The Lean Canvas was designed for startups and has components specifically targeted to support the lean startup process. Lean Canvas is utilized to validate your ideas and concept. Companies often move to a business model canvas when they have validated the business or are already a traditional business.

The Lean Canvas is simpler and less complete than the Business Model Canvas. Whereas the Business Model Canvas tries for provide a complete model of a business, which can be used for testing and search in lean startups, the Lean Canvas is more focused on being a one page summary with “simple” business models.

You can pick whichever canvas you feel is most appropriate to you. There are two videos below to look at, explaining the BMC and LC that should help you get an overview before you start the workshop.

Lean Canvas

This canvas enables entrepreneurs and startups to quickly validate their business idea following the principles of lean startup. A canvas is made for each customer segment you have identified and validated. It includes the following steps in the next proposed order:

1. Customer segments: This canvas is mainly focused on completely new propositions and startups. If you come up with a new proposition, it is useful to know where you can find the so-called early adopters. This group is part of the final, larger customer segment. We find this element in all canvases, but here it is a bit more specific.
2. Problem: The focus in Lean Startup and this canvas is on solving problems that are really worthwhile. Here you describe the top 3 problems that the customer has to deal with and that you want to solve.
3. Solution: This is how you want to deliver value. The solution is often what we all get excited about and work hard for. It is deliberately a small box that should only be filled in after the customer segments and their problems are known. With the other canvases, the solution falls under the value proposition.
4. Value proposition: The convincing plan or offer that solves the customer’s problems. This element is part of all canvases.
5. Revenue streams: The revenue model and pricing is part of the business model. This element is reflected in all canvases.
6. Channels: Which channels do you use to get to the customer and reach them? To be compared with customer relations and channels from the Business Model Canvas.
7. Measuring success: How are you going to measure whether you are successful? Which customer actions have value for you? This does not always have to be a financial metric. Determining the right metrics is important to make sure you don’t make decisions based on irrelevant data.
8. Costs: What are your fixed and variable costs and how do they compare to the standards you have set? Part of all canvases.
9. Unfair advantage: What does your organization have to offer that cannot easily be copied by others? How do you arm yourself against the competition? This part is also included in the Strategy outline among competitors.

Business Model Canvas

This canvas enables both new and existing businesses to determine the logic of business how to create, deliver and capture value. In the canvas we have also indicated with colors which elements are related to the desirability, feasibility or viability of the concept. It includes the following steps:

1. Customer segments: Which customers do I serve and which ‘activities are carried out by my customers as part of my products or services? In the Value proposition canvas, the value proposition and customer segment are further explored. Customer segments can be found in all canvases.
2. Value proposition: What is the value I offer the customer? What does the customer achieve by using your product or service? This is also part of the Value proposition Canvas. This element is reflected in all canvases.
3. Channels: How can customers be reached? Is this personal, or digital, or via social media or… This element is also reflected in the Lean Canvas.
4. Customer relations: What kind of customer relationship do I enter into with my customers. How can I gain and retain customers?
5. Revenue streams: What are customers willing to pay and how? This is part of all canvases.
6. Key resources: What resources (time, money, resources) am I using to create this value?
7. Key activities: What should we do to deliver, what crucial activities should be done to create value?
8. Key partners: Which partnerships are necessary / can be developed in order to create value? Also part of the Strategy Sketch.
9. Cost structure: What are the costs resulting from this addition? Are these fixed, recurring costs? What are the variable costs? And what are the one-off costs?