Lean Launchpad Evidence-Based Entrepreneurship™ Educators Guide
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Lean LaunchPad Evidence-Based Entrepreneurship™ Educators Guide Steve Blank, Jerry Engel, Jim Hornthal November 2014 | 6th Edition Preface Purpose The goal of this document is to give you the theory of why we created the Lean LaunchPad class and the practice of how we have run it. However, it is neither a guide nor a cookbook for a class. As educators, we expect you to adapt the class to your own school and curriculum as appropriate. Scope The Lean LaunchPad class was developed primarily from graduate level experience at several of the nation’s leading universities. It’s been taught both in engineering and business schools, as well as to post-graduate teams under the National Science Foundation program. However, we believe the methodology has broader applicability, and it is being adapted for use in undergraduate programs. Focus The focus of the Lean LaunchPad class has primarily been on scalable startups, often tech- based; however, initial indications are that the approach is generalizable and can embrace the challenges faced by small and medium-sized businesses, as well as new ventures in large corporations. Acknowledgements The Lean LaunchPad was first taught at Stanford University as part of the Stanford Technology Ventures Program. Hats off to Kathy Eisenhardt and Tom Byers, who gave us the freedom to invent and teach the class. The class would not have been possible without the two VCs who volunteered their time to teach this Stanford class with me: Jon Feiber of Mohr Davidow Ventures and Ann Miura-Ko of Floodgate. Lisa Forssell taught the "how to present" class and Thomas Haymore was an indefatigable Teaching Assistant. Thanks also to our team of mentors. At UC Berkeley Haas Business School, Dean Rich Lyons was the Principal Investigator for the NSF Innovation Corps, Toby Stuart and Andre Marquis allowed us to test the class in their department, and Jerry Engel and entrepreneur/angel investor Jim Hornthal joined the teaching team. This same group also taught the first NSF Innovation Corps classes, joined by John Burke from True Ventures and Oren Jacob of Toytalk. Under the guidance of Jerry Engel, the Faculty Director of the NSF’s program, they were joined by teaching teams from University of Michigan, Georgia Tech, University of Maryland, Virginia Tech, GW, City College of New York, Columbia, and NYU. Bhavik Joshi was the TA for both the Berkeley and first NSF classes. At Columbia, Murray Low and my co-author Bob Dorf taught the first five-day version of the class. At Caltech, thanks to Ken Pickar and Jon Feiber, Andy Sack, and Chuck House. Steve Blank 6th edition Nov 2014 2 Table of Contents Theory 1. The Lean Startup Manifesto ...................................................................................................... 6 The Lean Startup: Key Principles ............................................................................................................... 7 Strategy: Business Model to Operating Plan ........................................................................................... 7 Process: Customer and Agile Development to Product Management ............................................ 8 Organization: Customer Development Team to Functional Organization ................................... 9 Education: Search to Execution ................................................................................................................ 11 Instructional Strategy: Static to Dynamic ............................................................................................. 12 2. The Lean LaunchPad Class: Goals ......................................................................................... 15 3. Lean LaunchPad Pedagogy: Experiential Learning ......................................................... 15 The Flipped Classroom ............................................................................................................................... 16 Team Teaching: Students up Front ......................................................................................................... 16 4. Specialized Classes / Domain Specific Lectures ............................................................... 16 5. The Lean Startup in the Classroom: Evidence Based Entrepreneurship ................. 17 The Business Model Canvas ...................................................................................................................... 17 Customer Development .............................................................................................................................. 19 Agile Development ....................................................................................................................................... 20 6. The Lean LaunchPad Class: At A Glance .............................................................................. 21 7. Outreach ........................................................................................................................................ 23 Team Formation: Mixers/Information Sessions ................................................................................ 23 Mentor/Advisor Outreach ......................................................................................................................... 23 8. Teaching Team ............................................................................................................................ 24 Faculty .............................................................................................................................................................. 24 Teaching Assistant ....................................................................................................................................... 24 Mentors and Advisors ................................................................................................................................. 25 9. Student Teams ............................................................................................................................. 27 Cross-Disciplinary Team Formation ...................................................................................................... 27 Team Formation: Admission .................................................................................................................... 28 Team Projects ................................................................................................................................................ 28 “Outside” Ideas .............................................................................................................................................. 29 Only Project .................................................................................................................................................... 29 Team Formation: Application Forms ..................................................................................................... 29 Team Formation: Organization and Roles ........................................................................................... 32 10. Class Culture .............................................................................................................................. 33 Amount of Work ............................................................................................................................................ 34 Team Dynamics ............................................................................................................................................. 34 Sharing Policy ................................................................................................................................................ 35 Student/Instructor Success Criteria ....................................................................................................... 35 11. Class Organization ................................................................................................................... 36 12. Course Iterations: 10-Week, 12-Week, 5-Day ................................................................. 39 Steve Blank 6th edition Nov 2014 3 10- and 12-Week Course Logistics .......................................................................................................... 39 13. Teaching Team Role and Tools ............................................................................................ 40 Team Teaching .............................................................................................................................................. 40 Lectures/Flipped Classroom ..................................................................................................................... 42 LaunchPad Central ....................................................................................................................................... 42 Office Hours .................................................................................................................................................... 46 Textbooks ........................................................................................................................................................ 46 Grading ............................................................................................................................................................. 47 Guidelines for Team Presentations ........................................................................................................ 48 14. Instructor