Steve Blank is partially wrong about business plan competitions

I've also noticed that most "mainstream" startup discussions are skewed towards a "classic" web startup world view. That's what everyone imagines when the word startup comes to mind. So I think what you are saying makes sense, but at the same time you could argue that if your first real customer contact comes 6 years down the road, then your investors ARE your customers, and you just happened to hook one without a pivot.

<meta> Partially wrong == mostly right -> if in doubt follow Blank's advice </meta>

I'll guess that these startups Kyle is talking about were good enough to make it anyway - without loosing time on writing worthless papers.

Disclaimer: I'm not involved in any startups. But when I first came into contact with business plan concept. I couldn't see any real value in it and it seemed kinda cargo cultish to me.

yes, I agree. Non-web (e.g. cleantech, biotech, semiconductor) startups could benefit from a more traditional business plan approach... but of course, they would still benefit from some of Steve Blank's ideas on customer development.