Start here · 01
Learn Lean Startup
Build–measure–learn
A great place to learn how to run a new venture as a series of small experiments: decide what you believe, design a cheap test, look at the result, then choose to keep going or change direction.
SIMULATIONFind your first customers · solo play
First Hundred.
You have a business idea, a small pile of research points, and limited time before you run out of money. Find a group of customers so specific you could name ten real people in it — before the money runs out.
- 600research points to spend
- 6people you can talk to
- 1season before money runs out
Watch first
How to play this simulation
A quick tour of the setup, your moves, and what you will learn
Section I
Choose your assignment
01
Looking for what's wrong wins.
You earn more points for finding out why your idea won't work than for collecting compliments.
02
Listen to real customers.
Find a problem people will actually pay to solve. Don't guess what they want — go ask.
03
Be specific about who.
'Small businesses' is not specific. 'People who rent out 5–30 vacation homes and are in their first year' is.
Fig. 02 — What people say vs. what they do
Every research move gives you info that's somewhere between an opinion and real behavior. Your score only counts what people actually did.
Section II · Keep learning
Learn more about building startups.
When you're done playing, here's where to go to actually learn how founders find their first customers. Two solid starting points below — books, free courses, and short talks. The full reading list, sorted by topic, lives in the Resource Guide.
Start here · 02
Learn Customer Discovery
Get out of the building
A great place to learn how to talk to real customers: meet the people you think you're building for, watch how they actually solve the problem today, and let what you hear redraw who your customer is.
Want more? The Resource Guide has a full set of links to keep learning — sorted by topic.