The Craft of Growth - Book

The Craft of Growth

Rapid growth comes from clear metrics, tight feedback loops, and fast decisions. Written by the team at Index, The Craft of Growth is a practical playbook that cuts the fluff. It shows you what to measure, how to ask for it, and how to turn charts into action.

Book overview

This book is for founders and operators who want a metrics driven company without busywork. You will learn the core SaaS metrics, how to calculate them correctly, and how to set targets that match your stage. We cover the full loop: ask better questions, generate the right views, read the results, and decide what to do next. Part II brings it to life with case studies from Supabase, Replit, and ElevenLabs.

This book walks through:

• The core metrics and formulas you need: LTV, MAU, CAC payback, NRR, activation, retention.
• Stage based benchmarks and what "good" looks like at Seed, Series A, and beyond.
• A simple operating rhythm: scorecards, owners, cadences, and decision reviews.
• How to write prompts for metrics that get the exact chart, table, or SQL you want.