Start-up success is not a consequence of good genes or being in the right place at the right time. Success can be engineered by following the right process, which means it can be learned, which means it can be taught.

The goal of a startup is to figure out the right thing to build-the thing customers want and will pay for-as quickly as possible. In other words, the Lean Startup is a new way of looking at the development of innovative new products that emphasizes fast iteration and customer insight, a huge vision, and great ambition, all at the same time.

Better to have bad news that's true than good news we made up

If you can’t out iterate someone who is trying to copy you, you’re toast anyway.

Here in Silicon Valley, I have taken part in hundreds of conversations trying to convince people to dive in and become entrepreneurs. All too often, innovators with good, safe, jobs are unwilling to put their family's access to health care at risk by walking away from company-backed medical insurance.

Most companies are busy making their products worse, not better. Updating is almost always a disaster.

The minimum viable product is that version of a new product which allows a team to collect the maximum amount of validated learning about customers with the least effort.