The lean startup
A startup is treated as an experiment under extreme uncertainty. A fixed vision sits on top, a strategy below it, and the product evolves through a fast Build-Measure-Learn loop.
Vision and strategy
The vision is the destination and rarely changes. The strategy is the current plan for getting there, and it can be changed when evidence demands it.
Leap-of-faith assumptions
Every plan rests on two risky bets: the value hypothesis and the growth hypothesis. These become the ideas the loop must test first.
Build an MVP
Build the minimum viable product: just enough to test the riskiest assumption with real customers, as fast as possible.
Measure what matters
Put the MVP in front of customers and collect actionable metrics through experiments like A/B tests and cohort analysis, not vanity numbers.
Learn
Analyse the data to confirm or reject the hypothesis. This validated learning, not features shipped, is the real measure of progress.
Pivot or persevere
Each loop ends in a decision: persevere and test the next idea, or pivot by changing the strategy while keeping the vision. Then the loop runs again, faster.