Marketplace Unit Economics Explained: Lessons from Building OpenMyPro to bootstrapped revenue

Marketplace unit economics are fundamentally different from SaaS or e-commerce. The two-sided nature, network effects, and liquidity dynamics create both unique advantages and unique pitfalls. Having built OpenMyPro to bootstrapped revenue with a strong LTV/CAC ratio, I have practical experience with marketplace economics that I want to share.

The Two-Sided Challenge

Marketplaces must manage economics on both sides. Supply-side economics determine what it costs to acquire and retain providers. Demand-side economics determine what it costs to acquire and retain patients. The magic of marketplaces is that at scale, each side reduces the acquisition cost of the other — more providers attract more patients, more patients attract more providers.