Find the real constraint. Fix the real constraint.
A four-step method built on the Five Growth Constraints framework. The same one our operators have used across 20+ years of SaaS operations.
Diagnose
We identify which of the five growth constraints is dominant. Data pull + operator interviews. One week, not one quarter.
Score & Benchmark
We score each constraint against SaaS benchmarks for your stage and segment. You see exactly where you stand, above or below the line.
Growth Constraint
We define your dominant constraint, baked by your data. We show you exactly why this is your priority and help set KPIs to measure its change.
Blueprint & Execute
You get a step-by-step blueprint. Then either your team runs it with our advisory, or our operators embed and run it for you.
Real operators, not career consultants.
This framework was built by people who have sat in the operator seat and scaled SaaS companies through the same constraints.
15 years scaling SaaS companies from early traction through exit. Three acquisitions, multiple turnarounds, and a track record of installing the operating systems that make growth repeatable.
12+ years in enterprise GTM and growth strategy, including over a decade at Microsoft helping organizations scale revenue, sharpen positioning, and build durable customer relationships.
Every SaaS company has one dominant constraint.
Ordered from foundation to operating layer. Overcoming each constraint must be done in order or a SaaS company will burn through resources without growth.
These are only some of the metrics and symptoms we evaluate. A small window into the broader logic that drives a Helix diagnostic.
- 1The Foundation
Product–Market Fit
Metrics that matter- Logo retention rate
- NPS / CSAT trends
- Referral velocity
- Time-to-value
Observable symptoms- Customers churn early and often
- Hard to explain your core value in one sentence
- Retention varies wildly by segment
- Referrals are rare or nonexistent
- 2The Growth Engine
Product–Channel Fit
Metrics that matter- CAC by channel
- Pipeline conversion rate
- Lead-to-close velocity
- Channel reliability score
Observable symptoms- Growth has stalled but you can't pinpoint why
- Close rates are declining
- Marketing spend feels wasted
- Pipeline is unpredictable month to month
- 3The Compounding Layer
Retention & Expansion
Metrics that matter- Net Revenue Retention (NRR)
- Expansion MRR
- Logo churn rate
- Account-level growth
Observable symptoms- Customers stay but never upgrade
- Revenue per account is flat over time
- No natural upsell path in your pricing
- Net retention is stuck below 100%
- 4The Economics Check
Revenue Efficiency
Metrics that matter- CAC payback period
- LTV:CAC ratio
- Burn multiple
- Gross margin
Observable symptoms- Burning more cash but growth isn't accelerating
- It takes too long to pay back acquisition costs
- Margins are shrinking as you scale
- Every new customer feels more expensive than the last
- 5The Scaling Ceiling
Execution Capacity
Metrics that matter- Revenue per employee
- Shipping velocity
- Hiring pipeline health
- Decision-cycle time
Observable symptoms- The founder is the bottleneck for every decision
- Hiring can't keep pace with demand
- Shipping velocity is slowing down
- Revenue per employee is declining
Advisor-guided or operator-led.
Same blueprint. Same accountability. Different level of hands-on.
Advisor-Guided Blueprint
Your team executes. We run the operating cadence, unblock decisions, and hold the metric line week over week.
Hands-On Consulting
A senior operator embeds full-time into the constraint domain and executes with your team. Outcome-tied.