# #066 - How to apply lean startup principles to hardware, with Ash Maurya of Leanstack, USA

- Show: [The Hardware Entrepreneur](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur)
- Published: 2019-01-16
- Length: 41m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2019-01-16-066-how-to-apply-lean-startup-principles-to-hardware-with-ash-maurya-of-leanstac
- Listen: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/thehardwareentrepreneur/066_-_How_to_apply_lean_startup_principles_to_hardware_with_Ash_Maurya_of_Leanstack_USA.mp3

## Summary

Ash Maurya, founder of Leanstack, explains how Lean Startup principles apply to hardware by prioritizing problem validation over solution building, using Tesla and Apple as key examples of companies that manage high-risk physical product development through staged rollouts and software-defined infrastructure. He details the three stages of development—Problem-Solution Fit, Product-Market Fit, and Growth—and introduces his Customer Forces Canvas and Jobs To Be Done framework to help innovators understand the psychological triggers behind customer purchases. Maurya emphasizes that hardware startups can compete with software companies by focusing on the speed of learning and using tactics like small batch production and over-the-air updates to iterate quickly.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2019-01-16-066-how-to-apply-lean-startup-principles-to-hardware-with-ash-maurya-of-leanstac#t=0) Introduction: The Lean Startup Framework and Hardware Risks
- [7:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2019-01-16-066-how-to-apply-lean-startup-principles-to-hardware-with-ash-maurya-of-leanstac#t=444) Hardware Examples: Tesla, Apple, and Speed of Learning
- [10:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2019-01-16-066-how-to-apply-lean-startup-principles-to-hardware-with-ash-maurya-of-leanstac#t=628) Tactics for Hardware Startups: Lean Canvas and Batching
- [16:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2019-01-16-066-how-to-apply-lean-startup-principles-to-hardware-with-ash-maurya-of-leanstac#t=978) The Three Stages: Problem-Solution Fit, Product-Market Fit, and Growth
- [24:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2019-01-16-066-how-to-apply-lean-startup-principles-to-hardware-with-ash-maurya-of-leanstac#t=1467) Running Lean, Scaling Lean, and the Customer Forces Canvas
- [29:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2019-01-16-066-how-to-apply-lean-startup-principles-to-hardware-with-ash-maurya-of-leanstac#t=1751) The Fisherman Story and Jobs To Be Done
- [33:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2019-01-16-066-how-to-apply-lean-startup-principles-to-hardware-with-ash-maurya-of-leanstac#t=2008) Personal Advice, Books, and Morning Routines

## Topics

- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Leanstack (company)
- Tesla (company)
- Apple (company)
- Pebble (company)
- GE (company)
- Philips (company)
- Running Lean (product)
- Scaling Lean (product)
- Lean Canvas (tool)
- Customer Forces Canvas (tool)
- Jobs To Be Done (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Interview with Eric Ries - Transorted Testing Tachydidaxy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-08-21-interview-with-eric-ries-transorted-testing-tachydidaxy) (The Amp Hour)
- [108: Hardware Design Tips from Apple & Intel Leader](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-01-05-108-hardware-design-tips-from-apple-intel-leader) (Product Startup)
- [129: The Best Hardware Product Development Processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-06-15-129-the-best-hardware-product-development-processes) (Product Startup)
- [063: Hardware Startup Tips from a 22 Year Apple Exec](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-02-17-063-hardware-startup-tips-from-a-22-year-apple-exec) (Product Startup)
- [145: Expanding Your Startup Hardware Product Line](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-10-12-145-expanding-your-startup-hardware-product-line) (Product Startup)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2019-01-16-066-how-to-apply-lean-startup-principles-to-hardware-with-ash-maurya-of-leanstac. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Hardware Entrepreneur.