An Experiment is a Product

In the Lean Startup methodology, an experiment is not just a theoretical inquiry; it is also a first product. Even the simplest experiment, such as a landing page or a prototype, is a product that can be used to learn about customers.

This is a powerful idea because it changes the way we think about product development. Instead of thinking about product development as a linear process of building and launching a finished product, we can think of it as a continuous process of experimentation and learning.

Each experiment is an opportunity to test a hypothesis and learn something new about our customers. The goal is not to build a perfect product, but to build a series of products that get progressively better as we learn more about what our customers want.

This approach has several advantages:

• It reduces waste: By starting with small experiments, we can avoid the waste of building something that nobody wants.
• It accelerates learning: By running experiments quickly and frequently, we can accelerate the learning process and get to a product that customers love faster.
• It de-risks the business: By testing our assumptions early and often, we can de-risk our business and increase our chances of success.

By treating every experiment as a product, we can turn the process of product development into a scientific process of discovery.