How can Lean Startup help you develop and test new business ideas in uncertain environments?

Nowadays, there is no other option than to be lean. The business environment is so dynamic that standard approach is too rigid. Great decisions made yesterday may not be good tomorrow. Fixed plans and budgets are a relic of the past. All long-term strategies are getting shorter. Stay lean to succeed.

Our company SUITABLEE's roots lie in the Lean Startup philosophy—a time when we didn't have a formal office, but rather embraced mobility. With limited fabrics, styles, and budget-friendly prices, our goal was simple: sell like hell and learn like hell. We understood that the product might not be exceptional, but with low prices and outstanding service, we forged a unique path. In an era where many rush to secure loans, our 'loan' was the sacrifice of not turning a profit during those initial learning years. Today, as we reflect on our evolution, we're proud of the journey that shaped us into who we are.

The Lean Startup approach is an amazing philosophy for entrepreneurs and business leaders alike, all of us navigating uncertain business environments - that would make all business environments these days? By advocating the creation of "good enough to test and learn" products or MVPs, Lean encourages pace of deployment and real-world feedback, creating a vehicle for data-driven decision-making that excels at mitigating risk. Embracing a "fail fast, pivot faster" mindset is not easy and is definitely not comfortable, but when embraced fully, it transforms the process into a million learning opportunities. I am no longer in a startup environment but the principles of Lean apply every bit as much! [AI manipulated]

For me, the most important rule of applying the Lean Startup mindset is: question everything. So many times, I have seen projects fail because team members fail to challenge themselves or each other on the premises of their endeavors. If you’re willing to fix bugs and glitches as you go, make sure you are willing to “fix” their underlying assumptions as well.

Lean start-up is a methodology that formalizes typical entrepreneurial explorative behavior when dealing with uncertainty. At best, it can help entrepreneurs and businesses build and grow ventures more effectively through step-by-step validation of underlying assumptions. I regularly advise clients and train adult learners to apply the lean method in their business, and I find that they appreciate a systematic approach to new venture creation.

Lean Startup works by swiftly creating a basic version of your idea (MVP), getting it out to customers, learning from their feedback, and adjusting your approach. It's a continuous cycle of build-measure-learn, helping you adapt and improve rapidly in uncertain business environments.

Here are a few critical things I found extremely helpful throughout my entrepreneurial journey and that I always ask my team to go by: 1/ Think first. You have to be clear on objectives and realistic about the outcome. 2/ Ideas are only 10% of the equation: execution is key and a thorough understanding of the environment (industry best practices, smart competitors behavior, market specificities, etc.) reduces risks and cost of unnecessary mistakes. 3/ Build your capabilities on the way up. Entrepreneurship requires polyvalence and using your team’s skills at their maximum potential. A lean, smart and effective organization is key 4/ Test and Play: scale up and increase investment only when proof of concept / desirability occurs

Lean Startup works through a continuous feedback loop of building, measuring, and learning: 1. Identify a Business Hypothesis: Start with a clear vision or hypothesis (an idea about a product/service that addresses a specific customer need) 2. Build a MVP: A basic version of the product, enough to test the hypothesis 3. Measure: After the MVP is launched, measure how it performs in the market. KPIs should be identified to measure success. 4. Learn: Based on the results, learn whether the hypothesis was correct (validated by customer feedback and market response) 5. Pivot or Persevere: If the MVP is successful, continue with the initial product (persevere). If the MVP doesn't meet the expected KPIs, 'pivot'. The cycle then repeats.

Lean Startup's build-measure-learn framework indeed fosters rapid, iterative development, crucial in today's fast-paced market. Its strength lies in its simplicity and focus on customer feedback. By starting with a hypothesis, test and then develop an MVP or offer, you minimize resource expenditure while testing the waters. This approach is particularly effective in environments of high uncertainty, where traditional business planning methods fall short. However, it's not without challenges. It requires a culture that embraces failure as a learning tool, and not all organizations are ready for such a mindset shift.

As the co-Founder of The Arab Culturalist, we used a lean start-up approach to launch our business from inception to our first client in under one month with one product. In my experience, hyper focusing on one type of product allowed us to understand more about the niche Cultural Intelligence market and use the feedback we received from our clients to develop a one of a kind service product. Nearly 8 years later, we have expanded our services, however our flagship core product is still our best seller. My advice is to keep it simple and beware that enhancements to a core product can improve market penetration however they also can be a business distraction.

Lean Startup brings speed, efficiency, and adaptability to business. By quickly testing ideas with a minimum viable product (MVP), it minimizes wasted time and resources. Learning from real customer feedback allows for precise adjustments, increasing the likelihood of creating a successful and customer-centric product or service. It's a practical approach that fosters innovation while minimizing risks and uncertainties.

Per my understanding - Lean Startup is a simple and low-cost way to start a new business You can begin with a basic product, see how customers like it, and then improve it based on their feedback. This helps save money and quickly find out what works best Few Benefits Since they start small with a very basic product, this approach allows them to test their ideas without committing significant resources Lean startups can quickly gather feedback from customers and can make necessary adjustments, leading to a product that better meets customer needs They are far more agile in nature and can pivot direction more easily based on feedback This flexibility is crucial in a fast-paced environment where market conditions can change rapidly

By adopting Lean Startup principles, businesses can significantly reduce market risks and sidestep the need for large amounts of initial project funding or expensive product launches that might fail. This approach emphasizes the importance of engaging customers throughout the development process, ensuring that the product evolves based on actual customer desires and feedback, rather than assumptions. This customer-centric focus not only increases the likelihood of product-market fit but also builds a loyal customer base that feels invested in the product's success. Furthermore, Lean Startup encourages a culture of fast-paced innovation and adaptability, where learning from failures and pivoting based on insights is part of the norm.

In my experience, the biggest benefit comes from embracing the learning curve. You listen to your customers and have the room for flexibility and adaptability. Even from a rejection, it gives you the learning mechanism needed to succeed as a business. You listen when they’re telling you why things didn’t work, and you can quickly learn from the experience and change your game plan for the future. You can collect information in real market research and conditions and invest in the right direction, then go back and build a relationship with people, in turn they know that you’re listening to them and this fosters a continuous learning system and gives you consistent clients who help you grow as a company.

Shipping an MVP to your customers early, with their input involved as early as possible, is a proven approach to delivering the best product possible. When this works well, you have an engaged customer base, much improved product and faster time to market. The risk to control is that you must iterate and not leave those customers with the MVP for the long run. Breaking things and failing is great during development, but make sure you follow through and complete the exercise to actually capture the value created with this approach.

Resistance to Change: Teams may resist moving from traditional methods to continuous learning. MVP Challenge: Balancing minimal features and customer value can be tricky. Resource Constraints: Small startups may struggle with frequent experimentation due to limited resources. Metric Limitation: Relying solely on metrics might overlook crucial qualitative insights. Uncertain Outcomes: Accepting that not all experiments lead to success can be uncomfortable. and many more......

One of the biggest challenges I have faced, is people’s ability to be lean, adaptative and smart in their approach to problem solving. Lean execution requires hard technical skills but I found that soft skills such as intuitive risk management and problem solving as well as fast thinking and adaptation to change are equally key. Choosing the right metrics is also key, as they are a measure for progress, success or failure. A balanced scorecard exercise defining which metrics to monitor and why is critical.

Measuring success is an area where Lean Startup can be tricky. It's essential to focus on metrics that genuinely reflect progress and learning rather than superficial 'vanity metrics' that look good on paper but don't offer real value. This requires a disciplined approach to data analysis and decision-making, avoiding biases and subjective opinions. Moreover, the balance between speed and quality is a fine line. Moving fast is a key principle of Lean Startup, but not at the expense of accruing significant technical debt or compromising on the quality that your customers expect. This balance is critical for sustainable growth and long-term success.

Lean startups in Africa grapple with challenges like limited funding, infrastructure issues, and market uncertainties. To overcome these obstacles, they leverage local networks, embrace frugal innovation, and seek support from government initiatives or NGOs. Engaging with incubation and acceleration programs provides mentorship and resources, while embedding sustainable practices attracts socially conscious consumers. Accessing affordable capital, often from impact investors, supports growth. Emphasizing lean operations ensures efficiency, crucial for navigating resource constraints and sustaining long-term viability in the African business landscape.

The challenges of a lean startup include dispersed ownership of the customer, lack of clear business ownership and dedication, the need for continuous problem validation, customer discovery, and revenue generation. Additionally, the lean startup approach may not be suitable for all projects, as it focuses on iterative development and may not scale well in some cases. Some other limitations in the lean startup methodology can be identified, such as agnostic experimentation and the lack of a compelling strategy. These challenges can be overcome by following best practices and being aware of the limitations of the lean startup approach.

You and your co-founder should first find a closed group of people who are neither obsessed with your idea nor with you both and are ready to play devils advocate with you to make you more sure of the idea. Now, work on building a simplest solution of the problem you want to solve and see if you can make money in the process. Now, go ahead and work on getting the MVP ready and find divergence between the initial plan and MVP. Try to fix this divergence and cross check if it will grow at scale or is workable. Now try to sell your service and see if customers are putting their time and money on it or not. If yes, great but still ask for feedback. If no, know why No? Let’s Re-start till the time it’s a yes!

Start by drafting your idea onto a Lean canvas. Then, prioritising your hypotheses based on risk. It helps identify the most critical assumptions that could make or break your project. By designing experiments to test these hypotheses, you're engaging in a learning process that's more valuable than mere execution. The iterative nature of this process – running experiments, gathering feedback, and then refining your idea – is what makes Lean Startup so effective. It's about building a feedback loop that continuously informs your decisions, allowing you to pivot or persevere based on real-world data.

Start with the customer. Figure out what problem they faced and if it's a problem worth solving. One that many people faced, and the you have a solution that is much better than existing.

The old adage to sell first then build is still hyper relevant. Try to find out how interested in an idea your audience are before running off and building. If you get interest (signed agreements and payment is a far more reliable intent than someone just saying they are interested!), you can build an MVP whilst in flight. Be open that they are your founder users. Then iterate based on this small groups feedback before seeking to scale!

In lean startup, every business need to have this 3 things to scale fast (or break) 1) A clear baseline: Understand your business north-star 2) Tuning the growth engine: Figure out whats work and improve everyday 3) Pivot or persevere ? Stick to it or change

1) Unlock the Power of Lean Startup through In-Person Events. Immerse yourself in the vibrant world of Lean Startup through engaging in-person events. Whether it's attending conferences for inspiration, workshops for practical application, or meetups for a supportive community, these gatherings will elevate your entrepreneurial journey. 2) Lean Startup Conferences: A Hub of Innovation and Learning. Connect with fellow Lean Startup enthusiasts, gain insights from experts, and discover the latest trends at these inspiring gatherings. 3) Lean Startup Workshops: Practical Application in Action. Gain hands-on experience building MVPs, conducting customer interviews, and iterating your product through immersive workshops.

The best way to learn more about Lean Startup is - as often - to actually use it. I leveraged it within a startup as VP of Product, and from corporates as innovation lead.

Learn about Lean Startup through key resources such as Eric Ries' book "The Lean Startup" and the official Lean Startup website. "Lean Analytics" by Alistair Croll and Ben Yoskovitz explores the metrics and analytics aspects. Online courses on platforms like Udemy and Coursera, along with blogs, articles, and podcasts, offer practical insights. Attend the Lean Startup Conference, explore local meetups, and engage with startup incubators for hands-on experience. Networking with entrepreneurs and participating in forums enhances your understanding of Lean Startup principles, emphasizing continuous learning and adaptation.

Here are some additional thoughts based on your list: Focus on your needs: Different resources cater to different learning styles and levels of experience. Consider your specific goals and choose resources that resonate with you. Start with the basics: If you're new to Lean Startup, it's best to begin with foundational texts like Ries' book and Maurya's book before diving into advanced topics. Get hands-on: Learning by doing is crucial. Use tools like Lean Canvas and participate in workshops or simulations to gain practical experience applying the methodology. Connect with the community: Joining online forums or meetup groups allows you to network with other Lean Startup enthusiasts, ask questions, and share best practices.

I personaly learnt some of the tricks while working in startups. When you're inside, there's usually a kind of community sticking to the startup ecosystem and some guys have already done through the process. Partly or entirely. I also got my ass kicked by participating to the Founder Institute accelerator. Huge learnings!!!

Lean startups have four issues. 1. It emphasizes experimentation over strategy 2. It tests MVPs with the goal of failing too fast 3. It leads to incremental products 4. It overemphasizes product at the cost of growth with “if you build they will come” mentality Finding a true market fit requires product strategy that is supported with user and market research as well as focus tests. Speed is important. But it’s important only if you’re going to the right direction. And the right direction is found only by accident if you just test MVPs and pivot when they fail.

Adopting a lean startup approach in uncertain environments involves rapid iteration and validated learning. Begin with a minimal viable product (MVP) to test core hypotheses. Airbnb is a notable example; starting with a simple website to connect hosts and guests, they validated their concept before expanding features. Constantly gather customer feedback and adapt the MVP accordingly. This iterative process mitigates risks and refines the business idea, allowing strategic leaders to navigate uncertainties with agility. Lean startup principles foster resilience, enabling organizations to evolve and succeed in dynamic, unpredictable markets.

Never think that your assumptions about the world represent a true reality. 🧠 Test your assumptions at all times and never stop making changes.

Montei uma startup do zero e sem nenhum investimento inicial e posso dizer após quase 4 anos com o negócio rodando, alguns milhões captados, centenas de clientes rodando e um quadro de profissionais em crescimento que nada é mais poderoso do que a prática. Essa prática torna-se muito mais eficiente quando se trata de iniciar diretamente com o cliente vendendo a sua ideia, afinal, não existe professor tão perfeito do que o cliente com os seus feedbacks positivos e negativos. Por isso a recomendação é: quer começar um negócio, comece pelas vendas!

The concept of MVP is not just about speed and efficiency; it's also about reducing overconfidence bias (the tendency to overestimate one’s abilities or the accuracy of one's predictions). By pushing entrepreneurs to release a basic version of their product early, the Lean Startup methodology forces them to confront the reality of the market quickly, helping them avoid spending time and resources on products that customers don't actually want.