The Lean Startup

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

By: Eric Ries

Narrated by: Eric Ries

Length: 8 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

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 read serious entrepreneurs. Expect to learn

I almost never give five star reviews, but I expect to read this book again and again over the years. Very thorough and engaging. A how-to book for fostering ingenuity and entrepreneurship in both new and existing companies. Fortunately, the author litters the book with real-world stories and examples to keep things interesting and to drive home his points. I'll read this several more times before I'll feel like I've fully digested everything and use it as a reference thereafter.

This book is a great read for new entrepreneurs and seasoned business owners alike. Whether your business is service-oriented or product based, software or manufacturing, you'll find value in this book.

You need to have this if you have a startup

I am running a 1 year startup at the time of writing this comment and I can confirm that it was worth the read. What I liked is the author have identified points that are often neglected or looked over in a startup. Very good pointers that are easy to understand and work with. Well done!

Be prepared to challenge your way of thinking

The book is a great resource to challenge the way you currently do business, from a management or an individual contributor perspective. The theories explained are supported and demonstrated by real-life, relatable examples. I recommend it for anyone wants to bring their business to the next level.

Effective and engaging

I don't always think it's a good idea to have the authors read their own books, but in this case the author does a superb job and brings life to the narrative.

Great for tech startups

I will certainly use the Lean Startup Model in my tech startup. I'm glad I read this book before launching my app!

Insightful read no matter your business

Enjoyable read that applies to all - not just those entrepreneurs who strike out on their own. Find ways to drive innovation in a big organization or off on your own.

Good read

Summary:
Apply scientific method to building a startup or improving an existing organization: verify your assumptions scientifically. The main challenge is "how". For example, who do you test your assumptions about the product that you have not yet built? Even if you have an idea for a prototype/test, what metric do you use? This book attempts to answer these and many other questions.

Overall, most of these ideas I have seen in one form or another in different contexts (e.g. Paul Graham's essays, agile, etc). However, the packaging is interesting and the supporting anecdotes are entertaining and inspiring.

Tools to practice..

Important startup questions/dilemmas discussed. Liked & could relate to the Pivot or persevere decisions closely.

A wealth of information

I had been looking for a book that would help us on our journey to start our own company. This book has provided a principles on fundamentals and is proving to be a great resource that can be actioned on immediately. Job well done.

Makes you question everything your business does

Great book detailing case studies of businesses learning and truly trying to adhere to a corporate culture of decision by experimentation as apposed to decision by committee.

The methods will frustrate you if your organisation is wedded to hierarchical decision making but hopefully ensure modern business leaders to really think about how they are leading their businesses.

Does your business really create customer value in everything it does.........read this book then ask yourself the same question.

Happy listening!