Utilizes proven principles of the Lean Startup approach to effectively solve societal challenges. Develops effective solutions through iteration, feedback and agility.
What is Lean Impact?
Lean Impact combines the agility and creativity of the lean startup approach with the goal of achieving sustainable social impact. While lean startups aim to develop marketable products quickly, lean impact focuses on creating solutions that are sustainable and impactful.
The three basic principles of Lean Impact:
- Build: Quickly develop initial solution approaches in order to receive early feedback.
- Measure: Collects relevant data to test assumptions and make informed decisions.
- Learn: Use insights to continuously improve your strategy and maximize your impact.
Why Lean Impact is relevant for founders:
- Quick adaptation: Avoid long development cycles by obtaining feedback at an early stage.
- Efficiency: target your resources where they will have the greatest impact.
- Maximum impact: Solutions are developed and optimized iteratively to effectively address social challenges.
The four phases of the Lean Impact Journey
The Lean Impact Journey is divided into four phases that take you from problem analysis and idea generation through to scaling your solution. Each phase is designed to drive your startup forward in an impact-oriented and agile way.
PHASE 1
IDEATION
Problem, target group and stakeholder analysis
Identify relevant problems and analyze your target group and stakeholders.
Problem, target group and stakeholder analysis
Which social challenge would you like to tackle? Which stakeholders are crucial? What are the needs of your target groups?
Collect data
Use interviews, surveys and observations to gain deeper insights.
Validation
Test whether your assumptions about the target group and the problem are correct.
Solution Design
Develop initial ideas for solutions and test them.
Solution Design
Develop initial solution ideas for your social problem.
Collect data
Find out how your target group reacts to your solution ideas and which one promises the most success.
Validation
Learn from your target group’s feedback, adapt your solution idea and check which solution you can implement with your available resources.
PHASE 2
PROTOTYPING
Prototype development and market analysis
Develop initial prototypes quickly and adapt them. Learn more about your market.
Prototype development
Creates simple models or pilot projects that can be tested cost-effectively.
Collect data
Get feedback from your target group to understand what works — and what doesn’t.
Market analysis
Evaluate the market potential and demand for your solution.
Collect data
Put your market analysis to the test.
Validation
Adapt your solution based on the knowledge gained.
MVP development and financing strategy
Develop your MVP, test it with pilot customers and develop a financing strategy.
MVP development
Develop a marketable product that encompasses the core of your solution and is ready for growth. Develop initial outcome indicators for early impact measurement.
Testing the MVP
Put the acceptance and impact of your MVP to the test under real conditions.
Drawing up a financing strategy
Plan the next steps to convince partners and investors.
Test your financing strategy
Talk to financial experts and investors and gather their feedback.
Validation of MVP and financing strategy
Learns from feedback and adapts MVP and strategy.
PHASE 3
GROWTH
Product development and growth planning
Develop a marketable product, build structures and develop your team so that you are ready for growth.
Building your team, processes and structures
Develop your team, your processes and your organizational culture in a targeted manner.
Planningfinancial growth
Make your solution marketable, win new customers and develop growth strategies.
Impact management
Sharpen your impact indicators and identify negative effects.
Measure KPIs
Check whether your solution is achieving the desired social impact and financial goals.
Make data-based decisions
Analyze your progress, identify weaknesses and improve processes in a targeted manner
PHASE 4
SCALING
Scaling
Develop a scaling strategy that further increases your impact and review this comprehensively.
Management, validation and scaling of your impact
Choose a suitable scaling strategy, build the necessary infrastructure and expertise for solid impact measurement and validate your impact externally
Measure KPIs
Check whether your solution is achieving the desired social impact and financial goals.
Make data-based decisions
Analyze your progress, identify weaknesses and improve processes in a targeted manner
Improving self-reflection and quality with agility
Self-reflection is a central component of Lean Impact. Ask yourself regularly:
- “Are we reaching the people we want to support?”
- “How can we make better use of the feedback from our target group?”
- “What resources do we need to maximize our impact?”
Use our self-assessment tool to check the maturity level of your project and find concrete approaches for further development.
