Lean Startup: how to design an innovative Internet product or service

By applying the main principles of Lean to the development of new products or services for the Internet, Lean Startup offers an innovative approach to designing an offering that is perfectly in tune with the market and customer needs.

Initially designed to support startups in the development of innovative products, the Lean Startup approach has, since 2012, broadened its scope of influence.

It's true that the very definition of a startup that led to the creation of this approach can be applied to many situations.

A startup is seen as a business structure designed to develop new products or services under conditions of extreme uncertainty.

No mention is made of size or sector of activity. In this way, everyone involved in the development of a new product or service in a highly uncertain context is concerned by Lean Startup: from individual entrepreneurs to multi-disciplinary teams within large groups.

But while Lean Startup is dedicated to innovation in the broadest sense, the approach is primarily aimed at innovations where conditions of extreme uncertainty are present.

What's more, although Lean Startup can be implemented in any business sector, it is particularly well suited to products or services on the Internet.

In short, anyone involved in the development of new products or services will find Lean Startup principles and approaches adapted to their needs. It should be noted, however, that Lean Startup is above all aimed at innovative projects designed to meet mature needs, as we shall see in conclusion.

After outlining the main principles of Lean Startup, this article presents an approach to implementing it, based on the customer development method developed by Steve Blank.