The Lean Startup Conference 2015
November 16 - 19, 2015 - San Francisco, CA
2015 Lean Startup Conference Program Details
Monday, November 16, 2015
Workshops12:00 PM - 5:30 PM
For Platinum and Gold Passes only.
- Lean Startup 10112:00-1:30 PMPhil Dillard, Black Ant , @PhilD0210Room: C205
The objective of the Lean Startup 101 training is to introduce the concepts, terminology and approaches — and, to help organizations overcome resistance accepting the new approach so that exploration and learning can begin. This practical, interactive session will provide a solid foundation for advanced sessions, including the Lean Startup 201 & 301. This training is designed for practitioners in both the enterprise and in startups who are relatively new to the Lean Startup approach or who are seeking a quick refresher. Lean Startup 101 is a perfect way to kick off your week of Lean Startup!
Thanks to Lean Startup Co.’s law firm, Orrick, for being the sponsor for this track.
- The Leader’s Guide Workshop Part 112:00-1:30 PMJanice Fraser, Pivotal , @clevergirlRoom: Cowell
Since his record-breaking Kickstarter campaign in March of this year, Eric Ries has been hard at work assembling the Lean Startup Leaders’ Guide — the first-ever collection of the techniques and lessons he has learned first-hand from GE, Intuit, and dozens of other Lean Startup. This is the debut of the official Leader’s Guide Workshop—a hands-on (and minds-on) set of nine 30-minute working sessions that activate most important lessons from the book. This workshop is for any leader, team, or company wanting to embrace Lean Startup. *This workshop is limited to backers of the Leader’s Guide Kickstarter campaign, plus Platinum & Gold badge holders
In this workshop, we will cover 9 critical steps to implementing Lean Startup in your organization, with activities in each to put these concepts to practical use. As Eric says, “All of these ideas and concepts are academic exercises until your own resources or jobs are on the line,” so please bring a real-world situation that you would like to work on during the day. It can come from your day job, your side hustle, or your volunteer work.
PART 1: CULTURE
- How to Refocus on what Matters: Your Vision is your destination.
- How to Lead: Entrepreneurship is Management
- How to set up teams to be efficient and successful: Startup teams are collaborative, cross-functional, and fully dedicated
- From Inspiration to Innovation - Using Design Thinking to Build Creative New Products12:00-1:30 PMChristina Wodtke, Wodtke Consulting , @cwodtkeLaura Klein, Users Know , @laurakleinRoom: C210
In this hands-on workshop, Christina Wodtke and Laura Klein will teach you useful Design Thinking techniques like Storyboarding, Empathy Mapping, and Generative Research that will help you better understand your users and build more innovative products.
- Lean Analytics: Using Data to Build a Better Business Faster12:00-1:30 PMAlistair Croll, Solve for Interesting , @acrollRoom: BATSAt the core of Lean Startup approaches is a continuous cycle of measurement and learning. But what should you measure? To find the right metric, you need to understand the stage you’re at and the business model you’re in, as well as where to draw the line so you know when to cut your losses—and when to step on the gas. In these two sessions, entrepreneur and best-selling author of Lean Analytics Alistair Croll will show you how to put data to work.
- How to think about data and what makes a good metric
- The importance of cohorts and proper analysis
- The five stages every startup goes through
- Six business model archetypes and how to find your own
- What “good enough” looks like and how to run experiments
- What works for larger organizations trying to change and innovate.
This session is relevant for both early-stage founders and intrapreneurs in large organizations. Based on interviews with over 130 analysts, entrepreneurs, and investors, this session is packed with practical information, hard numbers, and concrete steps you can put to work immediately. Attendees need not be technical but should come armed with a basic understanding of web analytics, business metrics, and their current business model, plus a willingness to share with one another.This workshop is sponsored by Amplitude. - Measuring Learning in Dollars: A Finance-Approved Approach to Innovation Accounting12:00-1:30 PMDavid Binetti, Dinadesa , @dbinettiRoom: Southside
One of the most popular workshops from last year, David Binetti joins us again to lead a workshop on innovation accounting. In this session, you’ll learn how to:
- Calculate the ROI of your innovation project without fabricating revenue projections.
- Produce a Valuation in Dollars that adjusts as you learn about your market.
- Assess Risk using normalized metrics comparable to other projects and industry standards.
- Set KPIs that focus on value-creation and not just cost-accounting.
- Avoid Traps such as NPV and other traditional accounting methods that doom the entrepreneur before she even begins.
Whether you are in Finance — or just report to Finance — you’ll want to participate in this workshop to learn how to get Finance and Product speaking the same language to achieve their common goal.
- Lean Startup 2012:00-3:30 PMJonathan Bertfield, Jonathan Bertfield Consulting & Pearson, @bertersRoom: C205
In this training, the Lean Startup Company extends on the 101 training and shares practical applications and additional relevant examples to solidify the basics and show in detail how other companies have benefited from the approach. We will introduce the scientific method and dig deeper into assumptions, how to identify which ones to test and how to turn those risky assumptions into testable hypotheses. Additionally the training will introduce proven, practical tools that will enable the attendees to adopt the new approaches more quickly and resolve common challenges that have been previously identified by other organizations.
Thanks to Lean Startup Co.’s law firm, Orrick, for being the sponsor for this track.
- The Leader’s Guide Workshop Part 22:00-3:30 PMJanice Fraser, Pivotal , @clevergirlRoom: Cowell
Since his record-breaking Kickstarter campaign in March of this year, Eric Ries has been hard at work assembling the Lean Startup Leaders’ Guide — the first-ever collection of the techniques and lessons he has learned first-hand from GE, Intuit, and dozens of other Lean Startup. This is the debut of the official Leader’s Guide Workshop—a hands-on (and minds-on) set of nine 30-minute working sessions that activate most important lessons from the book. This workshop is for any leader, team, or company wanting to embrace Lean Startup. *This workshop is limited to backers of the Leader’s Guide Kickstarter campaign, plus Platinum & Gold badge holders
In this workshop, we will cover 9 critical steps to implementing Lean Startup in your organization, with activities in each to put these concepts to practical use. As Eric says, “All of these ideas and concepts are academic exercises until your own resources or jobs are on the line,” so please bring a real-world situation that you would like to work on during the day. It can come from your day job, your side hustle, or your volunteer work.
PART 2: PROCESS
- How to Do It: Lean Startup Experimentation Basics
- How to get good Results: What customers do is more important than what they say
- How to be Efficient: Remove any feature, process or effort that does not directly contribute to the learning you seek.
- Lean Analytics: Using Data to Build a Better Business Faster2:00-3:30 PMAlistair Croll, Solve for Interesting , @acrollRoom: BATSAt the core of Lean Startup approaches is a continuous cycle of measurement and learning. But what should you measure? To find the right metric, you need to understand the stage you’re at and the business model you’re in, as well as where to draw the line so you know when to cut your losses—and when to step on the gas. In these two sessions, entrepreneur and best-selling author of Lean Analytics Alistair Croll will show you how to put data to work.
- How to think about data and what makes a good metric
- The importance of cohorts and proper analysis
- The five stages every startup goes through
- Six business model archetypes and how to find your own
- What “good enough” looks like and how to run experiments
- What works for larger organizations trying to change and innovate.
This session is relevant for both early-stage founders and intrapreneurs in large organizations. Based on interviews with over 130 analysts, entrepreneurs, and investors, this session is packed with practical information, hard numbers, and concrete steps you can put to work immediately. Attendees need not be technical but should come armed with a basic understanding of web analytics, business metrics, and their current business model, plus a willingness to share with one another.This workshop is sponsored by Amplitude. - Lightning-fast Customer Insights2:00-3:30 PMAmy Jo Kim, Shufflebrain , @amyjokimRoom: C210
Do you want to:
- radically accelerate your customer discovery process?
- identify EXACTLY the right 5-7 people to test your idea?
- quickly turn research insights into design-ready stories?
If you answered YES, this workshop is for you. We’ll teach you a proven, step-by-step system for generating actionable customer insights in 1-2 weeks. You’ll learn how to:
- Quickly identify EXACTLY the right people to test your idea
- Surface their most relevant habits & needs
- Transform those insights into design-ready stories
This workshop is targeted at anyone involved in early design – startup CEOs, product manageres, designers, researchers, etc. Teams are strongly encouraged to attend together.
- Measuring Learning in Dollars: A Finance-Approved Approach to Innovation Accounting2:00-3:30 PMDavid Binetti, Dinadesa , @dbinettiRoom: Southside
One of the most popular workshops from last year, David Binetti joins us again to lead a workshop on innovation accounting. In this session, you’ll learn how to:
- Calculate the ROI of your innovation project without fabricating revenue projections.
- Produce a Valuation in Dollars that adjusts as you learn about your market.
- Assess Risk using normalized metrics comparable to other projects and industry standards.
- Set KPIs that focus on value-creation and not just cost-accounting.
- Avoid Traps such as NPV and other traditional accounting methods that doom the entrepreneur before she even begins.
Whether you are in Finance — or just report to Finance — you’ll want to participate in this workshop to learn how to get Finance and Product speaking the same language to achieve their common goal.
- Lean Startup 3014:00-5:30 PMAubrey Smith, Sparked AdvisoryRoom: C205
In this training, we will build on the foundation established in Lean Startup 101 and 201 by delving into examples and cases of the Lean Startup concepts in action. Attendees of Lean Startup 301 will be exposed to cutting edge work from thought leaders and experts using Lean Startup in practice today — at startups and within the enterprise. Participation in this session is essential: You will be asked to help design an MVP and experiment to test critical Leap of Faith Assumption(s) in groups and will be encourage to share experiences. The session is designed to allow attendees to stretch their skills and to push one-another to ‘learn by doing’. The session will also include:
- Sample cases and live interviews with practitioners highlighting the application of core concepts;
- Exercises designed to bring the concepts to life and challenge participants to deepen their skills;
- Discussion of advanced topics such organizational culture and governance as well as industry-specific concepts such as using Lean Startup in heavily regulated markets.
Thanks to Lean Startup Co.’s law firm, Orrick, for being the sponsor for this track.
- The Leader’s Guide Workshop Part 34:00-5:30 PM
Janice Fraser, Pivotal , @clevergirlRoom: CowellSince his record-breaking Kickstarter campaign in March of this year, Eric Ries has been hard at work assembling the Lean Startup Leaders’ Guide — the first-ever collection of the techniques and lessons he has learned first-hand from GE, Intuit, and dozens of other Lean Startup. This is the debut of the official Leader’s Guide Workshop—a hands-on (and minds-on) set of nine 30-minute working sessions that activate most important lessons from the book. This workshop is for any leader, team, or company wanting to embrace Lean Startup. *This workshop is limited to backers of the Leader’s Guide Kickstarter campaign, plus Platinum & Gold badge holders. In this workshop, we will cover 9 critical steps to implementing Lean Startup in your organization, with activities in each to put these concepts to practical use. As Eric says, “All of these ideas and concepts are academic exercises until your own resources or jobs are on the line,” so please bring a real-world situation that you would like to work on during the day. It can come from your day job, your side hustle, or your volunteer work.
PART 3: ACCOUNTABILITY
- How to Monitor Progress: Innovation begins with accountability
- How to Manage Risk: Startup speed is about learning faster
- How to Measure Effectiveness: Innovation accounting is the way to translate learning into financial terms.
- Driving Change Within the Enterprise4:00-5:30 PM
Cindy Alvarez, Microsoft , @cindyalvarezRoom: BATSEven when large organizations have the appetite for change, it’s hard to put philosophy into practice. In this workshop, Cindy Alvarez will talk about approaches that have worked (and not worked) to get teams across Microsoft to be Lean and experimental. Hands-on exercises will include working with skeptics, practice interviewing, and running “premortems”.
- Secrets of Game Thinking4:00-5:30 PM
Amy Jo Kim, Shufflebrain , @amyjokimRoom: C210Do you want to:
- understand how games leverage skill-building to drive long-term engagement?
- create an experience that engages your customers throughout their life cycle?
- build a simple, compelling MVP that drives engagement and promotes skill-building?
If you answered YES, this workshop is for you. We’ll pull back the curtain, and reveal how successful games and game-like products engage players for months – even years – with skill-building systems, progressive challenges, and unlockable powers. You will learn to:
- design a 4-stage Customer Narrative that captures your end-to-end experience
- build a simple, compelling Core Loop that engages your super-fans
- create a development roadmap outlining what to build first – and why
This lively, hands-on design workshop is targeted at anyone who wants to understand how to harness game design insights to drive long-term engagement. Product teams are strongly encouraged to attend together.
- Winning MVPs - Using Data From Your MVP to Win Support For Your Idea4:00-5:30 PM
Hugh Molotsi, Hummingbill, VoiceLots, Delighterr , @hughmolotsiBennett Blank, Intuit , @BlankBenRoom: SouthsideHugh Molotsi and Bennett Blank from Intuit will share what they have discovered creating MVPs via Intuit’s innovation hub, Intuit Labs. Intuit Labs helps teams develop their ideas from early stage concept to funded initiative, building innovation capabilities in each employee along the way. Hugh and Ben will share a few tricks they learned in their journey, pitfalls to avoid and case studies you can apply to your own innovation program or project.
During this hands-on, interactive session you’ll learn:
- Important factors to consider for a successful MVP
- The key metrics that matter for your MVP
- How to use your MVP to create a winning “inside pitch”
- Live audience Q&A from Ben and Hugh
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Afternoon Breakouts2:00 PM - 4:30 PM
- How to Intentionally Design a (Lean Startup) Culture2:00 - 3:00 PMAlexander Osterwalder, Strategyzer , @AlexOsterwalderRoom: BATS
The ability to test and launch new value propositions and business models is essential to grow and thrive. Creating such an Lean Startup culture is exceptionally hard for existing organizations, especially for large ones. They are streamlined to execute known and proven business models. They are not optimized to invent new ones.
In this hands-on workshop Alex Osterwalder shows you how to intentionally design an innovation culture. You will learn how to use the Culture Map, Strategyzer’s latest tool after the Business Model Canvas and Value Proposition Canvas. Through practical exercises Alex will show you how to asses your existing organizational culture and intentionally design and test a desired one.
The Culture Map is the result of a collaborative project between Strategyzer and entrepreneur and author Dave Gray.
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