How to Build a Startup

The Lean LaunchPad

Learn the key tools and steps to build a successful startup (or at least reduce the risk of failure). An introduction to the basics of Steve…

Class Summary

Learn the key tools and steps to build a successful startup (or at least reduce the risk of failure). An introduction to the basics of Steve Blank's famous Customer Development process, where entrepreneurs

What Should I Know?

Prior knowledge or experience are not required. Passion, tenacity, and a willingness to work hard are essential. Ideally, you'll join the class with at least a rough idea of the business model of the startup you'll work on step-by-step through the course of the class.

What Will I Learn?

You'll learn the key steps of the Customer Development process: how to identify and engage the first customers for your product, and how to gather, evaluate and use their feedback to make your product, marketing and business model far stronger.

Syllabus

Lecture 1: What We Now Know

Why startups are not smaller versions of large companies

Lecture 2: Business Models and Customer Development

How to articulate and test hypotheses

Lecture 3: Value Proposition

How do you find your minimum viable product?

Lecture 4: Customer Segments

How do you find your customer archetype?

Lecture 5: Channels

How does your product gets to customers?

Lecture 6: Customer Relations

How do you get, keep and grow customers?

Lecture 7: Revenue Models

How do you make your money?

Lecture 8: Partners

Who are your partners and suppliers?

Lecture 9: Resources, Activities and Costs

What is most important for the business?

Course Instructors

Steve Blank is a seasoned Silicon Valley entrepreneur. Translation: he has failed and--more often--succeeded, in a 21-year career building 8 Valley startups, including several with major IPO's. Along the way, he's learned an incredible amount, and has spent the last decade sharing what he's learned with entrepreneurs all over the world. Author of two famous books on entrepreneurship, The Four Steps to the Epiphany, and The Startup Owner's Manual. Steve teaches entrepreneurship at Udacity, Stanford, Berkeley, Columbia, and other major universities worldwide. He was named "Master of Innovation" by Harvard Business Review and is an advisor to many successful entrepreneurs. He is also an avid conservationist, contributing generously to preserve the California Coast.

Kathleen manages content development at Udacity. EP245 is the first class for which she is working as the official Assistant Instructor. She's learned a lot from Steve while producing his class and hopes to help students with the course in any way she can!