Business Model Canvas & Lean Canvas · Core
Key partner
Also called: strategic partner
ELI5
An outside party the business relies on.
Used in conversation
“The key partner controls a major customer channel.”
Definition
An external organisation or party whose contribution is important to the business model.
Here “Key partner” means: An external organisation or party whose contribution is important to the business model.
Pitch context
You will see “Key partner” in strategy decks, market analyses, business plans and planning workshops when the discussion reaches business model canvas & lean canvas.
Why it matters: It helps a reader interpret business model canvas & lean canvas without confusing the measure, decision, role or evidence being discussed.
Sources & evidence · 5
Supporting source families. This entry is an editorial synthesis rather than a quotation from one canonical glossary.
- Strategyzer — Business Model Canvas resourcesSupporting source family · practitioner · checked 2026-08-16
- Strategyzer — Value Proposition Canvas resourcesSupporting source family · practitioner · checked 2026-08-16
- LEANSTACK — Lean CanvasSupporting source family · practitioner · checked 2026-08-16
- U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division — Herfindahl-Hirschman IndexSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- U.S. Census Bureau — Business and economy dataSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16