Transaction-game North Stars

Shopify

Ecommerce · 51+ · Canada

Shopify wins when its merchants win. GMV (gross merchandise volume) captures that alignment in one number. Tools, apps, payments and capital products are all judged by whether they grow merchant GMV. Shopify revenue is a function of GMV, not separate from it.

Stripe

Fintech · 51+ · United States

Stripe's value is directly proportional to dollars moving through the pipes. Payment volume (not accounts, not API calls, not merchants) is the honest measure of whether customers trust Stripe to handle real money. Every product (Billing, Issuing, Atlas, Connect) is judged by whether it grows this number.

Airbnb

Marketplace · 51+ · United States

Airbnb picked Nights Booked because every booking represents a real exchange between a host and a guest. It captures both sides of the marketplace in one number, grows only when the product delivers real value, and ties directly to revenue without being vanity. Signups, downloads and reviews all trail this one.

asdf

Ecommerce · 6-20 · Australia

The company asdf chose asdf as its North Star Metric because it directly aligns with the transaction game type. After considering various candidates, asdf was selected for its relevance and impact on the business. The founder's notes confirm this choice, highlighting its importance to the company's growth and success, making it a good fit for asdf.

asdf

Marketplace · Solo · Australia

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