The Workshopping.ai Glossary

Minimum Viable Product (MVP)

The smallest real product that produces a learning loop with paying or active users.

Product-Market Fit (PMF)

When a product satisfies a strong market demand, evidenced by retention, referral, and pull.

Sean Ellis Test

Survey question used as a leading indicator of product-market fit.

Smoke Test

A landing page or simulated product used to measure customer intent.

Validation

The discipline of testing whether an idea has real demand before building it.

Customer Discovery

Structured interviews to understand customer problems before designing a solution.

Retention Curve

A plot of how many users from a cohort remain active over time.

Cohort Analysis

Analyzing groups of users who share a starting event over time.

Jobs To Be Done (JTBD)

A framework that reframes customers as hiring products to make progress.

Lean Canvas

A one-page business model template adapted for startups.

Business Model Canvas

A nine-block visual framework for describing how a business creates value.

Blue Ocean Strategy

Creating uncontested market space rather than competing in existing markets.

SWOT Analysis

A strategic planning method covering Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.

Porter's Five Forces

A framework for analyzing the competitive intensity of an industry.

Objectives and Key Results (OKRs)

A goal-setting system pairing qualitative Objectives with measurable Key Results.

SMART Goals

Goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

Ideal Customer Profile (ICP)

A precise description of the customer most likely to derive and provide value.

Persona

A semi-fictional representation of a target customer.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

The practice of earning visibility in unpaid search results.

Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)

Optimizing content so AI search engines cite and recommend it.

Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)

The total cost to acquire one paying customer.

Lifetime Value (LTV)

The total revenue a customer generates over their relationship with the business.

CAC Payback Period

The number of months required to recover the cost of acquiring a customer.

TAM, SAM, SOM

Total, Serviceable, and Serviceable Obtainable Market sizing.

Moat

A durable competitive advantage that protects a business from competitors.

Network Effects

When a product becomes more valuable as more people use it.