The Lean Startup

How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses

By: Eric Ries

Narrated by: Eric Ries

Most startups fail. But many of those failures are preventable. The Lean Startup is a new approach being adopted across the globe, changing the way companies are built and new products are launched.

Eric Ries defines a startup as an organization dedicated to creating something new under conditions of extreme uncertainty. This is just as true for one person in a garage or a group of seasoned professionals in a Fortune 500 boardroom. What they have in common is a mission to penetrate that fog of uncertainty to discover a successful path to a sustainable business.

The Lean Startup approach fosters companies that are both more capital efficient and that leverage human creativity more effectively. Inspired by lessons from lean manufacturing, it relies on “validated learning”, rapid scientific experimentation, as well as a number of counter-intuitive practices that shorten product-development cycles, measure actual progress without resorting to vanity metrics, and learn what customers really want. It enables a company to shift directions with agility, altering plans inch by inch, minute by minute.

Rather than wasting time creating elaborate business plans, The Lean Startup offers entrepreneurs - in companies of all sizes - a way to test their vision continuously, to adapt and adjust before it’s too late. Ries provides a scientific approach to creating and managing successful startups in a age when companies need to innovate more than ever.

©2011 Eric Ries (P)2011 Random House

Critic reviews

"Eric has created a science where previously there was only art. A must read for every serious entrepreneur—and every manager interested in innovation." (Marc Andreessen, co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz, Opsware Inc., and Netscape)

"At Asana, we've been lucky to benefit from Eric's advice firsthand; this book will enable him to help many more entrepreneurs answer the tough questions about their business." (Dustin Moskovitz, co-founder of Facebook and Asana)

"In business, a ‘lean’ enterprise is sustainable efficiency in action. Eric Ries’ revolutionary Lean Startup method will help bring your new business idea to an end result that is successful and sustainable. You’ll find innovative steps and strategies for creating and managing your own startup while learning from the real-life successes and collapses of others. This book is a must read for entrepreneurs who are truly ready to start something great!” (Ken Blanchard, coauthor of The One Minute Manager and The One Minute Entrepreneur.)

A must for anyone starting a business

I strongly recommend this book for anyone who's running a business, starting a business, or in business school.

What really counts in startup product development

This book makes you think about what is the minimum viable product you need to get your product started.

We waste so much effort on so many features but what is the absolute minimum and how do you validate it against your assumptions.

Makes you think about all the things you did in the past, was it really necessary to build all that ... hmmm...

what a great philosophy

I am e-learning entrepreneur struggling to have more information and knowledge to start my business even though it's not a Technical startup this book has given me perspective and the tools for my lunch I love it

The best book to start a business

It gives very good clues and eferences to keep growing your knowledge before and while starting up a project. Really loved it!

listened to this10 yrs ago

revisited this and hadn't realized how much it's impacted the way I view life as a whole. excellent listen and a well worthwhile method to apply if you are interested in taking the startup plunge.

Great book read in monotone voice

I love the book, but the voice put me to sleep at times, which made me stop listening in car. But I will be recommending the book to anyone interested in the subject.

Probably the best book I have listened/read.

I enjoyed the many examples and stories a lot. This really makes the reader want to do something about excess amount of all sorts of waste!

Incredibly well structured insightful book

This book has a lot for managers and entrepreneurs.
Maybe a little prolix but very well structured and insightful.
Despite I read it on Kindle a couple of years ago I decided to take advantage of the author's narration.
Sincere compliments Eric
Who says that these concepts are not applicable in manufacturing, better start it over

it's amazing

I loved it but it's too lengthy for me....just too wordy but amazing ideas and I heard it all and will try to hear it again

To anyone learning organizations in the new world

A must read. A brilliant one. Makes sense and is simple to the core. Good story.