Lean Startup Methodologies, Design Thinking, Manufacturing & Product Sourcing, Rapid Prototyping, 3D Printing, Engineering, Software UI/UX, Product Design & Development, Intellectual Property Protection, Digital Media & Web Design

Unpacking the Minimum Viable Product: A Framework for Use, Goals, and Essential Elements (January 2025)
Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development
DOI:10.1108/JSBED-02-2024-0075
Authors: Jason Lortie, Kevin Cox, Sean DeRosset, Regina Thompson, Scott Kelly

Lean startup methodologies emphasize the use of minimum viable products (MVPs) to test business model hypotheses in uncertain environments, yet the concept remains inconsistently defined. This paper proposes a clear and structured framework to guide entrepreneurs in understanding the purpose, goals, and essential components of an MVP.

Drawing on a systematic analysis of existing MVP literature, we outline three core categories critical to the MVP concept: (a) artistic elements that engage users, (b) robust distribution channels, and (c) effective mechanisms for gathering user feedback. This framework helps disentangle the complexities of MVP development and supports entrepreneurs in creating viable early-stage offerings for market testing.

By identifying the minimal viable elements necessary for MVP success, this work contributes to both entrepreneurial theory and pedagogy. It offers actionable insights for entrepreneurs and educators aiming to teach or apply MVPs in real-world startup contexts.

Competitive Research Papers: Two-Factor Learning for Launch: The Phenomena of Initial Incremental Offering Success (January 2020)
U.S. Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship Annual Conference
Authors: Scott Kelly, Troy Bolivar, Jason Lortie
Lean startup methodologies are believed to reduce the overall risk and cost for launching new businesses. Many of these methodologies provide processes and tools that aid new entrepreneurs in their attempts to make informed decisions before, during, and after the launch of their initial offerings. Drawing on theories from the Knowledge Based View, Organizational Learning, Lean Entrepreneurship, and Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory of Hygiene and Motivating Factors, we propose a theoretical framework of incremental innovation and lean launch that we believe can reduce the overall risk and cost to launch even further. Our framework models the phenomena of initial incremental offering success within a specific market through knowledge of existing offerings and their respective hygiene and motivating attributes. Additionally, we propose that the relationship between individual and organizational knowledge can be moderated by the individual’s level of embeddedness, and that the relationship between organizational knowledge and the environmental success of an initial incremental offering can be moderated by the organization’s capabilities and access to resources.

Emerging Teaching Exercises: Innovation by Design: The Power of the Prototype (January 2020)
U.S. Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship Annual Conference
Speakers: Paul Evans, Scott Kelly, Eric Arseneau, Annie Stout
We have developed a class that was launched for the Fall 2019 semester titled, “Innovation by Design.” The course is rooted in design thinking with a heavy focus on user entrepreneurship and developing the skills needed to design and execute working prototypes. The exercise is a method that is applied to each of the “Prototyping Modules” in the course and culminates in a “Show & Tell Day” where faculty, staff, administrators, students, and community members come to view, discuss, and interact with the working prototypes the students have developed.

Program Exposé: Lean Startup Training in an Interdisciplinary Startup Incubator (January 2019)
U.S. Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship Annual Conference
Speakers: Scott Kelly, Jason Lortie, Mark Bole, Christopher Littel and Vincent Izzi
From Student Dreams to Launched, Funded, and Revenue Generation. Our two year old incubator program has granted over $250,000 to 30 student owned businesses and has grown from 22 original student participants our first semester to over 100 this semester. We describe the foundations and structure of our program that we believe are highly replicable at any university that already has an on campus incubator, or might be thinking of starting a student incubator. Our program is based on Lean Startup training and allows students the ability to create a funded startup that generates revenue in as little as a semester.

VentureWell Workshop: One Class can Make a Difference (January 2015)
U.S. Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship Annual Conference
Building an Entrepreneurship Program Using a Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration between Engineering and Business. The interactive workshop will was conducted by Engineering and Entrepreneurship faculty and students, and was focused on the evolution of entrepreneurial course design since its inception at FGCU in 2010. Highlighting how lessons learned informed current course design and allowed for maximum interaction between engineering and business students. Engineering students focus on needs identification, solution design and development. Business students focus on market, industry and financial analysis. Class is divided between collaborative meetings and discipline specific instruction. Outcomes have resulted in a team winning the state collegiate business plan contest, increased student learning and mentorship opportunities, increased demand for entrepreneurship throughout the University and ultimately a new entrepreneurship minor.

Soaring Eagle Award (February 2016)
Florida Gulf Coast University
Soaring Eagles are alumni who have earned their degree from Florida Gulf Coast University within the last decade, have dedicated time and resources to their communities and to FGCU, and are considered rising stars in their professions.

Scott was the first FGCU Engineering Alumnus to be presented with the Soaring Eagle Award for his commitment to positive change through community service, involvement with local initiatives, and dedication to building his professional career while lifting those around him.

Florida Venture Forum Statewide Collegiate Business Plan Competition Winner (May 2013)
Florida Venture Forum
The Florida Venture Forum Statewide Collegiate Business Plan Competition is a business plan pitch competition where graduate level universities in the state of Florida bring their best candidate to compete before a panel of judges to win placement as a presenter in the Early Stage Conference. The Statewide Collegiate Business Plan Competition, has given students the opportunity to raise their level of real world professional focus and funding for their ventures.

Scott and his team team were the first undergraduates to compete in the event, the first group to represent FGCU at the event, and the first undergraduate team from FGCU to win the Florida Venture Forum Statewide Collegiate Business Plan Competition. His company, Dynamic Reach Inc, was awarded $5000 to use towards the non-provisional utility patent of it's product, the AquaRamp.