SaaS Metrics: AI-Powered Performance That Defies Industry Standards
Executive Summary: Redefining What's Possible
Unprecedented Reality: YeboLearn's SaaS metrics don't fit traditional benchmarks because no EdTech company has ever had an AI monopoly. While competitors struggle with 20% annual growth, YeboLearn targets 800%+ with metrics that make VCs recalculate their models.
Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) Growth
MRR Evolution & Acceleration
| Month | New MRR | Expansion MRR | Churned MRR | Net New MRR | Total MRR | Growth % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2025 | R900,000 | R0 | R0 | R900,000 | R900,000 | - |
| Feb 2025 | R1,200,000 | R0 | -R18,000 | R1,182,000 | R2,082,000 | 131% |
| Mar 2025 | R1,500,000 | R50,000 | -R31,000 | R1,519,000 | R3,601,000 | 73% |
| Apr 2025 | R1,800,000 | R100,000 | -R43,000 | R1,857,000 | R5,458,000 | 52% |
| May 2025 | R2,100,000 | R150,000 | -R55,000 | R2,195,000 | R7,653,000 | 40% |
| Jun 2025 | R2,400,000 | R200,000 | -R69,000 | R2,531,000 | R10,184,000 | 33% |
| Jul 2025 | R3,000,000 | R300,000 | -R81,000 | R3,219,000 | R13,403,000 | 32% |
| Aug 2025 | R3,600,000 | R400,000 | -R94,000 | R3,906,000 | R17,309,000 | 29% |
| Sep 2025 | R3,600,000 | R500,000 | -R104,000 | R3,996,000 | R21,305,000 | 23% |
| Oct 2025 | R3,300,000 | R600,000 | -R106,000 | R3,794,000 | R25,099,000 | 18% |
| Nov 2025 | R3,300,000 | R700,000 | -R100,000 | R3,900,000 | R28,999,000 | 16% |
| Dec 2025 | R3,300,000 | R800,000 | -R87,000 | R4,013,000 | R33,012,000 | 14% |
MRR Composition Analysis
| Component | Jan 2025 | Jun 2025 | Dec 2025 | % of Total (Dec) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Business MRR | R900,000 | R2,400,000 | R3,300,000 | 10% |
| Existing Base MRR | R0 | R7,584,000 | R28,912,000 | 88% |
| Expansion MRR | R0 | R200,000 | R800,000 | 2% |
| Total MRR | R900,000 | R10,184,000 | R33,012,000 | 100% |
MRR Growth Drivers:
- Land & Expand: Start with Essentials, upgrade to Enterprise
- Multi-School Groups: One success leads to group-wide adoption
- Seasonal Spikes: Q4 budget flush drives 40% of new MRR
- Zero Competition: No pricing pressure or competitive switching
Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) Progression
ARR Milestones & Momentum
| Milestone | Date Achieved | Days from Launch | Industry Benchmark | YeboLearn Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1M ARR | Jan 2025 | 30 days | 365 days | 12x faster |
| R5M ARR | Apr 2025 | 120 days | 730 days | 6x faster |
| R10M ARR | Jun 2025 | 180 days | 1,095 days | 6x faster |
| R25M ARR | Oct 2025 | 300 days | 1,825 days | 6x faster |
| R40M ARR | Dec 2025 | 365 days | 2,555 days | 7x faster |
| R100M ARR | Jun 2026 | 540 days | 3,650 days | 7x faster |
ARR by Geography
| Region | Q1 2025 | Q2 2025 | Q3 2025 | Q4 2025 | % of Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | R10.8M | R35M | R60M | R80M | 40% |
| Kenya | R0 | R15M | R45M | R75M | 38% |
| Nigeria | R0 | R0 | R30M | R45M | 22% |
| Total ARR | R10.8M | R50M | R135M | R200M | 100% |
Churn Rate Analysis
Gross vs Net Churn Performance
| Month | Gross Logo Churn | Gross Revenue Churn | Net Revenue Retention | Benchmark NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2025 | 0% | 0% | 100% | 90% |
| Feb 2025 | 2% | 2% | 100% | 90% |
| Mar 2025 | 2.5% | 2.1% | 101% | 90% |
| Apr 2025 | 2.3% | 2% | 102% | 92% |
| May 2025 | 2% | 1.8% | 103% | 92% |
| Jun 2025 | 1.8% | 1.7% | 104% | 93% |
| Jul 2025 | 1.5% | 1.5% | 106% | 93% |
| Aug 2025 | 1.3% | 1.4% | 107% | 94% |
| Sep 2025 | 1.2% | 1.3% | 108% | 94% |
| Oct 2025 | 1% | 1.2% | 109% | 95% |
| Nov 2025 | 0.9% | 1.1% | 110% | 95% |
| Dec 2025 | 0.8% | 1% | 112% | 95% |
Churn by Tier (Annual Rates)
| Tier | Logo Churn | Revenue Churn | Reasons | AI Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essentials | 15% | 15% | Price sensitivity | AI demos → upgrades |
| Professional | 8% | 6% | Feature gaps | AI solves most needs |
| Enterprise | 4% | 3% | M&A only | AI creates lock-in |
| Blended | 9% | 8% | - | 60% lower than industry |
AI's Churn Prevention Power:
- Switching Costs: Years of AI-trained data lost
- Workflow Dependency: Staff can't function without AI
- Parent Expectations: Parents demand AI features
- Competitive Gap: No AI alternatives exist
- Success Metrics: Measurable improvement in outcomes
Net Revenue Retention (NRR)
Monthly NRR Cohort Analysis
| Cohort | Month 1 | Month 3 | Month 6 | Month 9 | Month 12 | Month 24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2025 | 100% | 102% | 105% | 108% | 112% | 125% |
| Feb 2025 | 100% | 101% | 104% | 107% | 111% | 123% |
| Mar 2025 | 100% | 101% | 103% | 106% | 110% | 121% |
| Apr 2025 | 100% | 102% | 104% | 107% | 111% | 122% |
| May 2025 | 100% | 103% | 105% | 108% | 112% | 124% |
| Jun 2025 | 100% | 103% | 106% | 109% | 113% | 126% |
NRR Drivers & Expansion Revenue
| Expansion Type | % of Schools | Revenue Impact | Annual Value | AI Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier Upgrade | 30% | +R400/student | R30M | AI success drives upgrades |
| Student Growth | 60% | +10% seats | R20M | AI enables larger classes |
| Add-on Modules | 40% | +R200/student | R20M | AI counseling, AI sports |
| Multi-campus | 15% | +100% contract | R30M | Group-wide AI adoption |
| Total Expansion | - | +25% NRR | R100M | AI drives all expansion |
Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) Payback
CAC Payback Period Evolution
| Quarter | Blended CAC | New MRR/Customer | Gross Margin | Payback Months | Industry Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 2025 | R8,500 | R7,500 | 75% | 1.5 | 18 |
| Q2 2025 | R7,500 | R8,500 | 77% | 1.1 | 18 |
| Q3 2025 | R6,500 | R9,500 | 78% | 0.9 | 18 |
| Q4 2025 | R5,500 | R10,500 | 80% | 0.7 | 18 |
Sales Efficiency Magic Number
| Quarter | New ARR | S&M Spend Previous Q | Magic Number | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 2025 | R10.8M | R0 (launch) | ∞ | Hypergrowth |
| Q2 2025 | R39.2M | R800K | 49 | Hypergrowth |
| Q3 2025 | R85M | R1.4M | 61 | Hypergrowth |
| Q4 2025 | R65M | R2M | 33 | Hypergrowth |
Magic Number Benchmarks:
- <0.5: Poor efficiency
- 0.5-0.75: Improve efficiency
- 0.75-1: Good efficiency
- 1-1.5: Very good efficiency
1.5: Hypergrowth
- YeboLearn: 33-61 (20-40x benchmark)
Rule of 40 Performance
Monthly Rule of 40 Score
| Month | Revenue Growth % | EBITDA Margin % | Rule of 40 Score | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2025 | - | -16% | - | - |
| Feb 2025 | 131% | 10% | 141 | Elite |
| Mar 2025 | 73% | 35% | 108 | Elite |
| Apr 2025 | 52% | 42% | 94 | Elite |
| May 2025 | 40% | 48% | 88 | Elite |
| Jun 2025 | 33% | 52% | 85 | Elite |
| Jul 2025 | 32% | 55% | 87 | Elite |
| Aug 2025 | 29% | 57% | 86 | Elite |
| Sep 2025 | 23% | 59% | 82 | Elite |
| Oct 2025 | 18% | 61% | 79 | Elite |
| Nov 2025 | 16% | 62% | 78 | Elite |
| Dec 2025 | 14% | 63% | 77 | Elite |
Rule of 40 Categories:
- <40: Underperforming
- 40-60: Good
- 60-80: Excellent
80: Elite (Top 1%)
- YeboLearn Average: 87 (Top 0.1%)
Gross Dollar Retention (GDR)
Monthly Gross Retention Rates
| Month | Starting MRR | Churned MRR | Downgrade MRR | GDR % | Industry Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 Avg | R2,194,000 | R16,000 | R5,000 | 99% | 88% |
| Q2 Avg | R7,765,000 | R56,000 | R15,000 | 99% | 88% |
| Q3 Avg | R17,339,000 | R93,000 | R25,000 | 99% | 88% |
| Q4 Avg | R29,037,000 | R98,000 | R30,000 | 99.6% | 88% |
Quick Ratio (Growth Efficiency)
SaaS Quick Ratio Analysis
| Month | New MRR | Expansion MRR | Churned MRR | Contraction MRR | Quick Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2025 | R1,200,000 | R0 | R18,000 | R0 | 67 |
| May 2025 | R2,100,000 | R150,000 | R55,000 | R10,000 | 35 |
| Aug 2025 | R3,600,000 | R400,000 | R94,000 | R15,000 | 37 |
| Nov 2025 | R3,300,000 | R700,000 | R100,000 | R20,000 | 33 |
| Average | R2,550,000 | R312,000 | R67,000 | R11,000 | 43 |
Quick Ratio Benchmarks:
- <1: Unhealthy growth
- 1-2: Acceptable growth
- 2-4: Good growth
4: Excellent growth
- YeboLearn: 43 (10x excellent)
Customer Concentration Risk
Revenue Distribution Analysis
| Customer Segment | # of Schools | % of Total Schools | % of Revenue | Concentration Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 1 School | 1 | 1% | 3% | Low |
| Top 5 Schools | 5 | 5% | 12% | Low |
| Top 10 Schools | 10 | 10% | 20% | Low |
| Top 20 Schools | 20 | 20% | 35% | Low |
| Remaining 80 | 80 | 80% | 65% | Healthy |
Concentration Health Metrics:
- No customer >10% of revenue ✓
- Top 10 customers <40% of revenue ✓
- Geographic diversity across 3 countries ✓
- Tier diversity (not dependent on Enterprise) ✓
Sales Velocity Equation
Pipeline Velocity Metrics
| Quarter | Opportunities | Avg Deal Size | Win Rate | Sales Cycle | Sales Velocity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 2025 | 30 | R300,000 | 40% | 45 days | R80,000/day |
| Q2 2025 | 75 | R350,000 | 45% | 35 days | R337,500/day |
| Q3 2025 | 150 | R400,000 | 50% | 25 days | R1,200,000/day |
| Q4 2025 | 175 | R450,000 | 55% | 20 days | R2,165,625/day |
Velocity Formula: (Opportunities × Avg Deal × Win Rate) ÷ Sales Cycle
Burn Multiple
Capital Efficiency Tracking
| Quarter | Net Burn | Net New ARR | Burn Multiple | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 2025 | R1,000,000 | R10,800,000 | 0.09 | Best-in-class |
| Q2 2025 | R500,000 | R39,200,000 | 0.01 | Best-in-class |
| Q3 2025 | -R2,000,000 | R85,000,000 | -0.02 | Cash generative |
| Q4 2025 | -R5,000,000 | R65,000,000 | -0.08 | Cash generative |
Burn Multiple Benchmarks:
2: Poor (burning too much)
- 1-2: Acceptable
- <1: Good
- <0.5: Excellent
- <0: Cash flow positive
- YeboLearn: -0.02 average (generating cash while growing)
Expansion Revenue Metrics
Land & Expand Performance
| Metric | Month 3 | Month 6 | Month 9 | Month 12 | Best-in-Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Customers Expanded | 15% | 35% | 55% | 70% | 30% |
| Avg Expansion Value | R50,000 | R75,000 | R100,000 | R125,000 | R50,000 |
| Time to First Expansion | 90 days | 75 days | 60 days | 45 days | 180 days |
| Expansion as % of New | 5% | 15% | 25% | 35% | 20% |
AI Impact on Core Metrics
Traditional vs AI-Powered Metrics
| Metric | Traditional SaaS | YeboLearn (AI) | Multiplier | AI Driver |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Growth Rate | 50% YoY | 800% YoY | 16x | No competition |
| Gross Retention | 88% | 99% | 1.1x | AI lock-in |
| Net Retention | 105% | 112% | 1.1x | AI expansion |
| CAC Payback | 18 months | 0.8 months | 22x | AI self-sells |
| Win Rate | 20% | 55% | 2.75x | Only AI option |
| Sales Cycle | 90 days | 25 days | 3.6x | Instant value |
| LTV:CAC | 3:1 | 275:1 | 92x | All factors |
Conclusion: Metrics That Break the Scale
YeboLearn's SaaS metrics don't just beat benchmarks—they redefine what's possible in EdTech. These aren't sustainable forever metrics; they're land-grab metrics that exist only during the 18-month AI monopoly window.
The Metrics That Matter:
- MRR Growth: R900K to R33M in 12 months (3,567% growth)
- Net Retention: 112% with only AI in market
- CAC Payback: <1 month (22x faster than industry)
- Rule of 40: Average 87 (top 0.1% of all SaaS)
- Burn Multiple: -0.02 (generating cash while hypergrowth)
The AI Advantage Timeline:
- Months 1-6: Establish metrics superiority
- Months 7-12: Scale before competition notices
- Months 13-18: Fortify position as competitors scramble
- Month 19+: Maintain lead with network effects
Bottom Line: These metrics prove one thing—when you have transformative technology with zero competition, the normal rules don't apply. YeboLearn isn't competing in the market; it's creating a new category where it's the only player. That's worth R1B+ in enterprise value.