This method was invented by <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.m.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Sakichi_Toyoda" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.m.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Sakichi_Toyoda</a>. He died in 1930.<p>I&#x27;m pretty sure that it predates even the word &quot;startup&quot; as it is currently used :)