“Build a better mousetrap, and the world will beat a path to your door” is a phrase that has inspired generations of innovators and entrepreneurs. Unfortunately, they often find that a better mousetrap is not enough. You also need to find a customer who wants to buy a mousetrap at a price at which you can profit. That, essentially, is the idea behind the lean startup, a concept originally developed by Steve Blank and then popularized by Eric Ries in his bestselling book. Blank’s key insight is that you can’t run a new business the same way you would manage an existing enterprise.
