Concept · Silicon Valley / Startup Dogma
The Lean Startup
Origin: Eric Ries
Biological Parallel
Annual desert plants epitomize lean strategy: germinate only after rain (validated learning), grow roots before leaves (MVP customer development), flower within weeks (iterate to product-market fit), then die. Zero fat storage, no multi-year plans. When conditions change, the next generation tests different genetics. Lean works when the environment kills the slow and rewards the responsive.