Lean Startup is a methodology for developing startups and new products, pioneered by Eric Ries, that emphasizes continuous experimentation and validated learning in order to build a sustainable business. Using Lean Startup principles, entrepreneurs can bring their ideas to market faster and with less waste, ultimately increasing their chances of success.
A Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is the simplest version of a product that can be released in order to test the market and validate assumptions about customer needs. By creating an MVP, startups can avoid spending time and resources on building something customers won't want or use.
Customer Development is a process of testing assumptions about target customers through real-world interactions, such as surveys, interviews, and customer feedback. By gathering data from potential customers early on in the product development process, entrepreneurs can better understand their needs and build products that meet them.
Validated Learning occurs when entrepreneurs gather data through experimentation and use it to inform decision-making. By testing assumptions through real-world interactions with customers and analyzing the resulting data, startups can learn what works and what doesn't to continually improve their offerings.
Experimentation allows entrepreneurs to test hypotheses about their product or business model quickly, cheaply, and without too much risk. Successful experiments can provide valuable insights that inform future decisions about product development or go-to-market strategy.
Product-Market Fit refers to the intersection of a startup's product offering with the needs of its target market. Achieving product-market fit means that there is significant demand for the product among its target customers, indicating that it has found a scalable business model.
By following Lean Startup principles, businesses can avoid common pitfalls like overbuilding products that nobody wants, wasting resources on ineffective marketing strategies, or failing to listen to customer feedback. Instead, they can focus on building products that meet real customer needs and creating sustainable business models.