Formula
First value event timestamp - Signup timestamp
How to measure
Instrument the specific first-value event and calculate the time elapsed from signup for each new user, then average across a cohort.
Why track it
This metric is the most direct, controllable lever a team has over early activation and, downstream, retention.
Example
A scheduling tool reduces time to first value from 25 minutes to 3 minutes by auto-detecting calendar availability on signup.