I think we’re saying the same thing. I want great CX/UX work done by qualified professionals. Not guessed at by “anybody.” Not skimped on, no shortcuts.

And yes, CX/UX done well is a luxury for startups. They can’t afford to hire us, so they have to make their best guesses. I still wouldn’t recommend The Lean Startup. I would recommend that they hire junior CX/UX pros who are newer and therefore cheaper, but will still hopefully do the right things the right ways. :)

Startups need to run their cost benefit analyses and check their risks. What will you pay for CX/UX work done well versus cycles of guesses, alienating customers, possibly alienating investors, wasting time building the wrong thing, etc. Some will wish they had spent the money to have known earlier.