“For a really strong app an investor would be super excited — you're closer to 6x. Less than 3x you start to cool off. But the important thing is how does the story of your business tie to these metrics.”

LTV to CAC of 6x signals investor-grade health; below 3x, excitement cools

Eric's benchmark: investors get excited at 6x LTV:CAC; 3x is lukewarm. But the ratio only makes sense relative to stage. An early-stage land-grab might intentionally operate at 1-2x while acquiring UGC-contributing users whose platform value compounds. The discipline is building a narrative that explains why your current ratio is a strategic choice, not a weakness — and knowing which metrics each investor type prioritises.