Steve Blank

MARCH 2, 2011

corporation – starting a new technology division bringing disruptive technology to market at General Electric. One of GE’s new divisions – GE’s Energy Storage – has been given the charter to bring an entirely new battery technology to market. He’s as good as any startup CEO in Silicon Valley. So why this post?

Silicon Valley 239

Silicon Valley Agile Customer Development Early Stage 239

Steve Blank

JUNE 3, 2010

They start with an innovation, search for a repeatable business model, build the infrastructure for a company, then grow by efficiently executing the model. Over time, innovations outside the company (demographic, cultural, new technologies, etc.) outpace an existing company’s business model.

Search 251

Search Agile Customer Development Technical Review 251

Steve Blank

MAY 9, 2017

We’re standing 15 air miles away from the epicenter of technology innovation. I’ve been asked to talk today about the future of Innovation – typically that involves giving you a list of hot technologies to pay attention to – technologies like machine learning. In fact, it’s not about any specific new technologies.

Restful 249

Restful Silicon Valley San Jose Puerto Rico 249

Steve Blank

APRIL 16, 2013

For decades this revered business magazine described management techniques that were developed in and were for large corporations – offering more efficient and creative ways to execute existing business models. Business-as-usual management techniques focused on efficiency and execution are no longer a credible response.

Technical Review 223

Technical Review Lean Venture Capital Customer Development 223

Steve Blank

OCTOBER 24, 2017

Technology cycles have become a treadmill, and for startups to survive they need to be on a continuous innovation cycle. — all great things when you are executing and scaling a known business model. And there they would watch the canonical model in action as an experienced executive replaced the founder.

Founder 281

Founder Technical Review CTO Hire IPO 281

Steve Blank

JUNE 25, 2009

Twenty eight years ago I was the bright, young, eager product marketing manager called out to the field to support sales by explaining the technical details of Convergent Technologies products to potential customers. Convergent Technologies was one of those OEM suppliers. Their engineers hated us.

Technology 145

Technology Silicon Valley Fractional VPE Part-Time VPE 145

Steve Blank

JANUARY 15, 2017

And finally this bill acknowledges that networks of entrepreneurs and mentors are critical in getting technologies translated from the lab to the marketplace. While a few of the I-Corps teams are in web/mobile/cloud, most are working on advanced technology projects that don’t make TechCrunch. Why This Matters.

Lean 274

Lean Technical Review Government Washington 274

Steve Blank

JUNE 8, 2021

While all the teams used the Mission Model Canvas , (videos here ), Customer Development and Agile Engineering to build Minimal Viable Products, each of their journeys was unique. Several will join the new Stanford Gordian Knot Center which is focused on the intersection of policy, operational concepts, and technology.

Lean 417

Lean Security Asia SBIR 417

TechEmpower

FEBRUARY 13, 2013

To our delight, technology has evolved and improved in many ways over that time. Technology evolution can be cyclical, with some branches looping back to the past with surprising vigor and without much self-awareness. Through our fifteen years, we've been charged with helping clients get business done with technology.

Guinea 200

Guinea Application Development Ruby Web Development 200

Steve Blank

MARCH 29, 2010

In my last post I described my approach to one of the three classes I teach at Stanford in the engineering school: Fundamentals of Technology Entrepreneurship. The key things I want students to take from the class are: Understand that a startup is a temporary organization designed to search for a profitable business model.

Business Model 236

Business Model Silicon Valley California Engineer 236

Startup Lessons Learned

SEPTEMBER 15, 2008

But by taking advantage of open source, agile software, and iterative development, lean startups can operate with much less waste. So far, I have found "lean startup" works better with the entrepreneurs Ive talked to than "agile startup" or even "extreme startup.") Of course, many startups are capital efficient and generally frugal.

Lean 168

Lean San Francisco Startup Continuous Deployment 168

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 6, 2023

Be customer focused, not technology focused. Choose a business model that will win in the market. You need a business model that provides a good return for you and your team, long-term growth, value to your customer, and differentiates you from competitors. You are just as important as your innovative idea.

Technical Review 201

Technical Review Government Agile Differentiation 201

Steve Blank

JUNE 11, 2009

Agile – you may find the real opportunities for your company was somewhere else. However, you will be dealing with almost daily change, (new customer feedback/insights from a Customer Development process and technical roadblocks ,) as the company searches for a repeatable and scalable business model.

Cofounder 230

Cofounder Founder Silicon Valley Technical Cofounder 230

Startup Lessons Learned

SEPTEMBER 30, 2008

What does your Chief Technology Officer do all day? When Ive asked mentors of mine who have worked in big companies about the role of the CTO, they usually talk about the importance of being the external face of the companys technology platform; an evangelist to developers, customers, and employees. Just what is the CTO supposed to do?

CTO 168

CTO Fractional CTO CTO Hire Technical Review 168

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 29, 2019

A platform is a business model and capability that can be accessed and customized by external users. Amazon is famous for their Two-Pizza.Teams (no bigger than two pizzas will feed), allowing an entrepreneurial mindset more autonomy, agility, and accountability. Master the magic of small autonomous teams.

Artificial Inteligence 222

Artificial Inteligence Agile Technical Review Demand 222

SoCal CTO

MAY 4, 2010

Some great posts from April 2010 that talk to me in terms of being a CTO at a Startup.

CTO Hire 150

CTO Hire Vesting Startup Venture Capital 150

Up and Running

DECEMBER 6, 2012

Lean Planning is a set of tools for discovering a business model that works, building an action plan to test your assumptions, creating financial models and a plan for a viable business, and tracking your performance so you can adjust your plan on the fly, quickly and easily. Do startups have a manual?

Lean 147

Lean Silicon Valley Forecast Technical Review 147

Steve Blank

NOVEMBER 15, 2010

In previous posts I’ve talked about what the combination of Business Model Design, Customer Development and Agile Methodologies mean to startups and intrapreneurs in large companies; it’s the beginning of entrepreneurship as a science with its own rules and methodologies. Teaching In the Big Apple.

Customer Development 278

Customer Development Business Model Developer Design 278

Hearpreneur

JANUARY 29, 2023

#3- Embrace remote working Photo Credit: Thomas Niemczewski With the pandemic still underway, remote working is becoming the norm for many businesses. Companies should invest in the necessary resources and technologies to ensure employees have a comfortable and secure work environment. Businesses must invest in the right technology.

Artificial Inteligence 133

Artificial Inteligence Entrepreneur Agile Technical Review 133

Agile VC

OCTOBER 3, 2016

The way forward includes not only advanced vehicles themselves but also potentially shifts in road infrastructure, laws and regulations, and even business models for “mobility.” Most of the focus in terms of press, investment, or consumer enthusiasm is currently focused on vehicle technology development.

Technical Review 186

Technical Review Software Review Business Model Mobile 186

YoungUpstarts

OCTOBER 20, 2017

by Amanda Setili, author of “ Fearless Growth: The New Rules to Stay Competitive, Foster Innovation, and Dominate Your Markets “ Growth has always been fundamental to business success, but it’s never been more critical than it is now. Problem is, the same forces that make growth imperative also make it incredibly daunting.

Technical Review 147

Technical Review Malaysia Agile Employee 147

Startup Lessons Learned

DECEMBER 14, 2017

LESSON #1: Equip your business with a portfolio map and a 21st century org chart. With industries from banking to transportation being transformed and, in some instances, undermined by new business models and technology, executives are smart to wonder, “Are we next?” Not, ‘what's the technology?’

Lean 245

Lean Startup CTO Hire Cofounder 245

ReadWriteStart

APRIL 8, 2023

It becomes even more interesting in the world of emerging technologies and the IoT. As for AI, businesses could optimize the processes of various departments, whether inventory, marketing, or customer relations. These new technologies will become an integral part of most e-shops.

eCommerce 185

eCommerce Technical Review Software Review Analytics 185

Steve Blank

MAY 23, 2016

Established businesses execute business models while startups search for them. Gordon had the uncanny ability to see the future trajectory of computer and chip technology way before I even understood the problem. Actually they’re entirely different. I had no idea I was being mentored and never asked for it.

Lean 224

Lean Technical Review Vietnam Engineer 224

YoungUpstarts

MAY 1, 2018

Most of their business models wouldn’t be possible without it. The IT guys know what technology can do. Now a quick link with internet-related startups: companies who grow unbelievable percentages every year in the entire world. The biggest part of them has the cloud in common. The other areas don’t.

Cloud 124

Cloud Software Developers Software Development Hosting 124

Steve Blank

FEBRUARY 16, 2012

Alexander Osterwalder and I spent last week in Salt Lake City, Utah as judges at the 2 nd Annual International Business Model Competition , hosted by Professor Nathan Furr , and his team at the BYU Center for Entrepreneurship. The Business Plan ?- Business Plan vs. Business Model + Customer Development.

Business Model 270

Business Model Customer Development Utah Business Plan 270

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 7, 2016

Many other companies have followed a similar set of execution principles which I believe are required for business success, no matter how great the idea: Tune the business model to optimize value for all constituents. Continuous improvement applies to the business model as well as the product.

Technical Review 120

Technical Review Architecture Agile Business Model 120

Startup Lessons Learned

JULY 29, 2009

I hope to show why lean and agile techniques actually reduce the negative impacts of technical debt and increase our ability to take advantage of its positive effects. Just as a business incurs some debt to take advantage of a market opportunity developers may incur technical debt to hit an important deadline.

Technical Review 168

Technical Review Software Review San Francisco Lean 168

Steve Blank

JUNE 12, 2020

All the teams used the Mission Model Canvas , (videos here ) Customer Development and Agile Engineering to build Minimal Viable Products, but all of their journeys were unique. Steve Weinstein 30-year veteran of Silicon Valley technology companies and Hollywood media companies. He runs H4X Labs.

Oakland 315

Oakland Asia Lean Video 315

Hearpreneur

SEPTEMBER 22, 2021

Tesla Tesla invented a successful business model for bringing compelling electric cars to the market. Their focus on technology is also a key role in their innovation. Tesla’s technology is not only used by Tesla, it is also used by other car manufacturers like Toyota, Daimler, and Mercedes-Benz.

Technical Review 139

Technical Review Entrepreneur Software Review SEO 139

Steve Blank

JANUARY 21, 2010

To get to this Transition stage, the company needed passionate visionaries who can articulate a compelling vision, agile enough to learn and discover in real time, resilient enough to deal with countless failures, and responsive enough to capitalize on what they learned in order to secure early customers. Planning is another key distinction.

Agile 120

Agile Development Team Review Leadership Merger 120

Steve Blank

JUNE 26, 2015

The first, the notion of the “ ambidextrous organization ” from O’Reilly and Tushman , posits that companies that want to do continuous innovation need to execute their core business model while innovating in parallel. Horizon 1 activities support existing business models. Horizon 1 is the company’s core business.

Lean 120

Lean Management Business Model Incubator 120

Steve Blank

JANUARY 15, 2017

And finally this bill acknowledges that networks of entrepreneurs and mentors are critical in getting technologies translated from the lab to the marketplace. While a few of the I-Corps teams are in web/mobile/cloud, most are working on advanced technology projects that don’t make TechCrunch. Why This Matters.

Lean 120

Lean Technical Review Government Washington 120

ReadWriteStart

JULY 3, 2019

Most startups are attracted to the fully remote model because of one or a combination of the following benefits: Cost savings. Fully remote models are possible thanks to fantastic advancements in technology, but what happens when those technological tools aren’t working ? First and foremost, offices are expensive.

Startup 125

Startup Reputation United States Business Model 125

Steve Blank

JUNE 23, 2020

The pandemic has upended the business models of most startups and existing companies. Suppliers are going out of business or requiring cash-up-front terms. Revenue models and forecasts are no longer valid. In sum, whatever business model you had at the beginning of the year may be obsolete. Here’s how.

Customer 436

Customer Marketing Customer Development Lean 436

ReadWriteStart

JUNE 8, 2021

But with efficient employees, your costs decrease, customer loyalty increases, and your business model will have a much better chance of success. Technology evolves rapidly, and you need to be in an agile enough position that you can update your systems on the fly in response to new trends and new available devices and programs.

Employee 127

Employee Product Startup Software Review 127

The Next Web

AUGUST 26, 2012

Keep the team small, agile and up-to-date. The backbone of your technology company revolves around a well-organized, up-to-date, specific and documented vision, brand-key, business plan, intellectual property rights, contracts, financial administration, NDAs and bylaws it can rely on. KPI’s are different for each start-up.

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Bankruptcy Technical Review Intellectual Property Due Diligence 121