This preliminary study investigates the extent to which recent practices emerging from the lean startup movement are linked to existing insights generated by networking theory as it has been applied to new ventures. An exploratory approach was adopted to investigate how different types of startup environments lend themselves to different practices. Three experts in the field of entrepreneurship and seven entrepreneurs were interviewed. Three of these startups were successful while two were not and the success of the final two remains uncertain. Initial analysis reveals that the performance of entrepreneurs can conceivably be improved by adopting the lean startup practices that are in line with the findings network research. However, such practices can be restricted by technological considerations linked to the sector involved but also by network constraints that do not appear on the agenda of the lean startup movement. In addition, not all entrepreneurs are equally capable of adopting and applying lean startup principles. The conclusions of such research could, in particular, prove useful for guiding startups in the rapidly-evolving high-tech sector.