A new report from OKRs Tool reveals that early-stage startups using OKRs are significantly more likely to hit key growth milestones faster, including $1M in ARR. Based on data from 200 founders, the 2025 Startup OKR Report provides a rare look at how small, fast-growing companies are using OKRs to stay aligned, prioritize better, and drive execution - often seeing results within the first 90 days.
TALLINN, Estonia, June 17, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- A surveying 200 early-stage startups reveals that 68% reached $1M in annual recurring revenue (ARR) faster after implementing OKRs (Objectives and Key Results), the popular goal-setting framework.
The 2025 Startup OKR Report, released today by OKRs Tool, offers rare insight into how early-stage teams - from 2 to 50 employees - are using OKRs to drive alignment, focus, and sustainable growth.
The findings include benchmarks, adoption patterns, and founder-submitted advice from real operators working in high-growth environments.
"Startups don't struggle because they're not working hard," said Steven Macdonald, founder of OKRs Tool.
"They struggle because they're not always working on the same things. OKRs - when done right - solve that."
Key findings from the report include:
- 68% said OKRs helped them reach $1M ARR faster
- 89% wish they had started using OKRs earlier
- 39% saw measurable impact within 1-3 months
- 56% were using spreadsheets before switching to a purpose-built OKR tool
- Top benefits: improved team alignment (21%) and simplified goal tracking (20%)
The report also highlights lessons from top-performing teams, including practical tips for setting OKRs, building weekly habits, and avoiding common rollout mistakes.
One startup founder summarized it simply:
"OKRs helped us figure out what mattered - and where to focus - to actually hit our goals."
Read the full report: See what's working (and what's not) for real startups using OKRs to grow faster, align better, and stay focused as they scale.
About the Study
This independent study was conducted between February and May 2025 and included responses from 200 early-stage teams across North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia. All respondents were non-customers of OKRs Tool, ensuring an unbiased snapshot of real-world OKR adoption and outcomes.
About OKRs Tool
OKRs Tool is a goal-setting platform built specifically for early-stage startups. Designed to replace the chaos of spreadsheets and the overhead of enterprise tools, OKRs Tool helps small, fast-moving teams stay aligned, accountable, and focused on the goals that matter.
Learn more at
Media Contact
Steven Macdonald, OKRs Tool, 372 56614409, [email protected],
SOURCE OKRs Tool
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