leanconf 2014: let’s get real; how you should turn theory into practise by leon pals

Let’s get real

Leon PalsChairman Startup Foundation

@LeonPals / @StartupFNDTN

How did I get here?

eBay for Twitter

First product

No businessmodel Lots of spam

digital menu’s

Press + Epiphany

Tough market Product took ton of time

Pre 2012:

Editor Shareables

First startup experience

Cool environment Tasks were less inspiring

Startup FoundationAn independent not for profit [or for impact]

organisation, driving innovation by supporting startups

We have a diverse and worldwide network of volunteers

Most work for organisations that are of significance to startups such as: Rockstart, StartupBus, Startup Bootcamp & UP global

Startup Foundation: Experience

Covering Effectuation, Customer Development, Lean Startup and much more

Giving participants hands on experience

Rotterdam

Antwerp

Middlesbrough

Newcastle

Venlo

Cyprus

Amsterdam

Startup Foundation: Meetups

Monthly get togethers, workshops, talks and drinks

Brainstorms

Knowledge sharing

Keynote party

Workspace..

Startup Foundation: Startup Port

Startup Foundation: Net

What have we learned?

Ideas are generic

Jargon & BuzzwordsMake Lean Startup less actionable

Customer Interviews = Customer Conversations

The term interviews puts people on the wrong path

MVP = testTest implies your testing an hypothesis and you keep it efficient

Observation:More peers talk, read and share information about

Lean Startup than we see it being put to use

Tests

Why get hands on?

"Entrepreneurship is something you learn best by doing it”

- Paul Graham

+ it can be fun

IntroIs there a market for anonymous STD tests?

IntroAnonymous

Reliable Pre-emptive

ProgressHow did their weekend go?

ClubbingDo new couples have fear about STD’s?

Should the team have anticipated getting into a fight?

Gay sceneProve you are STD free

They get weekly checkups, for free

The promiscuousProve you are STD free

Bingo

Text

But most of all

It is realityThe red pill

“Put your ideas into practise, they will improve if you take note of what happens next”

“Put your ideas into practise, they will improve if you take note of what happens next”

- Leon Pals

So why do we see so many peers struggling?

So why do we see so many peers struggling?

Fear

“The greatest barrier to success is the fear of failure”

Sven Goran Eriksson

Three tipsTo flip the switch

Run a Marshmallow challenge

Do the work

“Do a little, see if it works”- Tendayi Viki, last night

Enjoy yourself

It is okay to start like this

Theorising/debating/planningMight make you sound smart, or not

Lessons learned

Gain credibility

You might create something

Red pill

Assumptions Meetings Theory

Your comfort zone

Blue pill

Validated learnings Running tests

Experience

Where the magic happens

Thank you. Any questions?

@LeonPalsThank you. Any questions?