This method was invented by https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakichi_Toyoda. He died in 1930.

I'm pretty sure that it predates even the word "startup" as it is currently used :)

The method creator is duly credited in the book.

I know that Eric Ries did not invent it, but he spread this idea with his highly popular book.

"The Toyota Way" (https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0071392319/) probably had more of a hand in popularising it overall.