November 2017
On matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of substance, stand like a rock. —Author unknown Jared Adams (COO, Canvas ) showed us how to profit from using the lean startup method to add substance to style. The founders of Canvas started with two things: a background in information technology and the observation that many young adults prefer to interact with others indirectly. Knowing that this lifestyle increases the efficiency of some kinds of communication, the founders wondered if employers and young job applicants would rather text than talk. To find out, they developed a text-based intelligent interviewing software program and raised $2 million in seed capital. Because the founders needed help to know what to build and how people would use their product, they asked trusted senior human resources (HR) people across the country to find flaws in the original program. The HR people found several embarrassing flaws but, surprisingly, also ask