The Lean Startup
 "The Lean Startup" by Eric Ries – A 2011 book on entrepreneurship. | |
| Author | Eric Ries |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Business, non-fiction, Entrepreneurship |
| Publisher | Crown Business (USA) |
Publication date | 2011 (USA) |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (hardcover) |
| Pages | 336 p. (US hardcover edition) |
| ISBN | 0307887898 |
| OCLC | 770494142 |
The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses is a 2011 book by American entrepreneur Eric Ries. It outlines the lean startup methodology, a framework for startup development that prioritizes rapid prototyping, validated learning, and iterative product releases.[1] The goal of this methodology is to shorten product development cycles.
The methodology advocates for building a minimum viable product and gathering user feedback to refine the offering of a product over time.[2] Ries reports developing this approach based on his experiences as a startup advisor and founder, following challenges faced with his first startup.[3][4][5]
The lean startup method draws on ideas from lean manufacturing and agile development.[6][7] It focuses on adapting strategies based on experimentation and user feedback rather than relying on long-term business planning.
Reception
[edit]According to the publisher, the book's sales exceeded one million copies, and it has been translated into over thirty languages.[8] It also debuted at #2 on The New York Times Best Sellers list in the 'Hardcover Advice & Misc.' category in 2011.[9]
Some organizations have implemented the lean startup approach, including Alphabet Energy, Dropbox, Wealthfront,[10] and General Electric.[11]
Academic responses to the methodology have been mixed. Ethan Mollick, a professor at the Wharton School of Business, supported the focus on experimentation and learning but raised concerns about the emphasis on early customer input in cases involving novel technologies.[12] He also noted limitations in tools such as the business model canvas. Bocken and Snihur conclude that more research is required to understand the process of experimentation, and highlight the limited academic knowledge of the process.[13]
A 2019 article in The Conversation said it quickly became a foundational work in entrepreneurship classes.[14] The article also summarized three scenarios where the model should not be used: in some industries have such high costs or risks with prototyping, when testing costs outweigh benefits, and when a lack of experience hinders the team's ability to interpret experiments.[14] A 2020 article in the Harvard Business Review said it had become a bible for 'business neophytes'.[15] A 2025 article in The Conversation says the book has been used by 'millions of entrepreneurs around the world.'[16]
References
[edit]- ^ Roush, Wade. Eric Ries, the Face of the Lean Startup Movement, on How a Once-Insane Idea Went Mainstream. Xconomy. July 6, 2011.
- ^ Patel, Mitul (April 16, 2020). "Book Review: The Lean Startup by Eric Ries". The Bookish Elf. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
- ^ Lohr, Steve. The Rise of the Fleet-Footed Start-Up. The New York Times. April 24, 2010.
- ^ Solon, Olivia. Interview: Eric Ries, Author Of The Lean Startup. Wired. January 17, 2012.
- ^ Loizos, Connie. "Lean Startup" evangelist Eric Ries is just getting started. Reuters. May 26, 2011.
- ^ "Book Review: The Lean Startup | Masood Entrepreneurship Centre | The University of Manchester". Masood Entrepreneurship Centre. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
- ^ "Understanding Lean Startup Methodology". Tech Empat. February 20, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
- ^ Ries, Eric (October 17, 2017). The Startup Way: How Modern Companies Use Entrepreneurial Management to Transform Culture and Drive Long-Term Growth (Unabridged ed.). Random House Audio. ISBN 978-0-14-752330-3.
- ^ "Hardcover Advice & Misc. Books – Best Sellers – October 2, 2011 – The New York Times". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 27, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
- ^ "The Lean Startup | Case Studies". theleanstartup.com. Archived from the original on January 16, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
- ^ "General Electric Wants to Act Like a Startup". Bloomberg.com. August 8, 2014. Archived from the original on March 15, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
- ^ Mollick, Ethan (October 21, 2019). "What the Lean Startup Method Gets Right and Wrong". Harvard Business Review. ISSN 0017-8012. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
- ^ Bocken, Nancy; Snihur, Yuliya (August 1, 2020). "Lean Startup and the business model: Experimenting for novelty and impact". Long Range Planning. 53 (4) 101953. doi:10.1016/j.lrp.2019.101953. hdl:10171/69715. ISSN 0024-6301.
- ^ a b Bruneel, Johan; Ratinho, Tiago (June 27, 2019). "Is the lean start-up method really universally applicable?". The Conversation. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
- ^ Spina, Chiara; Camuffo, Arnaldo; Gambardella, Alfonso (November 18, 2020). "Founders, Apply the Scientific Method to Your Startup". Harvard Business Review. ISSN 0017-8012. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
- ^ Chen, Xi (October 8, 2025). "Small sample, big impact: How talking to just 5 people can improve startup success". The Conversation. Retrieved May 1, 2026.