented activation
- eCommerce attribution thesis: cohort payback clarity operators trust
- Knowledge commerce validation: paid signal at sustainable economics
The North Star is not traffic. It is the behavior that predicts compounding.
02 — AARRR as diagnostic layers
AARRR maps to Growth Architecture layers:
- Acquisition + Activation: top of loop design
- Retention + Revenue: unit economics and payback
- Referral: lifecycle loop class
Funnel views audit weekly. Loop design owns budget.
03 — Loop Qualification Test
Before a loop earns budget, five binary criteria (from Growth Architecture):
- Closed (loop event fires)
- Measured (every stage instrumented)
- Positive (unit economics per turn)
- Fast (learn within a quarter)
- Ownable (not rented from one algorithm)
Five of five gets budget. Fewer than four gets archived without sentiment.
Receipts
- Growth Architecture: four layers and loop classes
- SEO After AI: Citation Stack for distribution
- Enterprise tooling stack: PostHog, warehouse, dbt
- Method.app: North Star framework row