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Rapidly Test and Iterate Your Way to Product-Market Fit
Master Lean Startup for business launch: key concepts from Ries’ book — MVP, validated learning, build-measure-learn — plus FAQs.
Introduction
Eric Ries is an entrepreneur, author, and expert on lean startup strategy. He pioneered the lean startup concept after his experiences founding companies such as IMVU and Catalyst Recruiting.
Ries found from his past ventures that the traditional startup model often leads to failure.
Startups typically launch with an initial product idea, spend heavily on product development, and only realize their mistake when it’s too late. Ries knew there had to be a better way.
After testing different strategies at IMVU, Ries developed the lean startup methodology. This approach favors experimentation and iterative product releases over long development cycles.
Ries first introduced the lean startup philosophy in 2008 and later documented it in his bestselling book The Lean Startup in 2011. Since then, these strategies have revolutionized the way startups and even established companies launch products.
The lean startup model has become the blueprint for maximizing chances of success while minimizing waste for countless entrepreneurs.
Summary of The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
The lean startup methodology advocates validated learning over traditional business planning.
This means rapidly testing ideas through experiments and getting feedback from real customers rather than making elaborate plans based on assumptions.
The traditional business planning approach starts with a detailed business plan, financial projections, an organizational chart, etc. before having any real customers.
This is problematic because there are too many assumptions built into the plan that have not been validated with real customers.
The lean approach favors experimentation and learning first. The goal is to test fundamental business hypotheses (value proposition, customer segments, pricing models, distribution channels, etc.) through low-cost experiments rather than executing an intricate plan based on speculation
For example, a startup might build a minimum viable product (MVP) to present to customers for feedback, rather than a fully featured product built on assumptions.
By testing hypotheses objectively with real customer behavior, startups can learn how to build a sustainable business.
This builds actionable knowledge much faster than making elaborate untested plans.
Minimum Viable Product
An MVP is a version of the product with just enough features to begin the learning process and validate assumptions.
The goal of an MVP is not to be a finished product. Rather, it allows entrepreneurs to start the process of learning as quickly as possible.
By constructing an MVP, startups can put a product in front of customers and collect data on whether it solves real problems for real people.
Some key recommendations around MVPs:
- Focus on the riskiest parts of the product first. Identify the biggest assumptions and concentrate efforts on testing those.
- Build the simplest possible version that will enable validated learning. Include only essential features, and scrap everything else.
- Get the MVP in front of actual customers as soon as possible. Do not wait to develop every feature.
- Use MVPs to gather user feedback and iterate rapidly. Treat the product as an experiment, not something perfected.
- Focus on learning over scaling. Optimize the MVP for speed of learning, not necessarily growth.
The lean startup philosophy encourages startups to resist elaborating anything beyond an MVP until rigorous proof is obtained that customers truly value that feature.
Start small but smart, so you can conserve resources and gain invaluable validated learning about their customers and markets.
Innovation Accounting
Traditional accounting focuses on financials — profit, loss, revenue, expenses.
This works for established businesses, but for startups early traction is more important than financials. Startups need a new kind of accounting focused on actionable metrics that indicate true progress.
Rather than vanity metrics like website visitors or app downloads that sound good but don’t directly relate to core goals, startups should identify actionable metrics that tie to the key drivers of their business.
For an e-commerce site, this may be repeat purchasers and average order value. For a mobile game, it could be retention rate or number of daily active users.
They steer product development, marketing campaigns, and other priorities. Most importantly, actionable metrics provide validated learning about the startup’s product-market fit.
Tracking and optimizing these metrics helps startups pivot toward product-market fit or persist on their trajectory.
Innovation accounting is about quickly getting feedback from real customers and measuring success through actionable metrics, not vanity metrics.
This data-driven, customer-focused approach lets startups nimbly iterate.
Build-Measure-Learn
The Build-Measure-Learn loop is the core feedback process for rapidly iterating products in the Lean Startup methodology.
The loop emphasizes quickly building a minimum viable product, getting customer feedback, measuring key metrics, and learning whether to pivot or persevere.
The steps in the Build-Measure-Learn loop are:
- Build — Rapidly create a minimum viable product with just enough features to begin testing assumptions. Focus on fast prototypes and iterations instead of elaborate products.
- Measure — Develop metrics focused on validating whether customers find the product valuable. Avoid vanity metrics like downloads or clicks that don’t measure real value.
- Learn — Analyze the metrics to determine if customers view the product as valuable. If not, learn what needs to change to improve perceived value.
The Build-Measure-Learn loop aims to validate whether the fundamental business hypotheses are correct as quickly as possible.
By rapidly iterating products based on customer feedback, startups can avoid wasted time and resources by not over-investing in the wrong products or features.
This learning loop ties directly back to validated learning. Startups must empirically test whether their vision resonates with customers through measured experimentation and feedback.
The Build-Measure-Learn loop provides the core process to achieve validated learning efficiently.
Actionable Metrics
Metrics are an important part of the Lean Startup model. They should accurately measure your startup’s progress towards business goals.
Rather than vanity metrics like number of visitors or downloads, focus on actionable metrics tied to core value drivers.
For example, a SaaS company shouldn’t just look at new signups. More important is activation rate, engagement over time, retention rate, revenue per customer, etc. Dig into behavioral cohorts to understand metrics by user segment.
Prioritize instrumenting the customer lifecycle from acquisition to monetization. Make metrics accessible across the organization through dashboards and reporting.
Tie metrics to overarching goals and guardrails. Establish target goals or thresholds that trigger action if exceeded. This could be budget thresholds, user churn rate, product adoption, time to value, and more.
Make sure metrics are driving the right action, not just reporting the facts. They should provide insight to iterate on the product experience and business model.
Measure end results, not output. For example, self-reported satisfaction scores are not as meaningful as actual retention and engagement.
Carefully choose metrics that connect leading indicators to longer-term outcomes. Be wary of short term proxies that fall apart over time. Prioritize problem and solution fit over scale.
Be prepared to pivot if the current metrics are not driving favorable outcomes
Having the right actionable metrics is critical for making data-informed decisions and iterating your way to product/market fit.
Split Testing
A critical component of the Lean Startup methodology is split testing, also known as A/B testing.
This involves testing different versions of a minimum viable product (MVP) with customers to determine which one better meets their needs.
The goal of split testing is to validate which product is preferred by target customers.
For example, a startup could test two different homepage designs, landing pages, signup flows, or product features.
They present version A to some customers and version B to others, then measure metrics like signup rates to see which performed better.
Split testing allows startups to avoid building products nobody wants. By testing MVPs rather than full products, multiple ideas can be tried quickly and cheaply.
The key is to identify the critical assumptions that need validated, then devise variants to test those assumptions.
For example, testing a pricing page with different price points would validate what customers are willing to pay.
The Lean Startup advocates rigorously splitting testing MVPs with actual target customers before committing time and money to a single product vision.
This helps startups build something users love rather than wasting resources.
Split testing transforms guesses about customer needs into facts and data.
Customer Development
Getting out of the building to interview potential users is a key part of the Lean Startup methodology.
Rather than making assumptions about what customers want, you need to talk directly to them.
The Customer Development process involves four key steps:
- Customer Discovery: Identify your target customers and get out to interview them. Ask about their problems, needs, and current solutions. Don’t try to pitch your product, just gather data and learn.
- Customer Validation: Share your proposed solution and determine if customers resonate with your product concept. See if they would use and pay for your product.
- Customer Creation: Start getting early customers to try your MVP. Offer discounts or perks to acquire users and gather feedback.
- Company Building: Transition from experiments to execution. Scale up marketing and sales based on what you’ve validated with customers.
The goal of Customer Development is to gather actionable insights that can inform how to build and market your product. However, it requires actually talking to prospective users rather than hypothesizing.
Pivot or Persevere
A key decision startups face is determining whether to pivot based on insights from experiments and feedback, or persevere on their initial idea.
The Lean Startup method advocates pursuing validated learning through testing hypotheses and experimentation.
If the results reveal that initial assumptions were flawed, the recommendation is to pivot.
Pivoting involves changing a key component of the business model, such as the customer segment, product features, or distribution channel. A pivot is a structural course correction designed to test a new hypothesis.
Persevering means staying the course with the original strategy.
This may be appropriate if the testing and customer feedback confirms initial hypotheses and validates there is a problem/solution fit. Persevering requires preserving the vision and ignoring detractors.
Determining whether to pivot or persevere depends on the startup goals and context.
Signs it may be time to pivot include lack of interest from target customers, weak user engagement metrics, and poor response to minimum viable products.
If initial hypotheses are invalidated, persisting risks wasting more time and money on the wrong strategy. Pivoting tests a new direction to identify a viable path forward.
However, pivoting too frequently can also slow progress.
Pivots should be purposeful and data-driven, not reactionary. If key assumptions and hypotheses are validated, it may be prudent to persevere and optimize execution. Striking the right balance between persistence and flexibility is key.
The core emphasis should be on learning quickly and failing fast until finding product/market fit.
Startup Success Stories
Some well-known and successful startups have utilized Lean Startup methodology to build and grow their businesses. Here are a few examples:
Dropbox
Dropbox was founded in 2007 by Drew Houston and Arash Ferdowsi.
They started by creating a simple video demo of their proposed file hosting service and put it online to gauge interest. The video went viral and generated thousands of signups overnight.
Dropbox used this initial traction to validate that customers wanted their product before fully building it out.
They started with a minimum viable product (MVP) that offered basic file syncing and sharing features. Based on customer feedback, they iterated by adding things like multi-platform support, shared folders, and document previews.
Dropbox epitomizes using the Build-Measure-Learn loop to incrementally improve its offering.
Airbnb
Airbnb was founded in 2008 by Brian Chesky, Joe Gebbia, and Nathan Blecharczyk as a way for people to easily rent out their spare rooms or homes to travelers.
The founders started by building a basic website and buying air mattresses to test out their service.
They looked for events with spiked housing demand as opportunities to validate their idea and get initial traction. For example, they targeted design conferences when hotels were full.
This allowed them to get user feedback and incrementally build features to improve the experience.
Airbnb utilized creative guerrilla marketing tactics combined with the Lean method to disrupt the multi-billion dollar hotel industry.
Zappos
Nick Swinmurn founded Zappos in 1999 as an online shoe retailer. Zappos differentiated itself by focusing obsessively on delivering excellent customer service.
They started very small and tested different approaches to see what worked best. For example, they rigorously tested their initial 5-page website design against more flashy alternatives.
They found customers preferred the simple design, validating it was the right choice to make their buying experience smooth and pleasant.
Zappos built up its inventory and expanded its product line based directly on customer demand. They also developed innovations like free shipping and free 365-day returns to keep perfecting the customer experience.
Final Thoughts
This approach, a significant shift from traditional startup models, emphasizes a rapid, iterative development process centered on building a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), engaging in validated learning, and iterating based on customer feedback.
Key to this method is the Build-Measure-Learn loop, where ideas are quickly turned into products, customer reactions are measured, and the product is iteratively improved.
The article delves into the concepts of innovation accounting and actionable metrics, steering away from traditional vanity metrics and focusing instead on those that offer real insights into a startup’s trajectory.
It highlights the importance of customer development, where direct customer engagement shapes product development, and the pivotal decision between pivoting — making significant changes based on feedback — and persevering with the current strategy.
Success stories from companies like Dropbox, Airbnb, and Zappos exemplify the practical application and effectiveness of the Lean Startup principles.
This concise guide offers a clear and practical understanding of the Lean Startup methodology, making it an essential resource for entrepreneurs and business leaders aiming to innovate and succeed in the dynamic startup landscape.
FAQ: Lean Startup: A Framework for Achieving Product-Market Fit Fast
1: What Is the Lean Startup Method?
Eric Ries put forth a business concept called the Lean Startup Method. Quick prototyping, iterative product development cycles, and regular consumer feedback are the main points of this approach, which aims to address market needs efficiently.
2. Eric Ries-who is he?
The Lean Startup methodology was developed by author and entrepreneur Eric Ries. He wrote about how he used this method in his best-selling book “ The Lean Startup. “ He used it at his startup firms, like IMVU and Catalyst Consulting.
3. What is an MVP?
An MVP, or Minimum Viable Product, is a stripped-down version of a full-fledged product that focuses on the most critical aspects. During the early phases of product development, it rapidly collects user feedback and verifies assumptions.
4. The Build-Measure-Learn loop: how does it work?
Lean Startup is based on the idea of the Build-Measure-Learn loop. Constructing a minimum viable product (MVP), testing it with real users, and then deciding whether to pivot (make significant changes) or persevere (keep on with the present approach) are all parts of iterative product development.
5. In the Lean Startup approach, what are the actionable metrics?
Startups need actionable metrics, or key performance indicators, to track how well they meet their objectives. In contrast to vanity metrics, actionable metrics help with decision-making and iterating on products.
6. How are Pivot and Persevere different?
To “persevere” is to stick with the original strategy, while to “pivot” is to adjust the company model in response to comments significantly. Based on the findings from the Build-Measure-Learn loop, this decision is pivotal in the Lean Startup process.
7. Is the Lean Startup methodology applicable to well-established businesses?
Established businesses can also benefit from Lean Startup’s approach to innovation and efficient product or service development; it’s not just for startups anymore.
8. What does Split Testing entail within the framework of Lean Startup?
Split testing compares two versions among various consumer groups to find out which version of a product feature works better. This method is also known as A/B testing. It’s a way to develop products with data-driven decisions.
9. What is the role of Customer Development in the Lean Startup framework?
In customer development, you talk to people who might buy your product to find out what they need and to see if your ideas are viable. Assuring that the product being developed aligns with real consumer challenges and needs is a crucial aspect of the Lean Startup approach.
10. Has the Lean Startup methodology produced any fruitful businesses?
Indeed, Lean Startup’s ideas have been instrumental in the growth and scaling of numerous successful firms, including Dropbox, Airbnb, and Zappos.