David Rakusan ·
Vanity Metrics vs Real Traction: What Investors Actually Count (2026)
A vanity metric can rise while your business gets worse. Real traction moves only when customers need and pay for your product, and someone else can check it. This guide draws the line investors draw, with a vanity-to-real swap table, the 2026 traction bar, and a five-test checklist for proving your numbers hold up.