In the Lean Startup process, which statement best distinguishes discovery from validation?

• A. Discovery tests traction and willingness to buy with a minimum viable product.
• B. Validation tests problem-solution fit by learning customer needs.
• C. Discovery tests problem-solution fit by learning customer needs; validation tests traction and willingness to buy with a minimum viable product.
• D. Discovery is about marketing; validation is about hiring.

Answer: (D)

In Lean Startup work, discovery is about learning what customers truly need and whether the proposed solution fits that need. It’s a learning-focused phase that seeks problem-solution fit by talking to customers, exploring pains, and testing concepts without demanding a purchase. Validation, on the other hand, shifts to proving there is real demand and a viable path to revenue. It uses a minimal product or MVP to test traction and whether customers would actually buy, reflecting willingness to pay and adoption.

So the best distinction is: discovery tests problem-solution fit by learning customer needs, while validation tests traction and willingness to buy with a minimum viable product.