Founders Master Class: 7 Essential Steps for Startups from Udemy

This Founders' Master Class walks you step-by-step through the hard work that business founders must do to prove out their ideas and launch a successful product.

This is a premier program, currently in use by accelerators and incubators around the world. It is endorsed by Lean Startup creator Eric Ries, and has been use by 500 Startups, Singularity University, and the Obama White House. Whether you're a tech entrepreneur or simply learning how to apply the principles of Lean Startup, this course will set you on a productive path.

This is a HANDS-ON workshop, not just talks — Allow yourself extra time at the end of each step to do the work and move your company forward. A complete set of handouts and worksheets is downloadable as PDF files.

If you're an active entrepreneur, there is no better online resource for getting started and moving forward efficiently.

The seven workshops in Startup How To cover:

Document your assumptions about your customer
Do GOOD customer development interviews
Figure out the key learnings from customer development
Hone your value proposition based on what you've discovered
Use that value proposition to prioritize your product features
Identify which metrics clearly show your product's success
Root your whole business, and your product in a statement of vision and values.

This isn't a "how to" curriculum, it's an active experience, rooted in the principles of Lean Startup. Our promise is that if you give us an hour, we'll save you a week.

“Teams using the Janice's curriculum will understand Lean Startup at a fundamental level.”—Eric Ries, Author The Lean Startup, and Luxr advisor

"If we'd had this material six months ago, we would have saved hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not millions." —Bill Gross, Idealab

What's inside

Learning objectives

Discover which of your assumptions are wrong (and which are right!)
Understand what your customer really needs
Hone a value proposition that combines user needs with your business vision
Measure your product's effectiveness

Make key decisions efficiently
Decide what not to build
Learn new techniques that you can use forever to make progress quickly

Discover which of your assumptions are wrong (and which are right!)
Understand what your customer really needs
Hone a value proposition that combines user needs with your business vision
Measure your product's effectiveness
Make key decisions efficiently
Decide what not to build
Learn new techniques that you can use forever to make progress quickly

Syllabus

Envision your customer

Before starting this workshop, you need to do two things:

Download the two files: zip file has all of the worksheets for the entire series, and the pdf file has all of the supplemental materials.
Gather Supplies: Sticky notes, a Sharpie or other thick black marker, blue painter's tape (it won't leave goo on the walls the way other tape does), white (printer) paper, and colored dots (or a colored marker).

Can't wait to work with you!!

NOTE: If you don't have the colored dots (available in office supply stores and even many drugstores), just use a colored pen.

Here teams decide which metrics are right to move forward with.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Examines assumptions, which is standard in Lean Startup

Develops value propositions and pivots, core skills for entrepreneurs and innovators

Develops key metrics, essential for data-driven startups

Develops customer personas, fundamental for understanding user needs

Teaches qualitative research methods, which are essential for understanding customer needs

Taught by Janice Fraser, who founded an innovation lab and authored multiple books on entrepreneurship

Reviews summary

Practical lean startup for founders

According to the course design and structure, learners say this master class offers a highly hands-on and practical approach to launching a startup, deeply rooted in the Lean Startup methodology. It's lauded for its step-by-step guidance through essential entrepreneurial stages, providing actionable frameworks and downloadable worksheets that encourage immediate application. While the course promises to save time and money by focusing on validated learning, students should anticipate a demanding curriculum that requires significant active participation and dedicated effort to fully benefit from its experiential learning model. Some sections are ideally suited for team collaboration.

Backed by notable figures and organizations.

"The endorsement from 'Eric Ries, Author The Lean Startup' provides significant credibility."

"Being used by '500 Startups, Singularity University, and the Obama White House' speaks volumes about its effectiveness."

"Bill Gross's quote about 'saving hundreds of thousands of dollars' highlights the potential financial impact."

Includes specific modules designed for team collaboration.

"Some steps are explicitly 'for teams only,' suggesting a richer experience if undertaken with co-founders."

"The emphasis on 'collaborative work' for activities like persona validation and value proposition development can enhance team alignment."

"Even as a solo founder, I saw the value in how the team-focused exercises would foster discussion and shared understanding."

Provides clear, step-by-step guidance through key stages.

"The '7 Essential Steps' are laid out in a logical, step-by-step fashion, which is incredibly helpful for navigating the early stages of a startup."

"From envisioning customers to defining metrics and preparing for pivots, the course covers the entire founder's journey comprehensively."

"Each workshop module builds effectively on the last, ensuring a cohesive understanding of the startup process."

Strongly aligned with Eric Ries's Lean Startup principles.

"The entire curriculum is 'rooted in the principles of Lean Startup,' offering a fundamental understanding."

"Knowing that Eric Ries himself endorsed this material gives me great confidence in its methodology."

"The focus on 'continuous improvement' and iterative learning is a core strength, helping avoid common startup pitfalls."

Emphasizes practical application and active engagement.

"This isn't just theory; it's a 'hands-on workshop' that truly makes you 'do the work' to move your company forward."

"I appreciated the downloadable worksheets and handouts; they made it easy to apply the concepts directly to my own business idea."

"The course is an 'active experience' that pushes you to apply techniques like customer interviews and prototyping right away."

Requires significant time and active commitment.

"This course is described as 'hard work,' so be prepared to invest 'extra time at the end of each step' to get the most out of it."

"The 'hands-on' nature means it's not a passive course; I had to actively participate and complete the exercises."

"While efficient, the promise to 'save you a week' in an hour implies a very focused and intense learning session."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Founders Master Class: 7 Essential Steps for Startups with these activities:

Review “Lean Startup” by Eric Ries

Show steps

This book introduces a proven framework for creating successful startups by testing ideas quickly and cheaply, and iterating based on results.

View The Startup Way: How Modern Companies Use... on Amazon

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Read through the book, highlighting key concepts and taking notes.
Summarize the main principles of the Lean Startup methodology.
Identify how these principles could be applied to your own business or product idea.

Develop a Lean Startup Canvas

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Creating a Lean Canvas will help you to validate your business idea by forcing you to think through the key elements of your business model.

Browse courses on Lean Canvas

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Gather information about your customer, problem, and solution.
Fill out the Lean Canvas template with your information.
Share the Lean Canvas with others for feedback and discussion.

Watch a video tutorial on user interviews

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Observing a tutorial on user interviews will help provide more insight into this important concept.

Browse courses on User Interviews

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Search for a reputable video tutorial on user interviews.
Watch the tutorial and take notes on the key points.

Five other activities

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Conduct mock user interviews with a friend or colleague

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This exercise can give you the confidence and practice that you need to be successful in conducting user interviews.

Browse courses on User Interviews

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Find a friend or colleague who is willing to participate in a mock user interview.
Prepare a list of questions that you would like to ask.
Conduct the interview and take notes on the responses.

Write a blog post about your Lean Startup journey

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Blogging can force you to process information in a way that you might not otherwise, which can help to improve retention of the material.

Browse courses on Lean Startup

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Choose a specific topic related to Lean Startup that you want to write about.
Research the topic and gather information from credible sources.
Write a blog post that is clear, concise, and informative.
Publish your blog post and promote it to your audience.

Join a study group or online forum for entrepreneurs

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Discussion with others and participation in online forums can increase course material retention.

Browse courses on Entrepreneurship

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Search for a study group or online forum that is relevant to your interests.
Join the group or forum and participate in discussions.

Develop a minimum viable product (MVP)

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This deliverables shows that you've not only understood and internalized the materials, but were able to construct something new with them.

Browse courses on Minimum Viable Product

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Identify the core features of your product.
Build a prototype or mock-up of your product.
Test your product with potential users.
Iterate on your product based on feedback.

Contribute to an open source project related to Lean Startup

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Get practical and hands-on with the process of Lean Startup.

Browse courses on Open Source

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Find an open source project that is related to Lean Startup.
Contribute to the project by submitting a pull request.

Career center

Learners who complete Founders Master Class: 7 Essential Steps for Startups will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Product Manager

As a Product Manager, you'll be responsible for bringing new products to market. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role by teaching you how to identify customer needs, develop product roadmaps, and manage product development teams. You'll also learn how to use data analysis techniques to measure the success of your products.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Data Analyst

As a Data Analyst, you'll be responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to help businesses make informed decisions. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role by teaching you how to use data analysis techniques to identify trends, patterns, and insights. You'll also learn how to communicate your findings effectively to stakeholders.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Business Analyst

As a Business Analyst, you'll use your understanding of customer needs and business processes to help organizations improve their operations. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role by teaching you how to conduct thorough customer research, identify areas for improvement, and develop effective solutions. You'll also learn how to use data analysis techniques to measure the impact of your work.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Customer Success Manager

As a Customer Success Manager, you'll be responsible for ensuring that customers are satisfied with their products or services. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role by teaching you how to build relationships with customers, identify their needs, and resolve their problems. You'll also learn how to use data analysis techniques to measure the success of your customer success efforts.

See salaries and explore the career path for Customer Success Manager

Financial Analyst

As a Financial Analyst, you'll be responsible for analyzing financial data and making recommendations to businesses on how to improve their financial performance. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role by teaching you how to use financial analysis tools and techniques to analyze financial data. You'll also learn how to communicate your findings effectively to stakeholders.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Marketing Manager

As a Marketing Manager, you'll be responsible for developing and executing marketing campaigns that reach and engage target audiences. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role by teaching you how to conduct market research, develop marketing strategies, and manage marketing budgets. You'll also learn how to use data analysis techniques to measure the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Consultant

As a Consultant, you'll be responsible for providing advice and guidance to businesses on a variety of topics. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role by teaching you how to conduct research, analyze data, and develop recommendations. You'll also learn how to communicate your findings effectively to clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Consultant

Sales Manager

As a Sales Manager, you'll be responsible for leading and motivating a team of sales representatives. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role by teaching you how to develop sales strategies, manage sales teams, and close deals. You'll also learn how to use data analysis techniques to measure the performance of your sales team.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Manager

Project Manager

As a Project Manager, you'll be responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role by teaching you how to use project management tools and techniques to manage projects effectively. You'll also learn how to work effectively in a team environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Human Resources Manager

As a Human Resources Manager, you'll be responsible for managing the human resources function of a business. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role by teaching you how to use human resources management tools and techniques to manage employees effectively. You'll also learn how to work effectively in a team environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Human Resources Manager

Operations Manager

As an Operations Manager, you'll be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of a business. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role by teaching you how to manage teams, processes, and budgets. You'll also learn how to use data analysis techniques to improve the efficiency of your operations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Manager

Software Engineer

As a Software Engineer, you'll be responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining software applications. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role by teaching you how to use software development tools and techniques to create high-quality software applications. You'll also learn how to work effectively in a team environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Web Developer

As a Web Developer, you'll be responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining websites. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role by teaching you how to use web development tools and techniques to create high-quality websites. You'll also learn how to work effectively in a team environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer

Graphic Designer

As a Graphic Designer, you'll be responsible for creating visual content for a variety of purposes, such as marketing materials, websites, and social media. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed in this role by teaching you how to use graphic design tools and techniques to create high-quality visual content. You'll also learn how to work effectively in a team environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Graphic Designer

MBA

As an MBA, you'll have the skills to manage a business. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed in an MBA program by teaching you the fundamentals of business, including finance, marketing, and operations. You'll also learn how to work effectively in a team environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for MBA