What is Lean Canvas?

Lean Canvas is a variation of the Business Model Canvas, a strategic management template created by Alexander Osterwalder. Both tools are visual charts that help entrepreneurs and business leaders describe, design, and test their business ideas.

The main difference between the two is that the Lean Canvas focuses specifically on helping startups and entrepreneurs validate their business ideas as quickly and cheaply as possible. It emphasizes the need to identify and mitigate risk, and to continuously learn and adapt based on customer feedback.

The Lean Canvas has nine blocks similar to the Business Model Canvas, but the blocks are slightly different and are organized differently. The nine blocks of the Lean Canvas are:

1. Problem: What is the problem that the product or service is solving?

2. Solution: How does the product or service solve the problem?

3. Key Metrics: What are the most important metrics that will indicate whether the product or service is successful?

4. Unique Value Proposition: What makes the product or service unique and valuable to customers?

5. Unfair Advantage: What gives the company an advantage over its competitors?

6. Channels: How will the company reach and acquire customers?

7. Customer Segments: Who are the target customers for the product or service?

8. Cost Structure: What are the main costs associated with running the business (e.g., salaries, rent)?

9. Revenue Streams: How will the company generate revenue?

Both the Business Model Canvas and the Lean Canvas can be useful tools for entrepreneurs and business leaders, depending on their specific needs and goals. The Business Model Canvas is more comprehensive and can be used to describe and document an existing business, while the Lean Canvas is specifically designed to help entrepreneurs validate and iterate on their business ideas as quickly as possible.