Disciplined Entrepreneurship, 2nd Edition

TRACKING YOUR PROGRESS: THE DISCIPLINED ENTREPRENEURSHIP (DE) CANVAS

WHILE THE 24 STEP diagram from the previous pages is a great single image to summarize the process, my colleagues at MIT and I have learned it is also extremely helpful to have a one‐page summary or canvas to track your progress. This is how the DE Canvas came about.

Originally, we used the Business Model Canvas by Alex Osterwalder and then the Lean Model Canvas by Ash Maurya. While we found initial enthusiasm and use for them, we also found the limitations in these for what we wanted to do. Neither embedded explicitly the important sequential logic and depth that we desired and so we built our own customized canvas around the 24 Steps. The DE Canvas extends beyond the 24 Steps to make sure the entrepreneur considers other important factors to make a successful and scalable new venture. It should be noted as well that in addition to vetting startups and startup ideas, the DE Canvas has been used extensively in existing organizations as well to improve their profitability and growth.

What Is the DE Canvas, and Why Is It Important?

The DE Canvas is a one‐page overview of the Disciplined Entrepreneurship approach to entrepreneurship. It includes all of the 24 Steps but also two other critical areas: (1) the elements you start your business with, and (2) the overall financials of your new venture. There are 10 boxes in the canvas (a nice visual symmetry) with a sequential order. That does not necessarily mean ...