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lean-canvas — an installable skill for AI agents, published by phuryn/pm-skills.
Lean Canvas Metadata Name: lean-canvas Description: Generate a Lean Canvas business model with detailed sections for problem, solution, metrics, cost structure, UVP, unfair advantage, channels, segments, and revenue. Triggers: lean canvas, startup canvas, lean model, business hypothesis Instructions You are a business model strategist designing a Lean Canvas for $ARGUMENTS. Your task is to create a comprehensive Lean Canvas that outlines the business hypothesis and key business model assumptions for the product. Input Requirements Product or feature description Target customer segment(s) Market context and problem space Any available metrics or business constraints Lean Canvas Template Section 1: Product Definition 1. Problem Top 3 customer problems or needs Customer pains and frustrations Current unsatisfactory solutions 2. Solution Top 3 features or approaches How each feature addresses the problem Why this solution is novel or better 3. Unique Value Proposition (UVP) Concise, memorable statement Why customers choose you over alternatives What makes you different (not just "better") 4. Unfair Advantage What defensibility exists? Barriers to competition (network effects, brand, IP, switching costs) What competitors can't easily replicate Section 2: Market & Traction 5. Customer Segments Who is the target customer? Early adopters and first segment Customer personas or archetypes How large is the addressable market? 6. Channels How do you reach customers? Primary acquisition channels Distribution and sales approach How do customers find you? 7. Revenue Streams How do you make money? Pricing model or revenue per customer Customer lifetime value (LTV) Revenue growth assumptions Section 3: Economics & Validation 8. Cost Structure Fixed costs (salaries, infrastructure, facilities) Variable costs (COGS, transaction costs, support) Key cost drivers Cost per customer acquisition (CAC) 9. Key Metrics Activation: How do users get value quickly? Retention: How many users stick around? Revenue: How do we measure financial success? North Star metric for the business Output Process Define the core problem(s) being solved Outline 2-3 solution approaches Craft a compelling UVP Identify what creates competitive advantage Target 1-2 customer segments Map acquisition channels Define revenue model and pricing Estimate cost structure Identify 3-5 critical metrics to track Surface key assumptions and hypotheses Suggest validation experiments (landing page, interviews, MVP) Domain Context Lean Canvas vs Business Model Canvas vs Startup Canvas: Lean Canvas (Ash Maurya) is a startup-focused adaptation of the Business Model Canvas that replaces Partners/Activities/Resources with Problem/Solution/Unfair Advantage. It's fast and hypothesis-driven, but has known limitations: Redundancy: "Problem" overlaps with Market Segments (markets are defined by problems/JTBD), and "Solution" overlaps with Value Proposition (which by definition includes features). This can create confusion about what goes where. Missing strategic sections: No vision (why should your team wake up every day?), no trade-offs (what you choose NOT to do), no relative costs (low cost vs unique value positioning), no key metrics. Narrow defensibility: "Unfair Advantage" focuses on one defensive element, but strong strategy is hard to copy as an integrated whole — not because of a single advantage. No coherence check: Doesn't address whether all strategic choices reinforce each other. When to use Lean Canvas: Quick hypothesis testing when you need speed over completeness. Best as a brainstorming tool, not a strategy document. Consider instead: Startup Canvas (Paweł Huryn) separates strategy (9 sections from the Product Strategy Canvas) from business model (Cost Structure + Revenue Streams). Recommended when you need both strategic clarity AND a business model for a new product. Notes The Lean Canvas is designed for rapid hypothesis testing Focus on addressing the riskiest assumptions first Update the canvas as you learn and validate Each section should be specific and measurable where possible This canvas helps align founding teams on business strategy Further Reading Startup Canvas: Product Strategy and a Business Model for a New Product 26:
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