Lean startup

How it is used

Made popular by Eric Ries's 2011 book The Lean Startup. Its key ideas include the MVP, validated learning and the pivot. People say the lean startup method, a lean approach or running lean.

Example sentences

1. Following the lean startup approach, we tested the idea with a landing page before building anything.

2. The workshop teaches lean startup methods to university teams.

Common collocations

• lean startup method
• build-measure-learn
• validated learning
• run lean

Related terms

• MVPMinimum viable product: the simplest version of a product that real customers can use, built quickly to test whether the idea solves their problem.
• validateTo check with real evidence, such as customer interviews, sign-ups or pre-orders, that an idea, a problem or a business assumption is true.
• iterateTo improve a product in repeated short cycles: build a version, test it with users, learn from the results and make the next version better.
• pivotTo change a basic part of your business, such as the product, the customer group or the way you make money, because the original plan is not working.
• customer discoveryThe early process of talking directly to possible customers to understand their problems and test whether your idea is worth building.

More terms: MVP & Product-Market Fit

• product-market fit
• early adopter
• prototype