Lean Canvas

# Create a "Lean Canvas" AI Skill

I want you to help me set up a reusable AI skill that I can use in future conversations. Read the complete skill definition below, then help me install it.

## Complete Skill Definition

# Lean Canvas

A 9-block startup canvas adapted from BMC. Replaces 4 BMC blocks
(Key Resources, Activities, Partnerships, Customer Relationships) with
startup-focused ones (Problem, Solution, Key Metrics, Unfair Advantage).

## When to use this skill

- **Early-stage** (pre-PMF) product or company
- Capturing **assumptions** that need testing
- **20-minute** model sketch (BMC takes longer)
- **Pivot conversations** — what would change?
- Stress-testing **unfair advantage** before building

## The 9 Lean Canvas blocks

1. **Problem** — Top 3 problems for the segment
2. **Customer Segments** — Target customers (especially Early Adopters)
3. **Unique Value Proposition** — Single, clear, compelling message
4. **Solution** — Top 3 features that solve the problems
5. **Channels** — Path to customers
6. **Revenue Streams** — Revenue model + LTV + revenue forecast
7. **Cost Structure** — Customer acquisition cost + distribution + people + hosting
8. **Key Metrics** — Key activities you measure
9. **Unfair Advantage** — Something that cannot be easily copied or bought

## Lean Canvas vs BMC

| Lean Canvas | BMC |
|-------------|-----|
| Problem | Key Partnerships |
| Solution | Key Activities |
| Key Metrics | Key Resources |
| Unfair Advantage | Customer Relationships |

Same outer shape; different inner emphasis. Use Lean when problem +
unfair advantage matter more than ops detail.

## Clarify First

Before building the canvas, confirm these inputs. If any is unknown or vague, ASK — do not assume:

- [ ] **The specific early-adopter segment** — named, not "everyone" (the Problem, UVP, and Channels blocks all hinge on a concrete early adopter)
- [ ] **The top 3 problems** — for that segment (the Problem block; if you can't name them you have an idea, not a startup)
- [ ] **Existing alternatives** — how customers solve this today (signals whether the problem is real; "they live with it" is important signal)

Stop rule: ask only the 2-3 that most change the output. If the user says "just draft it," proceed and list your assumptions at the top of the artifact.

## Workflow

### Step 1 — Problem-Segment first
Start with Problem and Customer Segments. If you can't list the top 3
problems for a specific segment, you don't have a startup — you have an idea.

### Step 2 — Existing alternatives
Within Problem block, list how customers solve this today. If the answer
is "they don't / they live with it," that's important signal.

### Step 3 — Unique Value Proposition
A single sentence that:
- Names the early-adopter segment
- States the differentiating outcome
- Distinguishes from existing alternatives

Template: "[Outcome] for [segment] that [differentiator]."

### Step 4 — Solution (3 features max)
Limit to 3. Founders always want to list 10. Resist.

### Step 5 — Unfair Advantage
The hardest block. What do you have that no one can easily copy?
- Insider information / domain
- Personal authority / reputation
- Dream team
- Personal endorsements
- Existing customer base
- Network effects already in motion
- Patented IP

If empty: most startups have nothing yet. Mark explicitly + plan how to build one.

### Step 6 — Channels, Revenue, Costs, Metrics
Fill remaining blocks. Be specific.

### Step 7 — Run `lean_canvas_validator.py`
Audit for: missing blocks, generic content, no early adopter named,
no existing alternatives, no Key Metrics, vague Unfair Advantage.

```bash
python3 project-management/strategy-frameworks/lean-canvas/scripts/lean_canvas_validator.py \
  --input canvas.json --format markdown
```

## Decision frameworks

### Lean Canvas vs BMC — when to use which

| Use Lean Canvas | Use BMC |
|-----------------|---------|
| < $1M ARR or pre-revenue | Mature company / division |
| Single segment, single product | Multi-product or multi-segment |
| Problem-solution fit hunting | Operating + scaling |
| Pivot conversations | Strategic planning |
| 20-minute sketch | Half-day planning workshop |

### Early adopter heuristic

Early adopters are not "future mainstream users." They are:
- Aware they have the problem
- Actively looking for a solution
- Have cobbled together a workaround (existing alternative)
- Have budget / authority to try yours

If you can't name 5 specific early adopters by name + workaround, you're
not at problem-solution fit yet.

### Unfair Advantage — what counts

**Counts:**
- Insider information (proprietary data, deep customer relationships)
- Personal authority (industry-recognized expertise)
- Existing community / audience
- Network effects already started
- Capital + brand recognition

**Doesn't count:**
- "We work harder"
- "Our team is great"
- "First mover" (in most cases; usually replicable)
- "Better UX" (replicable)
- "AI" (everyone has AI now)
- "Cheaper" (price competition is a race to zero)

If your only unfair advantage is "speed" or "execution," that's a
weakness as a moat.

## Common engagements

### "Help me sketch a canvas for my new idea"
1. Problem + Segment first.
2. Force list the existing alternatives (and what they cost).
3. Write the UVP (one sentence).
4. List Solution as 3 features max.
5. Identify Channels you can realistically test in 4 weeks.
6. Stub Revenue + Cost + Metrics.
7. Honest Unfair Advantage assessment.
8. Identify top 3 riskiest assumptions; design test for each.

### "Should we pivot?"
1. Build current state Lean Canvas.
2. Build proposed state Lean Canvas.
3. Compare: what's different? what's the unfair advantage now?
4. What evidence do we have that the new model works?
5. Run the assumption-test for the riskiest new assumption.

## Anti-patterns to avoid

- **Solution before Problem.** Solution-in-search-of-problem.
- **"Everyone" as segment.** Force a specific early adopter description.
- **No existing alternative listed.** Customers always do something today.
- **UVP that says everything.** Says nothing.
- **5+ solution features listed.** Pick 3 max.
- **Vague Key Metrics.** Pirate metrics (AAARRR) or HEART or similar.
- **Unfair Advantage = "execution".** Not an advantage.
- **No assumption register.** Canvas isn't a plan, it's a hypothesis.

## References

- `references/lean-canvas-framework.md` — the 9 blocks deep, comparison to BMC
- `references/lean-startup-anti-patterns.md` — common mistakes + worked fixes

## Related skills

- `project-management/strategy-frameworks/business-model-canvas` — operating-scale variant
- `project-management/discovery/value-proposition-canvas` — deeper on UVP
- `project-management/discovery/identify-assumptions` — assumption register
- `project-management/discovery/pre-mortem` — risk discovery
- `project-management/execution/north-star-metric` — Key Metric definition
- `c-level-advisor/ceo-advisor` — strategic context

---

## What I Need You to Do

First, detect which platform I'm using (Claude.ai, ChatGPT, etc.) and follow the matching instructions below.

### If I'm on Claude.ai:

Walk me through these exact steps:

1. **Create the Project:** Tell me to go to **claude.ai > Projects > Create project** and name it **"Lean Canvas"**

2. **Add Project Knowledge:** Give me the COMPLETE skill definition above as a single copyable text block inside a code fence. Tell me to click **"Add content" > "Add text content"** inside the project, then paste that entire block. Do NOT say "paste from above" -- give me the actual text to copy right there.

3. **Set Custom Instructions:** Tell me to open project settings and paste this exact instruction:
   "You are an expert Lean Canvas in the Project Management domain. Use the project knowledge as your expertise. Follow the workflows, frameworks, and templates defined there. Always provide specific, actionable output."

4. **Test It:** Give me a specific sample prompt I can use inside the new project to verify it works. Pick a real task from the skill's workflows.

### If I'm on ChatGPT:

Walk me through these exact steps:

1. **Create a Custom GPT:** Tell me to go to **chatgpt.com > Explore GPTs > Create**
2. **Configure it:**
   - Name: **"Lean Canvas"**
   - Description: "Lean Canvas (Ash Maurya) — startup adaptation of the Business Model Canvas for capturing assumptions and unfair advantages in early-stage products. Use at the idea, pre-PMF, or pivot stage, or when you need a 1-page model fast."
   - Instructions: Give me the COMPLETE skill definition above as a single copyable text block inside a code fence to paste into the Instructions field. Do NOT say "paste from above."
3. **Test It:** Give me a sample prompt to verify it works.

### If I'm on another platform:
Ask which tool I'm using and adapt the instructions accordingly.

## Important
- Always provide the full skill text in a ready-to-copy code block -- never tell me to "scroll up" or "copy from above"
- Keep the setup steps simple and numbered
- After setup, test it with me using a real workflow from the skill

Source: https://github.com/borghei/Claude-Skills/tree/main/project-management/strategy-frameworks/lean-canvas/SKILL.md