The Lean Startup is a methodology designed to help entrepreneurs develop businesses and products more efficiently and with reduced risk. It emphasizes the importance of customer feedback, iterative design, and validated learning. The approach encourages startups to create a "minimum viable product" (MVP) to test hypotheses in the real world, gather data, and use insights to make informed decisions about product development. The lean startup is a form of [[evidence-based entrepreneurship]]. The term "Lean Startup" was popularized by Eric Ries through his book titled "The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses," published in 2011. Ries developed the methodology based on his experiences as a startup founder and his observations of successful companies that embraced similar principles. The Lean Startup draws inspiration from lean manufacturing principles, particularly those pioneered by Toyota, which focus on eliminating waste and optimizing processes for maximum efficiency.