The Value Proposition Canvas is a framework developed by Alexander Osterwalder to help ensure products and services are positioned to meet customer needs and provide value. It involves understanding customer profiles, gains, pains, and jobs. After analyzing customers, businesses identify gain creators and pain relievers provided by their products and services. The canvas fits the value proposition to the customer profile. The Lean Canvas is an alternative model that takes a more problem-focused approach suitable for startups by outlining problems, solutions, advantages, customers, channels, costs, and metrics.