Skip to Main Content
HBS Home
  • About
  • Academic Programs
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Research
  • Baker Library
  • Giving
  • Harvard Business Review
  • Initiatives
  • News
  • Recruit
  • Map / Directions
Faculty & Research
  • Faculty
  • Research
  • Featured Topics
  • Academic Units
  • …→
  • Harvard Business School→
  • Faculty & Research→
Publications
Publications
  • December 2011 (Revised July 2013)
  • Background Note
  • HBS Case Collection

Hypothesis-Driven Entrepreneurship: The Lean Startup

By: Thomas Eisenmann, Eric Ries and Sarah Dillard
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:26
ShareBar

Abstract

Firms that follow a hypothesis-driven approach to evaluating entrepreneurial opportunity are called "lean startups." Entrepreneurs in these startups translate their vision into falsifiable business model hypotheses, then test the hypotheses using a series of "minimum viable products," each of which represents the smallest set of features/activities needed to rigorously validate a concept. Based on test feedback, entrepreneurs must then decide whether to persevere with their business model, "pivot" by changing some model elements, or abandon the startup. This note describes, step-by-step, how to follow the hypothesis-driven approach when evaluating entrepreneurial opportunity; explains how the approach mitigates cognitive biases that otherwise can contribute to poor decisions; and considers conditions that are best suited for lean startup methods.

Keywords

Entrepreneurship; Business Startups

Citation

Eisenmann, Thomas, Eric Ries, and Sarah Dillard. "Hypothesis-Driven Entrepreneurship: The Lean Startup." Harvard Business School Background Note 812-095, December 2011. (Revised July 2013.) (request a courtesy copy.)
  • Educators
  • Purchase

About The Author

Thomas R. Eisenmann

Entrepreneurial Management
→More Publications

Related Work

    • December 2011 (Revised July 2013)
    • Faculty Research

    Hypothesis-Driven Entrepreneurship: The Lean Startup

    By: Thomas Eisenmann, Eric Ries and Sarah Dillard
Related Work
  • Hypothesis-Driven Entrepreneurship: The Lean Startup By: Thomas Eisenmann, Eric Ries and Sarah Dillard
ǁ
Campus Map
Harvard Business School
Soldiers Field
Boston, MA 02163
→Map & Directions
→More Contact Information
  • Make a Gift
  • Site Map
  • Jobs
  • Harvard University
  • Trademarks
  • Policies
  • Accessibility
  • Digital Accessibility
Copyright © President & Fellows of Harvard College