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Posts RSS - Comments Get Steve Blank via your RSS Feed Recent Posts Lean Launch Pad 2026 @ Stanford – Lessons Learned Presentations Incorruptible Hacking for Defense @ Stanford 2026 – Lessons Learned Presentations Anthropic Mythos – We’ve Opened Pandora’s Box AI and Teaching – The Brave New World Nowhere Is Safe Solving Yesterday’s Problems Will Kill You Your Startup Is Probably Dead On Arrival Time to Move On – The Reason Relationships End You Only Think They Work For You Lean Launch Pad 2026 @ Stanford – Lessons Learned Presentations Hacking for Defense @ Stanford 2026 – Lessons Learned Presentations Anthropic Mythos – We’ve Opened Pandora’s Box AI and Teaching – The Brave New World Nowhere Is Safe Solving Yesterday’s Problems Will Kill You Your Startup Is Probably Dead On Arrival Time to Move On – The Reason Relationships End You Only Think They Work For You Archives June 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 April 2023 February 2023 January 2023 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 Other Stuff About Steve Startup Tools Secret History Books for Startups Slides/Videos Raising Money Books for Startups What’s A Startup? First Principles. Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm . Winston Churchill Everyone knows what a startup is for – don’t they? In this post we’re going to offer a new definition of why startups exist : a startup is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model . A Business Model Ok, but what is a business model ? A business model describes how your company creates, delivers and captures value. Or in English: A business model describes how your company makes money. (Or depending on your metrics for success, get users, grow traffic, etc.) Think of a business model as a drawing that shows all the flows between the different parts of your company. A business model diagram also shows how the product gets distributed to your customers and how money flows back into your company. And it shows your company’s cost structures, how each department interacts with the others and where your company fits with other companies or partners to implement your business. While this is a mouthful, it’s a lot easier to draw. Drawing A Business Model Lots of people have been working on how to diagram and draw a business. I had my students drawing theirs for years, but Alexander Osterwalder’s work on business models is the clearest description I’ve read in the last decade. The diagram below is his Business Model template . In your startup’s business model, the boxes will have specific details of your company’s strategy. Alexander Osterwalder's Business Model Template (At Stanford, Ann Miura-Ko and I have been working on a simplified Silicon Valley version of this model. Ann will be guest posting more on business models soon.) But What Does a Business Model Have to Do With My Startup? Your startup is essentially an organization built to search for a repeatable and scalable business model. As a founder you start out with: 1) a vision of a product with a set of features, 2) a series of hypotheses about all the pieces of the business model: Who are the customers/users? What’s the distribution channel. How do we price and position the product? How do we create end user demand? Who are our partners? Where/how do we build the product? How do we finance the company, etc. Your job as a founder is to quickly validate whether the model is correct by seeing if customers behave as your model predicts. Most of the time the darn customers don’t behave as you predicted. How Does Customer Development, Agile Development and Lean Startups Fit? The Customer Development process is the way startups quickly iterate and test each element of their business model. Agile Development is the way startups quickly iterate their product as they learn. A Lean Startup is Eric Ries’s description of the intersection of Customer Development , Agile Development and if available, open platforms and open source. (This methodology does for startups what the Toyota Lean Production System did for cars.) Business Plan Versus Business Model Wait a minute, isn’t the Business Model the same thing as my Business Plan? Sort of…but better. A business plan is useful place for you to collect your hypotheses about your business, sales, marketing, customers, market size, etc. (Your investors make you write one, but they never read it.) A Business Model is how all the pieces in your business plan interconnect. The Pivot How do you know your business model is the right one? When revenue, users, traffic, etc., start increasing in a repeatable way you predicted and make your investors happy. The irony is the first time this happens, you may not have found your company’s optimal model. Most startups change their business model at least once if not several times. How do you know when reached the one to scale? Stay tuned. More in future posts. Lessons Learned A startup is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model. The goal of your early business model can be revenue, or profits, or users, or click-throughs – whatever you and your investors have agreed upon. Customer and Agile Development is the way for startups to quickly iterate and test their hypotheses about their business model Most startups change their business model multiple times. Print (Opens in new window) Print Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp Share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram Share on Tumblr Filed under: Corporate/Gov't Innovation | Swaroop , on January 25, 2010 at 6:28 am said: I love the succinctness with which you explained it. Loading... Reply I love the succinctness with which you explained it. Dan Rockwell , on January 25, 2010 at 7:23 am said: Great stuff. I love that business model generation, slap canvas on wall and ideate idea. As a constant idea bootstrapper this idea works perfectly in my teams current, smother the wall with idea postits sessions already. Keep them coming. Loading... Reply Great stuff. I love that business model generation, slap canvas on wall and ideate idea. As a constant idea bootstrapper this idea works perfectly in my teams current, smother the wall with idea postits sessions already. Keep them coming. Oo Nwoye , on January 25, 2010 at 7:26 am said: Hi Steve, I consider myself to be a disciple of your teaching :). I recently got my copy of Four Steps to the Epiphany. It is Twice as expensive in the UK than the US. I have a question about your definition of a startup. is there a difference between a company and a startup? Is it only the goal that determines it? Does size matter? e.g. funding, personnel, years of existence? Would you classify Facebook and a recent graduate of Ycombinator both startups? I wrote a bit on it here ( http://oonwoye.com/blog/2010/01/10/what-is-a-start-up/ ) and I would like to know your thoughts on the questions raised. Loading... Reply steveblank , on January 25, 2010 at 7:29 am said: oo, These posts under the Durant versus Sloan category explain it. Let me know if they don’t. steve Loading... Reply Jeff Savage , on September 8, 2011 at 9:54 am said: Hi Steve–I know that I’m coming into this late, but the link doesn’t work at the moment; could you re-post? Thanks! Loading... Reply RC , on December 22, 2022 at 10:25 am said: I think E. Ries defined it in Lean Startup as: a company knows who it’s customers are and a startup doesn’t. Loading... Reply Hi Steve, I consider myself to be a disciple of your teaching :). I recently got my copy of Four Steps to the Epiphany. It is Twice as expensive in the UK than the US. I have a question about your definition of a startup. is there a difference between a company and a startup? Is it only the goal that determines it? Does size matter? e.g. funding, personnel, years of existence? Would you classify Facebook and a recent graduate of Ycombinator both startups? I wrote a bit on it here ( http://oonwoye.com/blog/2010/01/10/what-is-a-start-up/ ) and I would like to know your thoughts on the questions raised. steveblank , on January 25, 2010 at 7:29 am said: oo, These posts under the Durant versus Sloan category explain it. Let me know if they don’t. steve Loading... Reply Jeff Savage , on September 8, 2011 at 9:54 am said: Hi Steve–I know that I’m coming into this late, but the link doesn’t work at the moment; could you re-post? Thanks! Loading... Reply oo, These posts under the Durant versus Sloan category explain it. Let me know if they don’t. Jeff Savage , on September 8, 2011 at 9:54 am said: Hi Steve–I know that I’m coming into this late, but the link doesn’t work at the moment; could you re-post? Thanks! Loading... Reply Hi Steve–I know that I’m coming into this late, but the link doesn’t work at the moment; could you re-post? Thanks! RC , on December 22, 2022 at 10:25 am said: I think E. Ries defined it in Lean Startup as: a company knows who it’s customers are and a startup doesn’t. Loading... Reply I think E. Ries defined it in Lean Startup as: a company knows who it’s customers are and a startup doesn’t. Mark Essel , on January 25, 2010 at 9:10 am said: This compliments Fred’s (avc) personal non-tech investment post today. The model is search, the costs are based on staffing needed to execute that search efficiently. The returns are estimates of any revenue generated while exploring functional models. Weaving these thoughts together into a practical tool for my startup should be a fun challenge. Thanks Steve. Loading... Reply This compliments Fred’s (avc) personal non-tech investment post today. The model is search, the costs are based on staffing needed to execute that search efficiently. The returns are estimates of any revenue generated while exploring functional models. Weaving these thoughts together into a practical tool for my startup should be a fun challenge. Thanks Steve. Ryan , on January 25, 2010 at 10:31 am said: Excellent summary! I read The E-Myth last year, and this same concept is a big part of it, but your illustrations and definitive statements are crystal clear. Any thoughts on a business that has reached ‘transition’ without outside investment? Do you grow incrementally with the current model, or seek capital in order to explore (possibly unprofitable) extensions and permutations of the current model in order to optimize it? Subscribed to your RSS, BTW, looking forward to future posts. Loading... Reply steveblank , on January 25, 2010 at 11:04 am said: Ryan, Congratulations on bootstrapping your company so far. Taking capital should be directly proportional on how big of a company you want to get. See here and here . Nothing wrong with growing incrementally. Just a choice you get to make. steve Loading... Reply Excellent summary! I read The E-Myth last year, and this same concept is a big part of it, but your illustrations and definitive statements are crystal clear. Any thoughts on a business that has reached ‘transition’ without outside investment? Do you grow incrementally with the current model, or seek capital in order to explore (possibly unprofitable) extensions and permutations of the current model in order to optimize it? Subscribed to your RSS, BTW, looking forward to future posts. steveblank , on January 25, 2010 at 11:04 am said: Ryan, Congratulations on bootstrapping your company so far. Taking capital should be directly proportional on how big of a company you want to get. See here and here . Nothing wrong with growing incrementally. Just a choice you get to make. steve Loading... Reply Ryan, Congratulations on bootstrapping your company so far. Taking capital should be directly proportional on how big of a company you want to get. See here and here . Nothing wrong with growing incrementally. Just a choice you get to make. Reeve S. Thompson , on January 25, 2010 at 10:38 am said: A definition I’ve been using for a while that has quite a few parallels to this is… “A business model is what converts the value your company creates into money.” My thought is that it’s one thing to create value, it’s a very different thing to figure out if it can make money. You can create something that has value but it costs more to create than it’s worth. It’s still valuable, but there just isn’t a business model to support it… or you haven’t found it yet. Loading... Reply Mick Liubinskas , on February 3, 2010 at 1:31 am said: I like your definition. Thanks for sharing. Loading... Reply A definition I’ve been using for a while that has quite a few parallels to this is… “A business model is what converts the value your company creates into money.” My thought is that it’s one thing to create value, it’s a very different thing to figure out if it can make money. You can create something that has value but it costs more to create than it’s worth. It’s still valuable, but there just isn’t a business model to support it… or you haven’t found it yet. Mick Liubinskas , on February 3, 2010 at 1:31 am said: I like your definition. Thanks for sharing. Loading... Reply I like your definition. Thanks for sharing. Tor , on January 25, 2010 at 2:27 pm said: Alex Osterwalder’s canvas does a picture perfect job in describing the business model, and it is interesting to see your elaboration of it to startups. Especially the part that aligns customer development process with iterative business model design. When thinking of methodologies, I have experienced that synthesis of process such as customer development and ontology such as the business model canvas can be challenging. I look forward to reading future posts on the subject. Loading... Reply Alex Osterwalder’s canvas does a picture perfect job in describing the business model, and it is interesting to see your elaboration of it to startups. Especially the part that aligns customer development process with iterative business model design. When thinking of methodologies, I have experienced that synthesis of process such as customer development and ontology such as the business model canvas can be challenging. I look forward to reading future posts on the subject. Alex Osterwalder , on January 26, 2010 at 4:05 am said: Steve, thank you for highlighting our work. I recently wrote a post about how companies and start-ups can map their business model (in a game-like manner): http://www.businessmodelalchemist.com/2010/01/mapping-business-models-a-knowledge-game.html By the way, the Business Model Canvas is freely available under a Creative Commons license: Business Model Canvas Poster V.1.0 View more documents from Alexander Osterwalder . Loading... Reply Steve, thank you for highlighting our work. I recently wrote a post about how companies and start-ups can map their business model (in a game-like manner): http://www.businessmodelalchemist.com/2010/01/mapping-business-models-a-knowledge-game.html By the way, the Business Model Canvas is freely available under a Creative Commons license: Business Model Canvas Poster V.1.0 View more documents from Alexander Osterwalder . Mick Liubinskas , on February 3, 2010 at 1:30 am said: Hi Steve, great post. Nice and simple. A big challenge we see with the startups that we work with is that they take a while for the vision to get clear enough that it gets exciting enough to do anything about – then it’s too precious to change and iterate which is crucial as you point out. Our answer is to have a strong general vision about the customer you want to serve, what problem your solving and how that leads to something good for you (income, profit, buy out) and the rest is test test test. I think once you embrace the fact that your first thoughts on how it might work will definitely be wrong, then you’re more inclined to do something a lot more tight, focused and simple because you don’t want to waste resources building supporting stuff for something probably going to be wrong. And that’s a good thing. Most of the time a new tech based startup can actually have a lot of the first layers of testing doing without even writing a line of code. You can do it manually, do it by email/cold calls, do it with a free blog. It’s very rare that you need the full service up and running before you can create value. One quick point, the two images you use are a little hard to read. The Osterwalder one could use with darker text than the white on brown and other one is a little small. Both awesome, but thought you’d like the feedback. Loading... Reply Hi Steve, great post. Nice and simple. A big challenge we see with the startups that we work with is that they take a while for the vision to get clear enough that it gets exciting enough to do anything about – then it’s too precious to change and iterate which is crucial as you point out. Our answer is to have a strong general vision about the customer you want to serve, what problem your solving and how that leads to something good for you (income, profit, buy out) and the rest is test test test. I think once you embrace the fact that your first thoughts on how it might work will definitely be wrong, then you’re more inclined to do something a lot more tight, focused and simple because you don’t want to waste resources building supporting stuff for something probably going to be wrong. And that’s a good thing. Most of the time a new tech based startup can actually have a lot of the first layers of testing doing without even writing a line of code. You can do it manually, do it by email/cold calls, do it with a free blog. It’s very rare that you need the full service up and running before you can create value. One quick point, the two images you use are a little hard to read. The Osterwalder one could use with darker text than the white on brown and other one is a little small. Both awesome, but thought you’d like the feedback. 6 Essential Startup Decks « Methodologist , on February 5, 2010 at 6:33 am said: […] book. You also might want to check out the lean startup version of the business model canvas and Steven Blank’s post on how to process […] Loading... Reply […] book. You also might want to check out the lean startup version of the business model canvas and Steven Blank’s post on how to process […] Haut Tech » Lean into SaaS , on February 9, 2010 at 10:16 am said: […] Computing, covers the core concepts even if they don’t acknowledge them as Lean specifically. Steve Blank and Eric Ries recognize something they call a “lean […] Loading... Reply […] Computing, covers the core concepts even if they don’t acknowledge them as Lean specifically. Steve Blank and Eric Ries recognize something they call a “lean […] Desenhando o modelo de negócio da Startup » Manual da Startup , on February 10, 2010 at 9:04 am said: […] eficiente para desenhar Modelos de Negócio. Coincidentemente, alguns dias depois o Steve Blank escreveu um post mencionando a mesma metodologia, que está condensada neste livro. Vou fazer um resumo neste post […] Loading... Reply […] eficiente para desenhar Modelos de Negócio. Coincidentemente, alguns dias depois o Steve Blank escreveu um post mencionando a mesma metodologia, que está condensada neste livro. Vou fazer um resumo neste post […] We Have a Marketing Problem…Not , on February 12, 2010 at 9:29 pm said: […] Development process is the way startups quickly iterate and test each element of their business model, reducing customer and market risk. The first step of Customer Development is called Customer […] Loading... Reply […] Development process is the way startups quickly iterate and test each element of their business model, reducing customer and market risk. The first step of Customer Development is called Customer […] KyleLibra.com » Blog Archive » Weekend Reading , on February 14, 2010 at 6:15 pm said: […] What’s A Startup? First Principles. AKPC_IDS += "1889,"; […] Loading... Reply […] What’s A Startup? First Principles. AKPC_IDS += "1889,"; […] Pivoting « GP Apps , on April 12, 2010 at 9:40 am said: […] reading: http://www.startuplessonslearned.com/2009/06/pivot-dont-jump-to-new-vision.html http://steveblank.com/2010/01/25/whats-a-startup-first-principles/ http://steveblank.com/2009/04/10/good-enough-decision-making/ Possibly related posts: […] Loading... Reply […] reading: http://www.startuplessonslearned.com/2009/06/pivot-dont-jump-to-new-vision.html http://steveblank.com/2010/01/25/whats-a-startup-first-principles/ http://steveblank.com/2009/04/10/good-enough-decision-making/ Possibly related posts: […] Why Startups are Agile and Opportunistic -- Pivoting the Business Model , on April 14, 2010 at 6:32 am said: […] The Search for the Business Model A startup is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model. […] Loading... Reply […] The Search for the Business Model A startup is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model. […] Why Startups are Agile and Opportunistic – Pivoting the Business Model « The Product Guy , on April 26, 2010 at 11:24 am said: […] A startup is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model. […] Loading... Reply […] A startup is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model. […] Once a Beekeeper » Blog Archive » Working Towards a Minimum Viable Product , on May 17, 2010 at 12:00 pm said: […] you can build the MVP and prove out a profitable business you are well on your way to entering the Transition phase of your […] Loading... Reply […] you can build the MVP and prove out a profitable business you are well on your way to entering the Transition phase of your […] Business Plans = Huge Wase of time , on May 18, 2010 at 12:33 pm said: […] http://steveblank.com/2010/01/25/whats-a-startup-first-principles/ This entry was posted in Tips. Bookmark the permalink. Post a comment or leave a trackback: Trackback URL. « Startup Camp Montreal 6 […] Loading... Reply […] http://steveblank.com/2010/01/25/whats-a-startup-first-principles/ This entry was posted in Tips. Bookmark the permalink. Post a comment or leave a trackback: Trackback URL. « Startup Camp Montreal 6 […] We need a “Nutrition Facts” label for Angel Investors , on May 27, 2010 at 8:05 am said: […] this stage in the search for the repeatable scalable business model, companies have no f’ing clue what the return on your $50k is going to be. And it’s a […] Loading... Reply […] this stage in the search for the repeatable scalable business model, companies have no f’ing clue what the return on your $50k is going to be. And it’s a […] Fred Guth , on June 21, 2010 at 10:39 pm said: Hi, you’ve mentioned a simplified Silicon Valley version of the business model template. Is this ( http://www.slideshare.net/sblank/business-models-template-e145 ) it? Thanks Loading... Reply Hi, you’ve mentioned a simplified Silicon Valley version of the business model template. Is this ( http://www.slideshare.net/sblank/business-models-template-e145 ) it? Thanks Steve Blank Business Model Template « Compassion in Politics: Christian Social Entrepreneurship, Education Innovation, & Base of the Pyramid/BOP Solutions , on July 5, 2010 at 10:23 pm said: […] Blank and one of his students is working a new iteration on Osterwalder’s model in an effort to simplify (and perhaps integrate customer development with the business model template) You can find a copy of the business model template in this post “Whats a start ups first principles“ […] Loading... Reply […] Blank and one of his students is working a new iteration on Osterwalder’s model in an effort to simplify (and perhaps integrate customer development with the business model template) You can find a copy of the business model template in this post “Whats a start ups first principles“ […] How Do You Define "Startup"? | This Is An Awesome Web Site , on July 12, 2010 at 7:01 pm said: […] CEO Mark Babbitt writes in the post, it seemed to make sense to start with Steve Blank‘s definition: “A startup is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and […] Loading... Reply […] CEO Mark Babbitt writes in the post, it seemed to make sense to start with Steve Blank‘s definition: “A startup is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and […] How Do You Define “Startup”? « gabriel catalano | in-perfección , on July 13, 2010 at 5:55 am said: […] CEO Mark Babbitt writes in the post, it seemed to make sense to start with Steve Blank‘s definition: “A startup is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and […] Loading... Reply […] CEO Mark Babbitt writes in the post, it seemed to make sense to start with Steve Blank‘s definition: “A startup is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and […] The Starving Startup | SocialStartups.com , on July 19, 2010 at 8:11 am said: […] typically has 1 product & business focused founder and one technical founder. Following the lean startup concepts, they build, test, and iterate on their product. Since it's just the two of them, it can take […] Loading... Reply […] typically has 1 product & business focused founder and one technical founder. Following the lean startup concepts, they build, test, and iterate on their product. Since it's just the two of them, it can take […] Ramblings » Links to reading on startups , on August 30, 2010 at 6:59 am said: […] What’s a Startup? First Principles. by Steve Blank […] Loading... Reply […] What’s a Startup? First Principles. by Steve Blank […] Build your lean startup with Year One Labs | FLOW Ventures , on September 7, 2010 at 7:08 am said: […] a problem they care about. You’re not building a business (yet). You’re searching for a repeatable and scalable business model. We’ll do whatever it takes to get you there including getting you in front of the right […] Loading... Reply […] a problem they care about. You’re not building a business (yet). You’re searching for a repeatable and scalable business model. We’ll do whatever it takes to get you there including getting you in front of the right […] Rafael Carvalho » Arquivo » Você está preparado para trabalhar numa startup? - TV digital, empreendedorismo e tecnologia. , on September 14, 2010 at 10:04 pm said: […] definir o que constitui uma startup. Existem várias definições aqui, porém ainda prefiro a de Steve Blank: “Uma startup é uma organização formada para a busca de um modelo de negócios escalável […] Loading... Reply […] definir o que constitui uma startup. Existem várias definições aqui, porém ainda prefiro a de Steve Blank: “Uma startup é uma organização formada para a busca de um modelo de negócios escalável […]

Business Idea: Voluntary Arbitration Network « Stuff Written by Austin Brandt , on September 21, 2010 at 10:40 pm said: […] months of runway they’re losing just to arbitrate. Less runway equals less time to find a repeatable and scalable business model. Not a good […] Loading... Reply […] months of runway they’re losing just to arbitrate. Less runway equals less time to find a repeatable and scalable business model. Not a good […] Lean Medical Device Startup: Getting to Product/Market Fit via Customer Discovery | Jay Caplan on Medical Devices , on October 6, 2010 at 2:53 am said: […] Customer discovery begins with a comprehensive statement of your business hypotheses. Steve Blank instructs us to document a series of hypotheses about all the pieces of the business model: Who are the customers/users? What’s the distribution channel. How do we price and position the product? How do we create end user demand? Who are our partners? Where/how do we build the product? How do we finance the company, etc. (source) […] Loading... Reply […] Customer discovery begins with a comprehensive statement of your business hypotheses. Steve Blank instructs us to document a series of hypotheses about all the pieces of the business model: Who are the customers/users? What’s the distribution channel. How do we price and position the product? How do we create end user demand? Who are our partners? Where/how do we build the product? How do we finance the company, etc. (source) […] Time for a Plan B | Business in General , on January 7, 2011 at 9:35 am said: […] such inflexibility is no longer wise, a point author Steve Blank argues in his post ‘But what does a Business Model have to do with my startup’ . In this article he states that the primary role of an entrepreneur is to iterate and test […] Loading... Reply […] such inflexibility is no longer wise, a point author Steve Blank argues in his post ‘But what does a Business Model have to do with my startup’ . In this article he states that the primary role of an entrepreneur is to iterate and test […] Tecnología y negocios » La cultura del encubrimiento , on January 11, 2011 at 7:04 am said: […] eficiente. Si metes la pata, hay una suposición tácita de que te has equivocado en un proceso conocido – algo que era repetible y predecible. Es por ello que se encubren los errores, no […] Loading... Reply […] eficiente. Si metes la pata, hay una suposición tácita de que te has equivocado en un proceso conocido – algo que era repetible y predecible. Es por ello que se encubren los errores, no […] Lean Startup 1.9/10 – Verso la Solution Interview « Zmaker's Weblog , on January 14, 2011 at 3:41 am said: […] Steve Blank, “What’s a Startup? First Principles,” http://steveblank.com/2010/01/25/whats-a-startup-first-principles/- Steve Blank, “Make No Little Plans – Defining the Scalable Startup,” […] Loading... Reply […] Steve Blank, “What’s a Startup? First Principles,” http://steveblank.com/2010/01/25/whats-a-startup-first-principles/- Steve Blank, “Make No Little Plans – Defining the Scalable Startup,” […] What is the definition of a startup? - Quora , on January 18, 2011 at 11:15 am said: […] is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model.(emphasis mine)http://steveblank.com/2010/01/25…Insert a dynamic date hereView All 0 CommentsCannot add comment at this […] Loading... Reply […] is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model.(emphasis mine)http://steveblank.com/2010/01/25…Insert a dynamic date hereView All 0 CommentsCannot add comment at this […] Quora , on February 5, 2011 at 5:25 am said: Which is the best definition for “startup”?… Steve Blank defines it as follows : a startup is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model. http://steveblank.com/2010/01/25/whats-a-startup-first-principles/… Loading... Reply Which is the best definition for “startup”?… Steve Blank defines it as follows : a startup is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model. http://steveblank.com/2010/01/25/whats-a-startup-first-principles/… Startup Pivot Stories #1: How TokBox Changed Its Business Model : Venture Capital Cafe , on February 9, 2011 at 10:37 am said: […] when things aren’t exactly working out according to the business plan. The goal, is to find a scalable and repeatable business model (in other words, a way to consistently make money over the course of time). Rather than jumping to […] Loading... Reply […] when things aren’t exactly working out according to the business plan. The goal, is to find a scalable and repeatable business model (in other words, a way to consistently make money over the course of time). Rather than jumping to […] OPISO » Nick Seguin: Kauffman’s Guide To Navigating The Startup Game , on March 23, 2011 at 11:57 am said: […] beyond product development. It applies to many facets of a company, including idea discovery, business model search, the team, customer development and even to the personal exploration of becoming a founder. Finding […] Loading... Reply […] beyond product development. It applies to many facets of a company, including idea discovery, business model search, the team, customer development and even to the personal exploration of becoming a founder. Finding […] Strategy Development – In Small Meal Sized Chunks | The Borrowed Bicycle , on March 31, 2011 at 4:44 am said: […] from one of Steve Blank’s blog posts called What’s a Startup? First Principles. Steve defines a startup as “an organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model.” Substitute […] Loading... Reply […] from one of Steve Blank’s blog posts called What’s a Startup? First Principles. Steve defines a startup as “an organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model.” Substitute […] Startup Advice: Hurry Up and Launch the Damn Product! | BNET , on April 13, 2011 at 9:43 am said: […] “lean startup” developed by HBS Entrepreneur-in-Residence Eric Ries and entrepreneur Steve Blank. In this case lean does not mean a shoestring budget but rather avoiding waste of resources, saving […] Loading... Reply […] “lean startup” developed by HBS Entrepreneur-in-Residence Eric Ries and entrepreneur Steve Blank. In this case lean does not mean a shoestring budget but rather avoiding waste of resources, saving […] – The Apprentice — Entrepreneur Version - FounderLY , on May 6, 2011 at 8:33 am said: […] is gone. As great as these companies may be, they are no longer startups. (A startup is a temporary organization searching for a repeatable and scalable business […] Loading... Reply […] is gone. As great as these companies may be, they are no longer startups. (A startup is a temporary organization searching for a repeatable and scalable business […] – A New Way to Teach Entrepreneurship — The Lean LaunchPad at Stanford: Class 1 - FounderLY , on May 10, 2011 at 1:28 pm said: […] are not about executing a plan where the product, customers, channel are known. Startups are in fact only temporary organizations, organized to search–not execute–for a scalable and repeatable business […] Loading... Reply […] are not about executing a plan where the product, customers, channel are known. Startups are in fact only temporary organizations, organized to search–not execute–for a scalable and repeatable business […] – The Lean LaunchPad at Stanford — The Final Presentations - FounderLY , on May 11, 2011 at 9:00 am said: […] pricing, etc. is just another engineering process, not building a business. In the real world a startup is about the search for a business model or more accurately, startups are a temporary organization designed to search for a scalable and […] Loading... Reply […] pricing, etc. is just another engineering process, not building a business. In the real world a startup is about the search for a business model or more accurately, startups are a temporary organization designed to search for a scalable and […] What are the typical milestones and timeline for an internet startup? - Quora , on May 28, 2011 at 8:34 pm said: […] Sean Ellis: http://startup-marketing.com/the …You might also check out this post by Steve Blank: http://steveblank.com/2010/01/25 …Sander's model is good–but doesn't seem to come face to face with three factors which are […] Loading... Reply […] Sean Ellis: http://startup-marketing.com/the …You might also check out this post by Steve Blank: http://steveblank.com/2010/01/25 …Sander's model is good–but doesn't seem to come face to face with three factors which are […] Reinventing the Board Meeting – Part 2 of 2 « Corporate Governance Leaders , on June 6, 2011 at 1:26 pm said: […] The Boardroom is Bits A revolution has taken hold as customer development and agile engineering reinvent the Startup process. It’s time to ask why startup board governance has failed to keep pace with innovation. […] Loading... Reply […] The Boardroom is Bits A revolution has taken hold as customer development and agile engineering reinvent the Startup process. It’s time to ask why startup board governance has failed to keep pace with innovation. […] – Reinventing the Board Meeting — Part 2 of 2 - FounderLY , on June 7, 2011 at 2:59 pm said: […] The Boardroom is Bits A revolution has taken hold as customer development and agile engineering reinvent the Startup process. It’s time to ask why startup board governance has failed to keep pace with innovation. […] Loading... Reply […] The Boardroom is Bits A revolution has taken hold as customer development and agile engineering reinvent the Startup process. It’s time to ask why startup board governance has failed to keep pace with innovation. […] Blog Yuzz – Emprendedores » Blog Archive » Startup Weekend Bay Area , on June 22, 2011 at 4:42 am said: […] más charlas. Todo acción. Monta una startup en 54 horas.” Así es como arrancó uno de los eventos más reconocidos de San Francisco: […] Loading... Reply […] más charlas. Todo acción. Monta una startup en 54 horas.” Así es como arrancó uno de los eventos más reconocidos de San Francisco: […] Startup Finance . . . but what’s a startup? (1 of 2) « Startup Finance , on August 30, 2011 at 3:04 pm said: […] startup definition as the search for a “repeatable and scalable business model” (“What’s a Startup? First Principles.” 2010). Share this:TwitterFacebookLike this:LikeBe the first to like this post. from […] Loading... Reply […] startup definition as the search for a “repeatable and scalable business model” (“What’s a Startup? First Principles.” 2010). Share this:TwitterFacebookLike this:LikeBe the first to like this post. from […] Science closer to business than we think? | graemefielder.com , on September 27, 2011 at 2:11 am said: […] As highlighted by the teachings of the business generation model and Steve Blank this requires testing a series of hypothesises based around the different components of a business model e.g. whether it be to find out who your customer is? or maybe what manufacturing method to use? (Refer to here). […] Loading... Reply […] As highlighted by the teachings of the business generation model and Steve Blank this requires testing a series of hypothesises based around the different components of a business model e.g. whether it be to find out who your customer is? or maybe what manufacturing method to use? (Refer to here). […] Five Essential Courses for Technology Entrepreneurs « The Tech Entrepreneurship Blog , on September 27, 2011 at 6:21 am said: […] the fact that any early start-up is not really about building a product or a business; it’s about finding a scalable business model. That implies financial modelling of the core economics that turn one dollar into multiple […] Loading... Reply […] the fact that any early start-up is not really about building a product or a business; it’s about finding a scalable business model. That implies financial modelling of the core economics that turn one dollar into multiple […] Starting and growing firms | Website Niek Huizenga , on October 5, 2011 at 1:20 pm said: […] are many definitions of startup. Steve Blank (one of the startup gurus in the Valley) uses: “a startup is an organization formed to search […] Loading... Reply […] are many definitions of startup. Steve Blank (one of the startup gurus in the Valley) uses: “a startup is an organization formed to search […] When Does a Startup Stop Being a Startup? | Lead411 Blog , on October 24, 2011 at 8:03 am said: […] like Steve Blank’s take: a startup is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business […] Loading... Reply […] like Steve Blank’s take: a startup is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business […] Startup Jargon Series: PIVOTS « ROBGO.ORG , on October 27, 2011 at 6:04 am said: […] tied to the core concept of the lean startup: that the goal of a startup is to search for a repeatable and scaleable business model. That search is focused on maximizing learning, through a rapid progression through some sort of […] Loading... Reply […] tied to the core concept of the lean startup: that the goal of a startup is to search for a repeatable and scaleable business model. That search is focused on maximizing learning, through a rapid progression through some sort of […] » It’s Time for Nonprofits to Get Lean » Teague Hopkins Group, LLC , on November 11, 2011 at 3:13 am said: […] to the startup community. In a lean startup, value takes a different form. To paraphrase Steve Blank, a startup is an organization searching for a business model. Since the purpose of the organization […] Loading... Reply […] to the startup community. In a lean startup, value takes a different form. To paraphrase Steve Blank, a startup is an organization searching for a business model. Since the purpose of the organization […] Prototyping public services | Public Prototype , on December 2, 2011 at 10:45 am said: […] attempt to ape a private-sector can-do delivery culture, it’s missed its mark. Consider how Steve Blank, the prophet of Silicon Valley start-ups, describes the job of an entrepreneur. The idea that you […] Loading... Reply […] attempt to ape a private-sector can-do delivery culture, it’s missed its mark. Consider how Steve Blank, the prophet of Silicon Valley start-ups, describes the job of an entrepreneur. The idea that you […] Lean UX is not just for lean startups | Perception Is The Experience , on December 11, 2011 at 5:13 pm said: […] Blank describes startups as organizations designed to find a repeatable business model. When those organizations find that […] Loading... Reply […] Blank describes startups as organizations designed to find a repeatable business model. When those organizations find that […] Steve Blank: The Startup Team | Business , on December 14, 2011 at 7:50 am said: […] and they will come” is a request rather than a business strategy. In reality, a startup is a temporary classification designed to hunt for a repeatable and scalable business model. This means a shining thought we started with will change as we iterate and pivot your business […] Loading... Reply […] and they will come” is a request rather than a business strategy. In reality, a startup is a temporary classification designed to hunt for a repeatable and scalable business model. This means a shining thought we started with will change as we iterate and pivot your business […] The Startup Team « The Berkeley Blog , on December 15, 2011 at 7:15 am said: […] it and they will come” is a prayer rather than a business strategy. In reality, a startup is a temporaryorganization designed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model. This means the […] Loading... Reply […] it and they will come” is a prayer rather than a business strategy. In reality, a startup is a temporaryorganization designed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model. This means the […] Jaison , on December 26, 2011 at 6:37 pm said: What would be a better safe business partnership model? Two individual entering as partners compared to these two individual having their own LLC and these LLCs coming together in partnership? Any feedback is appreciated. Thanks Loading... Reply What would be a better safe business partnership model? Two individual entering as partners compared to these two individual having their own LLC and these LLCs coming together in partnership? Any feedback is appreciated. Thanks Business Model Canvas | Blog da Concrete , on January 10, 2012 at 8:38 am said: […] What’s A Startup? First Principles, ele diz que um modelo de negócio descreve como sua companhia cria, entrega e captura valor. Em […] Loading... Reply […] What’s A Startup? First Principles, ele diz que um modelo de negócio descreve como sua companhia cria, entrega e captura valor. Em […] Three reasons why we're in a golden age of publishing … | entrepreneurship , on January 10, 2012 at 12:53 pm said: […] of course, but even if they fail, these challenges will be good for the industry. As Steve Blank states, a startup is an organization where the main goal is to find a repeatable and scalable business […] Loading... Reply […] of course, but even if they fail, these challenges will be good for the industry. As Steve Blank states, a startup is an organization where the main goal is to find a repeatable and scalable business […] Search versus Execute « The Berkeley Blog , on March 6, 2012 at 9:45 am said: […] like they are just smaller versions of a large company. However, we now know that a startup is a temporary organization designed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model. Within this definition, a startup can be a new venture or it can be a new division or business […] Loading... Reply […] like they are just smaller versions of a large company. However, we now know that a startup is a temporary organization designed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model. Within this definition, a startup can be a new venture or it can be a new division or business […] Entrepreneurship’s dirty little secret – Alan Gleeson – The Kernel , on April 17, 2012 at 6:25 am said: […] methodology, as a means to help them validate their assumptions. We should remind them that, as Steve Blank said, “a startup is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business […] Loading... Reply […] methodology, as a means to help them validate their assumptions. We should remind them that, as Steve Blank said, “a startup is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business […] Attention Entrepreneurs: Walk Before You Run , on May 3, 2012 at 7:15 am said: […] methodology, as a means to help them validate their assumptions. We should remind them that, as Steve Blank said, “a startup is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business […] Loading... Reply […] methodology, as a means to help them validate their assumptions. We should remind them that, as Steve Blank said, “a startup is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business […] Who Needs an Ecommerce Strategy, Anyway? | Rcart99 , on May 3, 2012 at 10:23 pm said: […] may also want to read “What’s a Startup? First Principals,” a blog post by Steve Blank, a serial entrepreneur and now an author and consultant, about business […] Loading... Reply […] may also want to read “What’s a Startup? First Principals,” a blog post by Steve Blank, a serial entrepreneur and now an author and consultant, about business […] The Lean Portfolio « Sean Blanchfield's Blog , on May 5, 2012 at 8:47 am said: […] subscribe to Steve Blank’s definition that a startup is a search for a profitable repeatable business model. Entrepreneurs usually spend a few years conducting this search before spending a few more building […] Loading... Reply […] subscribe to Steve Blank’s definition that a startup is a search for a profitable repeatable business model. Entrepreneurs usually spend a few years conducting this search before spending a few more building […] Attention Entrepreneurs: Walk Before You Run | | EspadaSoftEspadaSoft , on May 6, 2012 at 10:04 pm said: […] methodology, as a means to help them validate their assumptions. We should remind them that, as Steve Blank said, “a startup is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business […] Loading... Reply […] methodology, as a means to help them validate their assumptions. We should remind them that, as Steve Blank said, “a startup is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business […] What I've Learned at Microsoft - Forbes , on May 7, 2012 at 10:17 pm said: […] leader understands the concept of the “Pivot”. By applying the principles of the renowned Steve Blank (“a startup is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model”), […] Loading... Reply […] leader understands the concept of the “Pivot”. By applying the principles of the renowned Steve Blank (“a startup is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model”), […] Startups: 5 Ways to Know if Your Sales Model Will Scale , on May 15, 2012 at 3:18 pm said: […] startup team should laser-focused on discovering the repeatable sales model. In fact, according to Steve Blank, the definition of a startup is an organization in search of a repeatable business model. What […] Loading... Reply […] startup team should laser-focused on discovering the repeatable sales model. In fact, according to Steve Blank, the definition of a startup is an organization in search of a repeatable business model. What […] Negonation Blog » Blog Archive » Tractis ProBono, servicios y lectores gratis para startups , on June 6, 2012 at 1:40 am said: […] de “startup” proporcionada por Steve Blank es probablemente la mejor: “organización temporal creada para buscar un modelo de negocio repetible y escalable“. Aunque conceptualmente casi perfecta, en la práctica no nos es muy útil para determinar […] Loading... Reply […] de “startup” proporcionada por Steve Blank es probablemente la mejor: “organización temporal creada para buscar un modelo de negocio repetible y escalable“. Aunque conceptualmente casi perfecta, en la práctica no nos es muy útil para determinar […] Now I’m Really an Entrepreneur | heather payne's blog , on June 6, 2012 at 7:34 am said: […] is by making an investment in turning this idea into reality. In line with Steve Blank’s definition of a startup, my purpose now is to find a repeatable and scalable business model. And this time, I want to do […] Loading... Reply […] is by making an investment in turning this idea into reality. In line with Steve Blank’s definition of a startup, my purpose now is to find a repeatable and scalable business model. And this time, I want to do […] Josué Vitor , on June 8, 2012 at 6:15 am said: Hello Mr. Blank, analysing your startup’s definition i perceived that the ‘scalable’ concept does’t means the same as commonsense in which ‘to scale’ means achieve an enormous customer base. However, in your definition, scalable means to have a balanced and ‘healthy’ business model enough to develop the startup and makes it growth.(regardless of whether his strategy is ‘focus’ or ‘scale’). So scale is more related to “replicating their success rather than pursuing scale as the key to success.” (as can be read here: http://www.strategy-business.com/article/11204 ). Loading... Reply Hello Mr. Blank, analysing your startup’s definition i perceived that the ‘scalable’ concept does’t means the same as commonsense in which ‘to scale’ means achieve an enormous customer base. However, in your definition, scalable means to have a balanced and ‘healthy’ business model enough to develop the startup and makes it growth.(regardless of whether his strategy is ‘focus’ or ‘scale’). So scale is more related to “replicating their success rather than pursuing scale as the key to success.” (as can be read here: http://www.strategy-business.com/article/11204 ). Best startup blog posts and books | Markus Grundmann , on June 10, 2012 at 11:03 pm said: […] you need to get out of the building to interview users, attributes of a scalable startup, the definition of a business model, and why startups should track progress with hypothesis validation, not traditional accounting […] Loading... Reply […] you need to get out of the building to interview users, attributes of a scalable startup, the definition of a business model, and why startups should track progress with hypothesis validation, not traditional accounting […] » What is a start-up Policy Innovations , on June 24, 2012 at 10:51 pm said: […] You will come across a number of flavors for the answer to this question. But the most sticky and relevant one for me is from here. […] Loading... Reply […] You will come across a number of flavors for the answer to this question. But the most sticky and relevant one for me is from here. […] The career dilemma for startup entrepreneurs | Opportunity Cloud , on July 11, 2012 at 7:54 am said: […] will be important some day in the future, but not when leaving the corporate career path and starting something […] Loading... Reply […] will be important some day in the future, but not when leaving the corporate career path and starting something […] Start-up o no start-up, he aquí la cuestión (III) « Be-Klan , on July 25, 2012 at 2:14 am said: […] Steve Blank que define una start-up como: “a startup is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model.” […] Loading... Reply […] Steve Blank que define una start-up como: “a startup is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model.” […] Search versus Execute | Tech Start Hub , on July 25, 2012 at 8:33 am said: […] like they are just smaller versions of a large company. However, we now know that a startup is a temporary organization designed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model. Within this definition, a startup can be a new venture or it can be a new division or business […] Loading... Reply […] like they are just smaller versions of a large company. However, we now know that a startup is a temporary organization designed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model. Within this definition, a startup can be a new venture or it can be a new division or business […] ECC # 4 – The Business Model Canvas | Startup Weekend Crane , on August 15, 2012 at 7:30 am said: […] a one page version of a business plan. The Business Model Canvas fits very well with the principles of a startup, providing speed and flexibility. As defined by Steve Blank, “A startup […] Loading... Reply […] a one page version of a business plan. The Business Model Canvas fits very well with the principles of a startup, providing speed and flexibility. As defined by Steve Blank, “A startup […] What is a “Startup”? , on September 11, 2012 at 8:07 am said: […] CEO Mark Babbitt writes in the post, it seemed to make sense to start with Steve Blank‘s definition: “A startup is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and […] Loading... Reply […] CEO Mark Babbitt writes in the post, it seemed to make sense to start with Steve Blank‘s definition: “A startup is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and […] A Startup is a Scalable Growth-Focused Company « 10,000 Startup Hours – David Cummings , on September 23, 2012 at 6:08 pm said: […] prominent startup author, Steve Blank, argues that a startup is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model. The idea is that once the new entity figures out product/market fit and starts building a […] Loading... Reply […] prominent startup author, Steve Blank, argues that a startup is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model. The idea is that once the new entity figures out product/market fit and starts building a […] Copywrong: Brilliantly Disruptive Startups from Napster to Pinterest , on October 8, 2012 at 4:57 pm said: […] to Pinterest Entrepreneurs tend to focus on opportunity rather than risk, and rightly so. As Steve Blank has written, at its core, a startup is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business […] Loading... Reply […] to Pinterest Entrepreneurs tend to focus on opportunity rather than risk, and rightly so. As Steve Blank has written, at its core, a startup is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business […] 6 Essential Startup Decks , on October 9, 2012 at 12:18 pm said: […] want to start with the Business Model Generation book, the lean startup business model pattern and Steve Blank’s post on how to process […] Loading... Reply […] want to start with the Business Model Generation book, the lean startup business model pattern and Steve Blank’s post on how to process […] Springboard » Blog Archive Day 22 Part II - "Make it outta the desert, or you die...!!" » Springboard , on October 10, 2012 at 2:47 am said: […] kicked off his presentation with Steve Blank‘s definition of a startup…“an organization formed to search for a repeatable and […] Loading... Reply […] kicked off his presentation with Steve Blank‘s definition of a startup…“an organization formed to search for a repeatable and […] What’s the point of trying a beta product? « Information Maven: Greg Meyer , on October 27, 2012 at 2:53 pm said: […] Steve Blank’s excellent blog post on Startup First Principles, he describes a startup as “an organization built to search for a repeatable and scalable […] Loading... Reply […] Steve Blank’s excellent blog post on Startup First Principles, he describes a startup as “an organization built to search for a repeatable and scalable […] What is a startup?: a Technically Philly definition — Technically Philly , on October 29, 2012 at 12:27 pm said: […] out, despite the focus on them in technology news, there are lots of questions about what exactly a ‘startup‘ […] Loading... Reply […] out, despite the focus on them in technology news, there are lots of questions about what exactly a ‘startup‘ […] Start With a Business Model, Not a Business Plan – Wall Street Journal (blog) by insuranceforyourcar , on November 26, 2012 at 10:01 am said: […] spent their time differently. Instead of writing a full-fledged business plan, they had focused on building and testing a business model with a customer development process to test each of their business model […] Loading... Reply […] spent their time differently. Instead of writing a full-fledged business plan, they had focused on building and testing a business model with a customer development process to test each of their business model […] Mark Meier , on November 29, 2012 at 10:18 pm said: I´m trying to start a biotech company based upon a research method which I developed in Heidelberg, Germany. How should I get started? Loading... Reply I´m trying to start a biotech company based upon a research method which I developed in Heidelberg, Germany. How should I get started? What’s the point of trying a beta product? | Information Maven: Greg Meyer , on December 11, 2012 at 8:11 pm said: […] Steve Blank’s excellent blog post on Startup First Principles, he describes a startup as “an organization built to search for a repeatable and scalable […] Loading... Reply […] Steve Blank’s excellent blog post on Startup First Principles, he describes a startup as “an organization built to search for a repeatable and scalable […] Stuart G , on January 3, 2013 at 5:15 am said: Hi Steve, I was hoping you could answer this question for me. If a startup is is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model, what do you call new companies that are more ‘traditional’? Are the still considered startups? For example, if you are to set up a taxi company, or a shoe store (leaving aside the argument that with Halo / Uber and Zappos that these traditional business models may change in the future), and it’s a new company, is it still a startup? Their business models have been proven many times before. Thanks. Loading... Reply I was hoping you could answer this question for me. If a startup is is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model, what do you call new companies that are more ‘traditional’? Are the still considered startups? For example, if you are to set up a taxi company, or a shoe store (leaving aside the argument that with Halo / Uber and Zappos that these traditional business models may change in the future), and it’s a new company, is it still a startup? Their business models have been proven many times before. Recommended Reading | VentureLab , on April 25, 2013 at 10:01 am said: […] Steve Blank, “What’s a Startup? First Principles” […] Loading... Reply […] Steve Blank, “What’s a Startup? First Principles” […] Whats IS a Startup??? | bouncebackfromfailure , on May 12, 2013 at 2:30 am said: […] Steve Blank proposes a definition comparable with Paul Graham’s but still different from Eric Ries’ : “a startup is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model”. A “scalable startup” takes an innovative idea and is constantly seeking a repeatable and scalable business model that will drive it to profitability and growth. This meets Graham ideas quoted above, who said that the barbershop is not scalable unlike startups. Eric Ries’ also integrates innovation in his definition, but does not evokes the notion of a scalable business model. Oussama Ammar agrees with Blank, and even states that a startup is not an enterprise. There is a fundamental difference between both, as a startup is a social entity that seeks for a business model, as an entreprise operates, exploits and optimize an existing business model. Ammar insists on the fact that a startup is not a “miniature” of an entreprise, the size does not impact the startup definition. Ammar recalls that a SME is not always a startup, and he agrees with Graham saying that a recently launched enterprise does not has to be a startup. Therefore, they disagree with Stokes and Wilson stated above. […] Loading... Reply […] Steve Blank proposes a definition comparable with Paul Graham’s but still different from Eric Ries’ : “a startup is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model”. A “scalable startup” takes an innovative idea and is constantly seeking a repeatable and scalable business model that will drive it to profitability and growth. This meets Graham ideas quoted above, who said that the barbershop is not scalable unlike startups. Eric Ries’ also integrates innovation in his definition, but does not evokes the notion of a scalable business model. Oussama Ammar agrees with Blank, and even states that a startup is not an enterprise. There is a fundamental difference between both, as a startup is a social entity that seeks for a business model, as an entreprise operates, exploits and optimize an existing business model. Ammar insists on the fact that a startup is not a “miniature” of an entreprise, the size does not impact the startup definition. Ammar recalls that a SME is not always a startup, and he agrees with Graham saying that a recently launched enterprise does not has to be a startup. Therefore, they disagree with Stokes and Wilson stated above. […] Straight up startup | Small-time Entrepreneur , on April 23, 2014 at 3:01 am said: […] its growth as proposed by Paul Graham and Daniel Tenner or by its business model as suggested by Steve Blank. It can also be a feeling, a culture or a state of mind, or any of these definitions by various […] Loading... Reply […] its growth as proposed by Paul Graham and Daniel Tenner or by its business model as suggested by Steve Blank. It can also be a feeling, a culture or a state of mind, or any of these definitions by various […] What you need to know to work at a startup • Christopher Wink , on May 5, 2014 at 8:29 am said: […] this post, I’m using the definition I use for ‘startup,’ meaning a young company testing a business model. I’m writing here about what type of person I’m finding can work best in such an […] Loading... Reply […] this post, I’m using the definition I use for ‘startup,’ meaning a young company testing a business model. I’m writing here about what type of person I’m finding can work best in such an […] The Difference Between A Startup and a Small Business , on August 5, 2014 at 9:15 am said: […] to serial entrepreneur and Silicon Valley legend Steve Blank, a startup is a “temporary organization designed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model.”_kmq.push(["trackClickOnOutboundLink","link_53e103371bde0","Article link […] Loading... Reply […] to serial entrepreneur and Silicon Valley legend Steve Blank, a startup is a “temporary organization designed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model.”_kmq.push(["trackClickOnOutboundLink","link_53e103371bde0","Article link […] The Difference Between A Startup and a Small Business , on August 5, 2014 at 9:16 am said: […] to serial entrepreneur and Silicon Valley legend Steve Blank, a startup is a “temporary organization designed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model.”_kmq.push(["trackClickOnOutboundLink","link_53e1036b38b52","Article link […] Loading... Reply […] to serial entrepreneur and Silicon Valley legend Steve Blank, a startup is a “temporary organization designed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model.”_kmq.push(["trackClickOnOutboundLink","link_53e1036b38b52","Article link […] What should a lean startup functional spec / product requirements doc look like? - Startup Vikings , on November 12, 2014 at 1:50 am said: […] Steve Blank writes, a startup is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model. The […] Loading... Reply […] Steve Blank writes, a startup is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model. The […] The Early Path towards Entrepreneurship - Allen , on December 6, 2014 at 7:05 pm said: […] in our understanding of what a startup actually is. A particularly elegant definition comes from a 2010 blog post by Steve Blank, who describes a startup as “an organization formed to search for a repeatable and […] Loading... Reply […] in our understanding of what a startup actually is. A particularly elegant definition comes from a 2010 blog post by Steve Blank, who describes a startup as “an organization formed to search for a repeatable and […] Recommended Reading , on February 25, 2015 at 3:05 pm said: […] Steve Blank, “What’s a Startup? First Principles” […] Loading... Reply […] Steve Blank, “What’s a Startup? First Principles” […] Definitions, Definitons: On Startups and “Startups” - Startup Guide Berlin , on March 10, 2015 at 10:38 am said: […] This definition is explained in quite some detail on his blog. […] Loading... Reply […] This definition is explained in quite some detail on his blog. […] Rafael Augusto , on May 9, 2015 at 1:57 pm said: Hi Steve, Nice article. I think everbody needs to try a startup. I feel sorry for us (brazilians). Because or governament it’s to sux and we pay a lot of taxes. But, I love what u write. Thanks! Loading... Reply Nice article. I think everbody needs to try a startup. I feel sorry for us (brazilians). Because or governament it’s to sux and we pay a lot of taxes. But, I love what u write. Build the Right Thing – De-risk your Products with Experiments | Lean Advantage , on July 7, 2015 at 4:12 am said: […] A startup – whether it is external or inside your company – is designed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model. How fast you can learn and reduce your assumptions is the most important at this stage. So can we learn fast, without building the product? […] Loading... Reply […] A startup – whether it is external or inside your company – is designed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model. How fast you can learn and reduce your assumptions is the most important at this stage. So can we learn fast, without building the product? […] El dilema «Rentabilidad o Crecimiento» en la startup | Grandes Pymes , on February 27, 2020 at 5:01 am said: […] en uno de sus ensayos más conocidos: STARTUP=GROWTH, y el abuelo del movimiento Lean Startup, Steve Blank, define una startup […] Loading... Reply […] en uno de sus ensayos más conocidos: STARTUP=GROWTH, y el abuelo del movimiento Lean Startup, Steve Blank, define una startup […] Mad Honey , on January 30, 2022 at 7:45 am said: Hi Steve, Nice article. I think everbody needs to try a startup. I feel sorry for us (brazilians). Because or governament it’s to sux and we pay a lot of taxes. But, I love what u write. Thanks! Loading... Reply Nice article. I think everbody needs to try a startup. I feel sorry for us (brazilians). Because or governament it’s to sux and we pay a lot of taxes. But, I love what u write. Repeatability - Kjetil Holmefjord , on October 16, 2025 at 12:21 pm said: […] a big fan of Steve Blank’s definition of what a startup […] Loading... Reply […] a big fan of Steve Blank’s definition of what a startup […] Leave a Reply Cancel reply contact: info@kandsranch.com contact: info@kandsranch.com @sgblank Get the Podcasts for Free Powered by WordPress.com . WP Designer. Discover more from Steve Blank Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive. Continue reading