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I like to think of startups as research projects. You start with a hypothesis, which is usually "there is sufficient market for <idea>". Then you do the experim

I like to think of startups as research projects. You start with a hypothesis, which is usually "there is sufficient market for <idea>". Then you do the experiments to prove the hypothesis, which is the actual startup. How you go about proving the hypothesis is just as important as the hypothesis you start with. In the world of science, if your experiments have flaws they won't be accepted as proof of your hypothesis. In the startup world, flaws don't necessarily discredit the hypothesis, but then fail to prove it when you go bust.

ghc 13y ago
This is the foundation for the Lean Startup methodology espoused by Steve Blank, Eric Reis, Ash Maurya and others, but until recently it has been articulated in the jargon of the business community such that it is difficult to see in terms of the scientific method. I think Ash Maurya's upcoming book, "The Customer Factory", is perhaps the first attempt to codify the Lean Startup entirely in terms of how a scientist builds and tests models. As a technical person, not a business person, I am eagerly awaiting this book in hopes that it frames the startup process in the same ways that I tend to see the world (in terms of axioms, hypotheses and experiments).
- djkz 13y ago
  If you are interested in The Customer Factory here is a video preview for the book https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iq3xDul0JY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iq3xDul0JY
- lobotryas 13y ago
  Correct me if I'm wrong, but you're looking forward to this book reinforcing your worldview instead of challenging it? That's fine, I'm just surprised if my interpretation is correct.
  - ghc 13y ago
    Well, I don't expect The Customer Factory to be a philosophy book. Instead, I expect it to be full of practical ideas and tools. Most business books, even those about Lean, start from what I see as an alien perspective. Sure, I can glean some valuable insight and maybe put it into practice, but it doesn't speak my language. A practical book on business models that speaks my language would be a valuable thing indeed.
    - lobotryas 13y ago
      Ah, I understand now, that's a good point! When it comes to "ideas as tools", finding a source that's on the same wavelength as you does make a huge difference. And hey, if we end up reaching your goals, then who cares what book helped us get there? We win and just like with a firefight, who is left standing is all that matters at the end of the day.
deleted 13y ago
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wslh 13y ago
I see it in a different non so-scientific way. My company is not a startup but my issues were more about how to move forward with thousands of, probably, good choices. And analyzing it in a scientific way was not feasible if you need to move fast.
weland 13y ago
> I like to think of startups as research projects. You start with a hypothesis, which is usually "there is sufficient market for <idea>". Then you do the experiments to prove the hypothesis, which is the actual startup. "There is sufficient market for <idea>" (or a variation of it, such as "there is sufficient demand for <solving this problem (efficiently)>" is usually the question you try to answer before shoving money into a research project...

ghc 13y ago

This is the foundation for the Lean Startup methodology espoused by Steve Blank, Eric Reis, Ash Maurya and others, but until recently it has been articulated in the jargon of the business community such that it is difficult to see in terms of the scientific method. I think Ash Maurya's upcoming book, "The Customer Factory", is perhaps the first attempt to codify the Lean Startup entirely in terms of how a scientist builds and tests models. As a technical person, not a business person, I am eagerly awaiting this book in hopes that it frames the startup process in the same ways that I tend to see the world (in terms of axioms, hypotheses and experiments).

djkz 13y ago
If you are interested in The Customer Factory here is a video preview for the book https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iq3xDul0JY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iq3xDul0JY
lobotryas 13y ago
Correct me if I'm wrong, but you're looking forward to this book reinforcing your worldview instead of challenging it? That's fine, I'm just surprised if my interpretation is correct.
- ghc 13y ago
  Well, I don't expect The Customer Factory to be a philosophy book. Instead, I expect it to be full of practical ideas and tools. Most business books, even those about Lean, start from what I see as an alien perspective. Sure, I can glean some valuable insight and maybe put it into practice, but it doesn't speak my language. A practical book on business models that speaks my language would be a valuable thing indeed.
  - lobotryas 13y ago
    Ah, I understand now, that's a good point! When it comes to "ideas as tools", finding a source that's on the same wavelength as you does make a huge difference. And hey, if we end up reaching your goals, then who cares what book helped us get there? We win and just like with a firefight, who is left standing is all that matters at the end of the day.

deleted 13y ago

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wslh 13y ago

I see it in a different non so-scientific way. My company is not a startup but my issues were more about how to move forward with thousands of, probably, good choices. And analyzing it in a scientific way was not feasible if you need to move fast.

weland 13y ago

> I like to think of startups as research projects. You start with a hypothesis, which is usually "there is sufficient market for <idea>". Then you do the experiments to prove the hypothesis, which is the actual startup. "There is sufficient market for <idea>" (or a variation of it, such as "there is sufficient demand for <solving this problem (efficiently)>" is usually the question you try to answer before shoving money into a research project...