Lean Startup Principles for Early-Stage Ventures
Problem Identification
The project starts from a real customer problem, not from technology. Students suffer from digital distraction and lack of focus, while teachers lack simple non-digital tools to improve engagement. According to the course logic, “no problem, no business”, and the problem exists independently of the solution.
Solution & Value Proposition
TimePlay is a short physical classroom game designed to improve focus, time management, and collaboration. The key principle applied is “value before technology”: value comes from behavioral change and better learning dynamics, not from advanced technology.
Market & Customer Segmentation
The project clearly distinguishes buyer and user. Teachers and schools are the buyers, while students are the end users. This supports a bottom-up market approach and focuses on a reachable niche, avoiding confusion between TAM and real sales.
MVP & Validation Strategy
The project follows a Lean Startup approach, developing an MVP as a learning tool, not a final product. The MVP tests engagement, focus improvement, and willingness to pay through observable behavior, applying validated learning.
Marketing & Sales for Validation
Marketing is used mainly for validation, through classroom pilots and demonstrations. This ensures that traction comes before scaling and avoids premature marketing investment.
Operations & Lean Logic Cycle
Operations follow the Build–Measure–Learn cycle, allowing continuous iteration based on feedback. This Lean approach reduces waste and uncertainty in an early-stage startup.
Organization & Legal Structure
The project adopts a simple organization with flexible roles, consistent with its early stage. The legal structure is designed to limit risk and enable future growth.
Financial Plan & Financing Principles
The financial plan assumes initial losses, focusing on viability rather than short-term profit. In line with “cash before profit”, liquidity is prioritized. Financing follows the principle “financing follows risk”, starting with non-dilutive funding and complemented by private investment if needed.
Key Interdependencies:
- Marketing Mix ↔ Customer Journey: The marketing mix must adapt to each stage of the customer journey. In early stages, product is an MVP, promotion focuses on demos, and pricing reduces barriers, ensuring traction before scaling.
- Value Proposition ↔ Problem–Solution Fit: The value proposition transforms a real customer problem into value. Problem–solution fit is achieved when customer pains are effectively addressed, applying value before technology.
- MVP ↔ Lean Startup ↔ Validated Learning: The MVP enables learning through the Build–Measure–Learn cycle. It tests assumptions using real behavior, not opinions, supporting validated learning.
- Customer Segment ↔ Revenue Streams: Clear segmentation is essential because buyer and user may differ. Revenue streams must target those who perceive value and are willing to pay.
- Operations ↔ Cost Structure ↔ Financial Plan: Operational decisions define the cost structure, which impacts financial viability. Efficient operations support sustainability, following cash before profit.
- Organization ↔ Stage of Development: Early-stage startups require flexible roles and generalist profiles to adapt under uncertainty and support continuous learning.
- Financing ↔ Risk ↔ Stage: Financing must match risk and development stage. High uncertainty requires equity or non-dilutive funding, as financing follows risk.
- Marketing ↔ Traction ↔ Scaling: Traction must come before scaling. Early marketing validates demand, while premature scaling increases risk and wastes resources.
- Value Proposition ↔ Customer Segment: A value proposition must be designed for a specific customer segment. Without clear segmentation, value becomes unclear and hard to validate.
- MVP ↔ Market Risk: The MVP reduces market risk by testing whether customers actually need and value the solution before significant investment.
- Financial Plan ↔ Break-even: Break-even indicates when revenues cover costs, showing viability but not profitability, reinforcing break-even ≠ profit.
- Cash Flow ↔ Profit: Positive cash flow is more critical than accounting profit in early stages, as startups fail due to lack of cash, not losses.
- Innovation ↔ Technology: Innovation does not require advanced technology. It can also come from process or business model improvements, supporting value before technology.
- Lean Startup ↔ Risk Reduction: Lean Startup reduces risk through experimentation and iteration, allowing startups to learn before committing significant resources.