Each startup stage has distinct priorities and presents its own challenges.
The Lean Startup Methodology is a build-measure-learn approach to launching a company: validate the idea, build the smallest version of the product that proves it, and use real customer data to decide what to do next, rather than betting everything on a big upfront plan. What that looks like in practice changes as the startup evolves. Below are the three early stages we walk founders through, from idea to a pitch-ready business case, through building an MVP, to reaching product-market fit.
Early Startup Stages we will look into:
FOUNDERS' RESOURCES
Startup Success Guide
Lean Methodology
Tools and Templates
Startup Articles
Entrepreneur Courses
Stage 1. From Idea to Pitch
- Applies To: Pre-seed startups that have a product idea and not much more
- Goal: Validate business potential and create fundraising pitch
This is the initial stage of a startup. There are plenty of ideas and excitement. It is often unclear which of these ideas has the best chances of becoming a great product and a successful business. There is minimal data to support assumptions. Capital is usually limited or nonexistent. The company wants to raise money but convincing investors is difficult due to the high risk.
The priority in the stage is to build a business case. This means validating an idea, collecting supporting data from the market, and demonstrating that the trade-off between risk and (potential) reward makes this a worthy investment.
Activities in this stage
- Prototyping and Idea Validation
- Customer Interviews
- Audience / Problem / Value Proposition
- Market Analysis
- Initial Financial Projections
Stage 2. From Concept to MVP
- Applies To: Startups that have a concept or mockup and are ready to build their product
- Goal: Define Develop and Launch MVP
In this stage you have validated your idea, you have a clear product concept or possibly an early prototype, and there is budget for development. This is an exciting place to be and it comes with a new set of challenges!
The focus shifts towards implementation. How can you best translate the concept into the desired features and look & feel of a working product? How do you communicate with engineers so that things don't fall through the cracks? How do you stay connected to the big picture while diving into the nitty-gritty? How do get maximum results with minimal resources?
Activities in this stage
- Features · Prioritization · Roadmap
- Brand Identity · Style Guide
- UX / UI Design · Wireframes
- User Stories · Backlog Grooming
- Technology Architecture
- Software Development · QA · DevOps
Stage 3. From MVP to Market Fit
- Applies To: Post-Launch Startups lacking in market traction
- Goal: Achieve product-market fit
Congratulations! You have launched your product and you see some early market activity (or not)! But it still takes substantial effort to acquire and maintain users or customers. Clearly you haven't fully "clicked" with them yet.
In this stage you have started a dialogue with the market through your product and its features. You are collecting data related to user/customer activity and how they respond to changes in the product. The focus shifts towards methodical data-driven iterations in order to continuously improve good parts, smooth out rough edges, and address points of resistance. The goal is getting to the coveted product-market fit!
Activities in this stage
- Metrics and KPIs
- Prioritization and Roadmap
- G2M Experiments
- Data-Driven Iterations
The importance of following the right process!
At Emerging Humanity we believe that a good methodology is useful in general and invaluable when problems arise. To get out of trouble, it helps to know how you got there in the first place. Following a process allows you to learn from other people's mistakes; to trace your steps, backtrack, and try something different. You are still fumbling around to some extent (it IS a startup after all), but in a systematic and intentional way that guarantees you take your best shot possible!
Emerging Humanity's approach follows a step-by-step process that aligns Lean Startup Methodology and industry standard tools with your startup's needs. It creates a clear execution path. All you have to do is to walk it!
Additional Resources for Series A Startup Product and Growth
Learn the Startup Basics
(Online Course)
Book a Product Development Consultation
Scale your Series A Startup with a Fractional CPO
10 Roles Needed to Develop a SaaS Tech Product
10 Hacks for Working with Developers
The Lean Startup Methodology
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