Cohort Analysis
The study of groups of users who share a common characteristic (usually join date) over time to identify trends.
Keywords:
cohort analysis, cohorts
Contents
Deep Dive
Metaphysical Synthesis & Analysis
The Synthesis
Cohort analysis groups users by shared characteristics (typically signup date) and tracks their behavior over time. This reveals whether product improvements are working: are newer cohorts retaining better than older ones? For PMs, cohort analysis is essential for understanding Retention, Churn, and LTV. The key insight is that aggregate metrics can hide important trends visible in cohort views.
Metaphysical Foundation
Cohort analysis is the temporal lens for understanding user behavior. It separates signal from noise by controlling for time.
Evolutionary Path
From simple retention curves to multi-dimensional cohort analysis (by channel, feature, segment), the practice has become more granular.
Strategic Interplays
Cohort analysis measures Retention and Churn. It validates Product Market Fit and informs LTV calculations.
Key Episodes
Nick Turley
Inside ChatGPT: The fastest growing product in history | Nick Turley (OpenAI)
Michael Truell
The rise of Cursor: The $300M ARR AI tool that engineers can’t stop using | Mich...
Hamel Husain & Shreya Shankar
Why AI evals are the hottest new skill for product builders | Hamel Husain & Shr...
Hamel+Shreya
Why AI evals are the hottest new skill for product builders | Hamel Husain & Shr...
Karri Saarinen
Inside Linear: Building with taste, craft, and focus | Karri Saarinen (co-founde...
Sean Ellis
The original growth hacker reveals his secrets | Sean Ellis (author of “Hacking ...
Jag Duggal
Be fundamentally different, not incrementally better | Jag Duggal (Nubank, Faceb...
Dan Hockenmaier
Developing a growth model + marketplace growth strategy | Dan Hockenmaier
Anuj Rathi
The full-stack PM | Anuj Rathi (Swiggy, Jupiter Money, Flipkart)
Melissa Perri + Denise Tilles
The ultimate guide to product operations | Melissa Perri and Denise Tilles
Pete Kazanjy
Founder-led sales | Pete Kazanjy (Founding Sales, Atrium)
Deb Liu
Succeeding as an introvert, building zero-to-one, and PM’ing your career like a ...
Carole Robin
How to build deeper, more robust relationships | Carole Robin (Stanford professo...
Shaun Clowes
Why great AI products are all about the data | Shaun Clowes (CPO at Confluent)
Sarah Tavel
The hierarchy of engagement | Sarah Tavel (Benchmark, Greylock, Pinterest)
Gina Gotthilf
Scaling Duolingo, embracing failure, and insight into Latin America’s tech scene...
Gustav Söderström
The science of product, big bets, and how AI is impacting the future of music | ...
Hilary Gridley
How to build a team that can “take a punch” | Hilary Gridley (Head of Core Produ...
Crystal W
How to scrappily hire for, measure, and unlock growth | Crystal Widjaja, Gojek a...
Mayur Kamat