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Peter Thiel on Why Founders Should Rethink the Lean Startup Approach Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal, has a critical view on the Lean Startup methodology. While he acknowledges its benefits, he argues that modern founders may rely too heavily on it, especially the "experimental search" approach where everything is treated as an unknown. In this method, founders often turn to customers for answers, constantly testing ideas without having a clear vision. Thiel points out that this approach can be limiting because the search space is too vast, and the solutions may not always align with what’s truly needed. Instead, Thiel advocates for a more definitive view of the future. He believes that successful startups need a strong conviction about the problem they want to solve and a clear path to solving it. Founders should focus on combining the right elements in just the right way. At PayPal, Thiel and his team had to pivot several times. Their original ideas, like payments on Palm Pilots and wireless payments, didn’t work out. But rather than clinging to a bad idea, they changed direction quickly. Thiel emphasizes that it’s important to recognize when your idea isn’t working and pivot—but it’s even more important to start with a strong, clear vision. Follow for more valuable startup insights from the world's best founders!