Startup Lessons Learned

MARCH 25, 2010

Two Ways to Hold Entrepreneurs Accountable Beware of Vanity Metrics For Startups, How Much Process Is Too Much? Two Ways to Hold Entrepreneurs Accountable Beware of Vanity Metrics For Startups, How Much Process Is Too Much? Lean Startup Wiki - including a complete list of local meetups and meetup organizers.

Software Review 141

Software Review San Francisco Lean Continuous Deployment 141

Startup Lessons Learned

FEBRUARY 8, 2010

Lessons Learned by Eric Ries Monday, February 8, 2010 Beware of Vanity Metrics (for Harvard Business Review) The next article in my series on entrepreneurship for Harvard Business Review is live today. Once again, we revisit the topic of Actionable metrics and their nemesis: Vanity metrics. Remember "metrics are people, too."

Metrics 121

Metrics San Francisco Lean Continuous Deployment 121

Startup Lessons Learned

JANUARY 2, 2009

The core of the article is my first attempt to articulate the key metrics (in graph form) that I believe demonstrate customer value. My son is planning a software product that will take the mystery out of wikis and make the technology easier for consumers to use. You can read the article to find out why. Bring your questions.

San Francisco 60

San Francisco Tampa Continuous Deployment Lean 60

Startup Lessons Learned

JANUARY 15, 2010

Behind this analysis is a spreadsheet model, complete with detailed metrics for a set of customer behaviors that show just how valuable the new product will be. They are on-schedule and on-budget, but their gross metrics are way off. They are on-schedule and on-budget, but their gross metrics are way off.

Hockey Stick 105

Hockey Stick San Francisco Entrepreneur Lean 105

Startup Lessons Learned

SEPTEMBER 2, 2008

Startup Visa update ► February (5) Kiwi lean startup + Australia next Why diversity matters (the meritocracy business) Beware of Vanity Metrics (for Harvard Business Rev. Lean Startup Wiki - including a complete list of local meetups and meetup organizers. Startup Lessons Learned - the Conference (April 23. Bring your questions.

San Francisco 94

San Francisco Continuous Deployment Agile Lean 94

Startup Lessons Learned

AUGUST 2, 2008

Startup Visa update ► February (5) Kiwi lean startup + Australia next Why diversity matters (the meritocracy business) Beware of Vanity Metrics (for Harvard Business Rev. Lean Startup Wiki - including a complete list of local meetups and meetup organizers. Startup Lessons Learned - the Conference (April 23. Bring your questions.

San Francisco 125

San Francisco Software Review Technical Review Continuous Deployment 125

Startup Lessons Learned

SEPTEMBER 15, 2008

Startup Visa update ► February (5) Kiwi lean startup + Australia next Why diversity matters (the meritocracy business) Beware of Vanity Metrics (for Harvard Business Rev. Lean Startup Wiki - including a complete list of local meetups and meetup organizers. Startup Lessons Learned - the Conference (April 23. Bring your questions.

Lean 168

Lean San Francisco Startup Continuous Deployment 168

Startup Lessons Learned

SEPTEMBER 10, 2008

Startup Visa update ► February (5) Kiwi lean startup + Australia next Why diversity matters (the meritocracy business) Beware of Vanity Metrics (for Harvard Business Rev. Lean Startup Wiki - including a complete list of local meetups and meetup organizers. Startup Lessons Learned - the Conference (April 23. Bring your questions.

Software Review 68

Software Review San Francisco Technical Review Continuous Deployment 68

Startup Lessons Learned

JANUARY 7, 2010

Startup Visa update ► February (5) Kiwi lean startup + Australia next Why diversity matters (the meritocracy business) Beware of Vanity Metrics (for Harvard Business Rev. Lean Startup Wiki - including a complete list of local meetups and meetup organizers. Startup Lessons Learned - the Conference (April 23. Bring your questions.

San Francisco 119

San Francisco Management Continuous Deployment Lean 119

Startup Lessons Learned

SEPTEMBER 12, 2008

Startup Visa update ► February (5) Kiwi lean startup + Australia next Why diversity matters (the meritocracy business) Beware of Vanity Metrics (for Harvard Business Rev. Lean Startup Wiki - including a complete list of local meetups and meetup organizers. Startup Lessons Learned - the Conference (April 23. Bring your questions.

Audience 119

Audience San Francisco Continuous Deployment Lean 119

Startup Lessons Learned

SEPTEMBER 7, 2008

Startup Visa update ► February (5) Kiwi lean startup + Australia next Why diversity matters (the meritocracy business) Beware of Vanity Metrics (for Harvard Business Rev. Lean Startup Wiki - including a complete list of local meetups and meetup organizers. Startup Lessons Learned - the Conference (April 23. Bring your questions.

Customer Development 131

Customer Development Engineer San Francisco Developer 131

Startup Lessons Learned

SEPTEMBER 15, 2008

Focus on the output metrics of that part of the product, and you make the problem a lot more clear. To promote this metrics discipline, we would present the full funnel to our board (and advisers) at the end of every development cycle. Max Levchin of Slide and Paypal has noted that 10% of Slides headcount is devoted to metrics only.

San Francisco 166

San Francisco Lean Technical Review Continuous Deployment 166

Startup Lessons Learned

MARCH 25, 2009

Startup Visa update ► February (5) Kiwi lean startup + Australia next Why diversity matters (the meritocracy business) Beware of Vanity Metrics (for Harvard Business Rev. Lean Startup Wiki - including a complete list of local meetups and meetup organizers. Startup Lessons Learned - the Conference (April 23. Bring your questions.

Agile 60

Agile Lean San Francisco Continuous Deployment 60

Startup Lessons Learned

JANUARY 18, 2010

If youre interested in contributing a case study for publication here, consider getting started by adding it to the Lean Startup Wiki case study section. I try and follow a formalized Five Whys process (using our internal wiki) for every error. I try and follow a formalized Five Whys process (using our internal wiki) for every error.

Continuous Deployment 151

Continuous Deployment San Francisco Lean Wiki 151

Startup Lessons Learned

FEBRUARY 9, 2009

Startup Visa update ► February (5) Kiwi lean startup + Australia next Why diversity matters (the meritocracy business) Beware of Vanity Metrics (for Harvard Business Rev. a guide for hackers) You buy virtual goods The free software hiring advantage Continuous deployment and continuous learning The lean startup @ Web 2.0

Lean 68

Lean San Francisco Web Advisory Board 68

Startup Lessons Learned

NOVEMBER 6, 2008

Startup Visa update ► February (5) Kiwi lean startup + Australia next Why diversity matters (the meritocracy business) Beware of Vanity Metrics (for Harvard Business Rev. Lean Startup Wiki - including a complete list of local meetups and meetup organizers. Startup Lessons Learned - the Conference (April 23. Bring your questions.

Agile 76

Agile San Francisco Software Review Continuous Deployment 76

Startup Lessons Learned

SEPTEMBER 2, 2008

Startup Visa update ► February (5) Kiwi lean startup + Australia next Why diversity matters (the meritocracy business) Beware of Vanity Metrics (for Harvard Business Rev. Lean Startup Wiki - including a complete list of local meetups and meetup organizers. Startup Lessons Learned - the Conference (April 23. Bring your questions.

San Francisco 142

San Francisco Continuous Deployment Lean DC 142

Startup Lessons Learned

JULY 9, 2010

Our modern philosophy of management has this core belief (taken straight from scientific management) at its heart: that the performance of companies is determined by the systems they create, not just the people they hire. Lean Startup Wiki - including a complete list of local meetups and meetup organizers. Bring your questions.

San Francisco 161

San Francisco Management Founder Lean 161

Startup Lessons Learned

AUGUST 26, 2009

Inspiring ideas: real-time biz metrics; safe continuous deployment; A/B split testing. Startup Visa update ► February (5) Kiwi lean startup + Australia next Why diversity matters (the meritocracy business) Beware of Vanity Metrics (for Harvard Business Rev. Articulate, inspirational. Learned a lot and enjoyed the discourse.

San Francisco 113

San Francisco Silicon Valley Startup Lean 113

Startup Lessons Learned

JULY 30, 2009

Startup Visa update ► February (5) Kiwi lean startup + Australia next Why diversity matters (the meritocracy business) Beware of Vanity Metrics (for Harvard Business Rev. Lean Startup Wiki - including a complete list of local meetups and meetup organizers. Startup Lessons Learned - the Conference (April 23. Bring your questions.

Lean 68

Lean San Francisco Continuous Deployment DC 68

Startup Lessons Learned

JUNE 8, 2009

That’s because many of our reports feed us vanity metrics: numbers that make us look good but don’t really help make decisions. Yet even among those who have access to good actionable metrics, I’ve noticed a phenomenon that prevents taking maximum advantage of data. Too much of this data is non- actionable.

San Francisco 84

San Francisco Lean Continuous Deployment DC 84

Startup Lessons Learned

AUGUST 30, 2008

Startup Visa update ► February (5) Kiwi lean startup + Australia next Why diversity matters (the meritocracy business) Beware of Vanity Metrics (for Harvard Business Rev. Lean Startup Wiki - including a complete list of local meetups and meetup organizers. Startup Lessons Learned - the Conference (April 23. Bring your questions.

Software Review 74

Software Review San Francisco Design Continuous Deployment 74

Startup Lessons Learned

JULY 6, 2009

Startup Visa update ► February (5) Kiwi lean startup + Australia next Why diversity matters (the meritocracy business) Beware of Vanity Metrics (for Harvard Business Rev. Lean Startup Wiki - including a complete list of local meetups and meetup organizers. Startup Lessons Learned - the Conference (April 23. Bring your questions.

Lean 115

Lean Video San Francisco Continuous Deployment 115

Startup Lessons Learned

NOVEMBER 17, 2008

Growth - when you have existing customers, the pressure is on to grow your key metrics day-in day-out. Startup Visa update ► February (5) Kiwi lean startup + Australia next Why diversity matters (the meritocracy business) Beware of Vanity Metrics (for Harvard Business Rev. Startup Lessons Learned - the Conference (April 23.

San Francisco 88

San Francisco Lean Continuous Deployment DC 88

Startup Lessons Learned

FEBRUARY 20, 2009

Startup Visa update ► February (5) Kiwi lean startup + Australia next Why diversity matters (the meritocracy business) Beware of Vanity Metrics (for Harvard Business Rev. a guide for hackers) You buy virtual goods The free software hiring advantage Continuous deployment and continuous learning The lean startup @ Web 2.0

San Francisco 161

San Francisco Software Review Continuous Deployment Development Team Review 161

Startup Lessons Learned

MARCH 17, 2009

Startup Visa update ► February (5) Kiwi lean startup + Australia next Why diversity matters (the meritocracy business) Beware of Vanity Metrics (for Harvard Business Rev. Lean Startup Wiki - including a complete list of local meetups and meetup organizers. Startup Lessons Learned - the Conference (April 23. Bring your questions.

Lean 76

Lean San Francisco Web Continuous Deployment 76

Startup Lessons Learned

MARCH 16, 2009

Startup Visa update ► February (5) Kiwi lean startup + Australia next Why diversity matters (the meritocracy business) Beware of Vanity Metrics (for Harvard Business Rev. Lean Startup Wiki - including a complete list of local meetups and meetup organizers. Startup Lessons Learned - the Conference (April 23. Bring your questions.

Agile 111

Agile Customer Development Developer San Francisco 111

Startup Lessons Learned

OCTOBER 5, 2008

Startup Visa update ► February (5) Kiwi lean startup + Australia next Why diversity matters (the meritocracy business) Beware of Vanity Metrics (for Harvard Business Rev. Lean Startup Wiki - including a complete list of local meetups and meetup organizers. Startup Lessons Learned - the Conference (April 23. Bring your questions.

San Francisco 158

San Francisco Management Software Review Product 158

Startup Lessons Learned

NOVEMBER 4, 2008

Startup Visa update ► February (5) Kiwi lean startup + Australia next Why diversity matters (the meritocracy business) Beware of Vanity Metrics (for Harvard Business Rev. Lean Startup Wiki - including a complete list of local meetups and meetup organizers. Startup Lessons Learned - the Conference (April 23. Bring your questions.

Lean 102

Lean San Francisco Agile Continuous Deployment 102

BeyondVC

OCTOBER 20, 2010

I remember when we hired a new CEO for one of our portfolio companies and my tip to him was to overcommunicate. In the spirit of streamlining information flow, we worked with the CEO to put together a weekly email to provide us with the key metrics the company tracked along with departmental updates on key high priority projects.

Wiki 131

Wiki Startup Metrics Portfolio 131

Startup Lessons Learned

OCTOBER 4, 2008

Startup Visa update ► February (5) Kiwi lean startup + Australia next Why diversity matters (the meritocracy business) Beware of Vanity Metrics (for Harvard Business Rev. Lean Startup Wiki - including a complete list of local meetups and meetup organizers. Startup Lessons Learned - the Conference (April 23. Bring your questions.

San Francisco 155

San Francisco Technical Cofounder Fractional CTO CTO 155

Startup Lessons Learned

SEPTEMBER 2, 2008

Startup Visa update ► February (5) Kiwi lean startup + Australia next Why diversity matters (the meritocracy business) Beware of Vanity Metrics (for Harvard Business Rev. Lean Startup Wiki - including a complete list of local meetups and meetup organizers. Startup Lessons Learned - the Conference (April 23. Bring your questions.

San Francisco 60

San Francisco Continuous Deployment Lean DC 60

Startup Lessons Learned

JULY 5, 2010

Startup Visa update ► February (5) Kiwi lean startup + Australia next Why diversity matters (the meritocracy business) Beware of Vanity Metrics (for Harvard Business Rev. Lean Startup Wiki - including a complete list of local meetups and meetup organizers. Startup Lessons Learned - the Conference (April 23. Bring your questions.

Customer Development 166

Customer Development Developer San Francisco Customer 166

Startup Lessons Learned

JUNE 5, 2009

In a startup context, numbers like gross revenue are actually vanity metrics, not actionable metrics. Luckily, we also discovered that certain other metrics, like LTV and CPA were much better than we initially projected. .&# I think the problem with this approach is not the presence of the spreadsheet, but how it’s used.

San Francisco 102

San Francisco Lean Continuous Deployment Startup 102

Startup Lessons Learned

APRIL 14, 2009

Every board meeting, the metrics of success change. Time-to-complete-a-sale is not a bad metric for validated learning at this stage. Perhaps they’ll be able to hire someone especially skilled in the marketing skills needed to find this positioning. And yet, their investors are frustrated.

Customer 167

Customer San Francisco Lean Hockey Stick 167

Startup Lessons Learned

SEPTEMBER 8, 2008

So one of the first things we did was to hire an Oracle expert and get to work. Startup Visa update ► February (5) Kiwi lean startup + Australia next Why diversity matters (the meritocracy business) Beware of Vanity Metrics (for Harvard Business Rev. I was building a new startup in 1999, and wanted to do it right.

San Francisco 68

San Francisco Technology Continuous Deployment Lean 68

Startup Lessons Learned

NOVEMBER 7, 2008

Startup Visa update ► February (5) Kiwi lean startup + Australia next Why diversity matters (the meritocracy business) Beware of Vanity Metrics (for Harvard Business Rev. Lean Startup Wiki - including a complete list of local meetups and meetup organizers. Startup Lessons Learned - the Conference (April 23. Bring your questions.

Demand 167

Demand San Francisco Lean Continuous Deployment 167