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The Madison Avenue Field GuideA field guide to marketing & advertising, by Brandon Mina

GlossaryStrategy & FrameworksLean Startup

Strategy & Frameworks

Lean Startup

Eric Ries's 2011 methodology of building, measuring and learning through rapid experiments and validated learning to reduce startup waste.

By Brandon MinaCEO, BrandPilot AIUpdated November 2026

Short answer

The Lean Startup is Eric Ries's 2011 methodology of building, measuring and learning through rapid experiments and validated learning in order to reduce waste. Startups release minimum viable products, test assumptions with real customers and decide whether to persevere or pivot. It favors evidence over lengthy planning when uncertainty is high.