Chapter 11 of 12

Conclusion

The Gateway to Feasibility.

Playbook Chapters
What You'll Learn What happens next based on your score—and where to go from here.

The Gateway to Building

This stage tests your idea against reality. It takes honesty—and the guts to kill what doesn't work.

You've done what most founders skip: stress-testing the business before writing code. Revenue modeled. Costs mapped. Unit economics checked. Decision made.

Your Journey So Far

The LeanPivot Progression

Playbook 01

Idea Clarity

Complete

Playbook 02

Customer Discovery

Complete

Playbook 03

Feasibility

Complete

Playbook 04

MVP Design

Up Next

What Happens Next

If You PROCEED

Your model works on paper. Move to Playbook 04: MVP Design.

  • Translate validated insights into product requirements
  • Design minimum viable architecture
  • Build the smallest product that tests your model

If You PIVOT

The problem is real, but the economics don't work. Change one variable:

Then re-run Playbook 03 with new assumptions.

If You KILL

No viable path to profitability. This is a victory—you've saved years of wasted effort.

  • Document everything in the Lean Vault
  • Return to Playbook 01 with new insight
  • Apply your learning to the next idea

Key Takeaways

Before you move on, remember these core principles:

  1. Viability is a hypothesis. Test it before you build.
  2. Unit economics are the governing law. LTV:CAC determines whether you can scale.
  3. Costs are step functions. They jump at thresholds, not linearly with revenue.
  4. Payback period matters more than LTV. Cash flow kills companies.
  5. Technical feasibility isn't just "can we build it?" It's "can we build it profitably?"
  6. Kill decisions are victories. Better to learn in 3 months than grind for 3 years.
Your Lean Vault

Your financials are now secured in the Lean Vault. The unit economics are validated. The path to viability is clear. Whether you proceed, pivot, or kill—you're making the decision with evidence, not hope.

What's in Playbook 04

If you received a PROCEED decision, Playbook 04: MVP & Solution Design will guide you through:

  • Translating validated insights into product requirements
  • Minimum Viable Product architecture principles
  • Build vs. buy vs. fake it decisions
  • Technical stack selection for your constraints
  • Preparing for your first paying customers

The MVP is no longer a guess—it's a calibrated instrument designed to execute a validated business model.

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Works Cited & Recommended Reading
Unit Economics & Financial Modeling
SaaS Metrics & Benchmarks
  • 7. SaaS Trends 2025-2026: 25 Definitive Trends Shaping the Industry. Modall
  • 8. The Great SaaS Price Surge of 2025: A Comprehensive Breakdown. SaaStr
  • 9. SaaS gross margin explained: What it is, and why it's important. Stripe
  • 10. SaaS Gross Margin Benchmarks and How To Increase Yours. Lighter Capital
  • 11. 2025 SaaS Churn Rate: Benchmarks, Formulas and Calculator. Vena Solutions
  • 12. How to Compare CAC Benchmarks by Industry. Phoenix Strategy Group
  • 13. How I Calculate the CAC Payback Period. The SaaS CFO
  • 14. The Rule Of 40: How To Calculate And Use It For SaaS. CloudZero
Pricing Strategy & Research
  • 15. What Is A Hybrid Revenue Model? Definition, Types, Benefits. Marketplacer
  • 16. How To Use The Van Westendorp Price Sensitivity Meter. SurveyMonkey
  • 17. How To Price Your Product: Van Westendorp Pricing Model. Forbes
  • 18. Van Westendorp Price Optimization Using LimeSurvey. LimeSurvey
  • 19. Using Conjoint Analysis for Pricing Research. Qualtrics
  • 20. Understanding Conjoint Analysis in Market Research. LimeSurvey
AI Costs & Unit Economics
  • 21. AI Pricing: How Much Does AI Cost in 2025? Monetizely
  • 22. The Best Cheapest AI Inference Services of 2025. SiliconFlow
  • 23. Welcome to LLMflation - LLM inference cost is going down fast. Andreessen Horowitz
  • 24. Avoiding The Looming AI Unit Economics Crisis. Moreland Connect
  • 25. Beyond Benchmarks: The Economics of AI Inference. arXiv
Burn Rate & Cash Management
  • 26. What is burn rate? What startups need to know. Stripe
  • 27. The Bill Gurley Chronicles: VCs, Marketplaces, and Early-Stage Investing. Macro Ops
Feasibility & Risk Assessment
  • 29. AI Project Feasibility Checker. LaSoft
  • 30. Technical Feasibility Study & Risk Assessment Framework. Incurvo
  • 31. Startup feasibility: How to know if my startup idea is good. Business Model Hacking
  • 32. Startup Evaluation Checklist: Essential Investment Criteria. Qubit Capital
  • 33. What Is a Risk Matrix? [+Template]. Atlassian
  • 34. How to Run Pre-Mortem Exercises [Templates Included]. Atlassian
Regulatory & Compliance
  • 35. EU AI Act Compliance Checker. EU AI Act
  • 36. President Trump Signs EO to Stop State Regulation of AI. Ogletree
  • 37. Executive Order Limiting State Power to Regulate AI. K&L Gates
  • 38. How 2025 state legislative sessions grew the AI patchwork. Engine
  • 39. CCPA Requirements 2026: Complete Compliance Guide. Secure Privacy
Templates & Frameworks

Note: Some links may contain affiliate referrals. We only recommend resources we genuinely find valuable for startup founders.

You've Completed Playbook 03: Feasibility & Business Model

Your business model is validated. Time to design and build your minimum viable product.

Start Building Your MVP