Time to Value (TTV)AI/MLSeries B

Time to Value (TTV) for AI/ML at Series B

2026 data · Sample size: 338 · Source: SaaStr Annual Survey 2025

25th %ile

Median

8.8

75th %ile

14.4

90th %ile

16.9

▼Trending down year-over-year

About This Metric

Time from signup to when a user first experiences the core value proposition of your product.

Median time from signup to activation event

Lower is better · Unit: time

How to Improve

Streamline the onboarding process to reduce setup time and complexity. Provide pre‑built templates and configurations that deliver value out of the box. Build guided product tours that walk users through the critical path to value. Offer concierge onboarding for high‑value accounts to accelerate time to impact. Reduce integration complexity with no‑code connectors and pre‑built integrations.

Ehsan's Analysis

AI tools have the fastest time to value in software history — ChatGPT delivers value in under 10 seconds. But this creates a paradox: if the first interaction is "wow," where do you go from there? The time to SUSTAINED value — when the user integrates the tool into a repeatable workflow — is much longer (14-30 days for most AI tools). This gap between first-use value and sustained value is where 70-80% of AI tool churn occurs. The fix: after the "wow" moment, immediately guide users to a repeatable use case. Grammarly does this by asking "what do you write most?" and then surfacing contextual suggestions in that specific workflow. Copilot does it by observing which files the developer edits and prioritizing suggestions for those patterns. The AI TTV that matters is not "time to first AI output" — it is "time to first AI-assisted habit." Measure how many days it takes for a user to use your AI tool for the same type of task three times. That timestamp, not the first use, is your real TTV.

Ehsan Jahandarpour

AI Growth Strategist & Fractional CMO

Forbes Top 20 Growth Hacker · TEDx Speaker · 716 Academic Citations · Ex-Microsoft · CMO at FirstWave (ASX:FCT) · Forbes Communications Council

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good Time to Value (TTV) for AI/ML companies at Series B stage?

The median Time to Value (TTV) for AI/ML companies at the Series B stage is 8.8 days. Top‑quartile companies (75th percentile) significantly outperform this baseline. The most important factor is consistent improvement over time rather than hitting any single target number.

How does Time to Value (TTV) differ by company stage in AI/ML?

Time to Value (TTV) typically improves as AI/ML companies mature from seed through growth stage. Earlier‑stage companies should benchmark against stage‑appropriate peers rather than comparing themselves to mature companies.

How often should AI/ML companies measure Time to Value (TTV)?

AI/ML companies at the Series B stage should track Time to Value (TTV) monthly with quarterly deep‑dive analysis. Set up automated dashboards and alerts for significant deviations from your baseline.

What factors most impact Time to Value (TTV) in the AI/ML sector?

In AI/ML, the primary factors impacting Time to Value (TTV) include product‑market fit maturity, competitive landscape intensity, customer segmentation strategy, pricing optimization, and operational efficiency. Series B‑stage companies should focus on the one or two highest‑leverage factors rather than trying to optimize everything simultaneously.

How does Time to Value (TTV) for AI/ML compare to cross‑industry benchmarks?

AI/ML Time to Value (TTV) benchmarks can differ significantly from cross‑industry averages due to factors specific to the AI/ML vertical including customer acquisition dynamics, competitive intensity, and typical deal sizes. Always compare against industry‑specific benchmarks rather than broad averages for meaningful insights.