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TGrowth & marketingUpdated 2 Nov 2026

Time-to-value

Period from customer acquisition to when they realize value from a product.

Definition

Time-to-value is the period from customer acquisition to when they realize value from a product. It is how you talk about finding, converting, or keeping customers without waving your hands. Name it clearly, then let the next decision — a hire, a price, a test, or a pass — follow from that meaning.

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In the room

How the word shows up in a real conversation.

You know Time-to-value is doing work when it changes a weekly choice — price, hire, channel, or kill. The working definition: Period from customer acquisition to when they realize value from a product.

Common mistake

Using Time-to-value as a label instead of a fact. If you cannot point to the evidence — a number, a customer, or a written assumption — you are using the word as jargon.

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