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lean-canvas

phuryn/pm-skills

Generate a Lean Canvas to test startup hypotheses across problem, solution, UVP, unfair advantage, channels, segments, and revenue.

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What is lean-canvas?

The Lean Canvas skill creates a structured business model for early-stage ventures by mapping nine key sections: problem, solution, UVP, unfair advantage, customer segments, channels, revenue streams, cost structure, and key metrics. Use it when rapidly testing business hypotheses, exploring a new product idea, or aligning founding teams on core assumptions.

Define top 3 customer problems and current unsatisfactory solutions
Outline 2-3 solution approaches and how they address problems
Craft a compelling unique value proposition and competitive differentiation
Identify unfair advantages and barriers to competition
Target 1-2 customer segments and estimate addressable market size
Map primary acquisition channels and distribution approach

How to install lean-canvas

npx skills add https://github.com/phuryn/pm-skills --skill lean-canvas

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How to use lean-canvas

1.Provide a product or feature description and target customer segment(s)
2.Define the market context and core problem space
3.Input any available metrics or business constraints
4.Review the nine Lean Canvas sections: Problem, Solution, UVP, Unfair Advantage, Customer Segments, Channels, Revenue Streams, Cost Structure, and Key Metrics
5.Iterate on each section based on customer feedback and validation experiments
6.Update assumptions as you learn and validate hypotheses

Use cases

Good for

Rapidly prototype a business model for a new startup or product launch
Test competing business hypotheses before committing resources
Align founding teams on core strategic assumptions and trade-offs
Validate riskiest assumptions through landing pages, customer interviews, or MVP experiments
Compare multiple market segments or revenue models side-by-side

Who it's for

Founders and startup teams
Product managers exploring new ventures
Business strategists testing market hypotheses
Early-stage investors evaluating business models
Teams transitioning from idea to validation phase

lean-canvas FAQ

When should I use Lean Canvas vs. Business Model Canvas?

Lean Canvas is optimized for rapid hypothesis testing in startups. It replaces Partners/Activities/Resources with Problem/Solution/Unfair Advantage for speed. Use it early when you need to move fast; use Business Model Canvas when you need more strategic completeness.

What are the known limitations of Lean Canvas?

Lean Canvas has some redundancy (Problem overlaps with Market Segments; Solution overlaps with UVP) and omits strategic elements like vision, trade-offs, and relative positioning. It focuses on a single unfair advantage rather than integrated defensibility. Consider Startup Canvas if you need both strategic clarity and business model detail.

How do I validate the assumptions in my Lean Canvas?

Prioritize the riskiest assumptions first. Validate through customer interviews, landing page tests, MVP prototypes, and metrics tracking. Update the canvas iteratively as you learn.

What is the most important metric to track?

Identify your north star metric—the single metric that best reflects long-term business success. Common examples: activation rate, retention rate, revenue growth, or customer lifetime value. This guides all other metrics.

How detailed should each section be?

Be specific and measurable where possible. Avoid vague statements. Each section should be actionable and testable, not a marketing pitch.

Full instructions (SKILL.md)

Source of truth, from phuryn/pm-skills.

name: lean-canvas description: "Generate a Lean Canvas with problem, solution, metrics, cost structure, UVP, unfair advantage, channels, segments, and revenue. Use when exploring a lean startup canvas, testing a business hypothesis, or modeling a new venture."

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.