Steve Blank is an American entrepreneur, author, and educator known for his contributions to the field of startup development. He is best recognized for creating the concept of the Customer Development process, which helps startups validate their business ideas by understanding customer needs. Blank has co-founded several companies and has played a significant role in the growth of the Silicon Valley startup ecosystem. In addition to his entrepreneurial work, Steve Blank is a professor at Stanford University and UC Berkeley, where he teaches courses on entrepreneurship. He has authored several influential books, including "The Four Steps to the Epiphany," which outlines his methodologies for building successful startups. His teachings have inspired many entrepreneurs and have shaped modern approaches to business development.