A Startup's Guide to Building a Minimum Viable Product (MVP)

The 'build it and they will come' mentality is a recipe for disaster. The Minimum Viable Product (MVP) approach is a smarter way to build a business.

What is an MVP?

An MVP is the version of a new product that allows a team to collect the maximum amount of validated learning about customers with the least effort. It's about focusing on the core feature that solves one key problem.

The Process

1. Identify the Core Problem: What is the single biggest pain point you are solving?
2. Define the Core Features: What is the absolute minimum functionality needed to solve that problem?
3. Build & Launch: Develop only those core features and get the product into the hands of early adopters quickly.
4. Learn & Iterate: Gather feedback and data to guide your next development cycle.

An MVP isn't about building a cheap product; it's about building a smart product.