cliffs

Definition

A sudden, catastrophic drop in value, performance, or viability—the moment your startup's growth chart becomes a ski slope in the wrong direction. Often used in VC circles to describe what happens when a company hits its scaling limit without a parachute.

Example Usage

Our user retention hit the cliffs after we removed the free tier, dropping 60% overnight.

Source: Common startup and finance terminology

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See “cliffs” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.

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