Eric Ries (b. 1978) is an author, entrepreneur, and software engineer. Ries began his career as a computer programmer. He received an undergraduate degree from Yale while co-founding Catalyst Recruiter, an online platform where university students could connect with potential employers. Ries moved to Silicon Valley after Catalyst Recruiter went under and worked at a series of startups that failed. He uses these experiences in the book to describe what entrepreneurs should not do as managers and innovators. His first major startup venture was IMVU, a social network, where he served as a Chief Technology Officer (CTO). At IMVU, Ries first started to implement lean manufacturing principles to product development. His implementation of a minimum viable product for IMVU’s instant messaging feature eventually allowed the company to earn millions in venture fundraising. After IMVU, Ries worked at and advised startups and corporations while serving as an entrepreneur-in-residence at Harvard Business School. In addition to The Lean Startup and The Startup Way, Ries authored The Leader’s Guide (2015), a self-published text on the curriculum he uses in training and consulting with startups. As of 2023, Ries organizes for The Long-Term Stock Exchange (LTSE), a new kind of national stock exchange that affiliates with long-term investors and companies to enhance the public company experience.