Minimum viable product (mvp)
A Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is the most basic version of a product that can be released to early adopters. It contains just enough features to satisfy initial customers and provide feedback for future development. The concept was popularized by Eric Ries in his book "The Lean Startup."
Why it matters
The MVP approach is fundamental to modern product development because it:
Companies like Dropbox, Airbnb, and Spotify all started with MVPs before becoming industry leaders.
How to build an mvp
Step 1: identify the core problem
Define the single most important problem your product solves. Your MVP should focus exclusively on this problem.
Step 2: define success criteria
Determine what metrics will indicate whether your MVP is successful. Common metrics include:
Step 3: list essential features
Create a feature list and ruthlessly cut anything that isn't absolutely necessary for solving the core problem. Use the MoSCoW method (Must have, Should have, Could have, Won't have).
Step 4: build and launch quickly
Set a tight deadline and ship. Remember: if you're not embarrassed by your first release, you shipped too late.
Step 5: measure and learn
Collect both quantitative data (analytics) and qualitative feedback (user interviews) to understand how customers use and perceive your MVP.
Best practices
Common mistakes to avoid
Building too much
The most common mistake is including too many features. An MVP with 50 features isn't minimum-it's a full product. Focus on the one thing that delivers core value.
Building too little
Conversely, don't ship something so broken that users can't accomplish anything. "Viable" means it actually works for its intended purpose.
Ignoring the feedback
Building an MVP without a plan to collect and act on feedback defeats the purpose. Set up analytics, conduct user interviews, and be prepared to iterate.
Treating mvp as the final product
An MVP is a learning tool, not a destination. Plan for significant iteration and improvement based on what you learn.
Mvp examples
Dropbox: Created a simple video demonstrating the product concept before building the actual software. The video went viral and validated demand.
Zappos: The founder initially took photos of shoes from local stores and posted them online. When someone ordered, he'd buy the shoes and ship them. This validated that people would buy shoes online.
Buffer: Started as a two-page website-a landing page explaining the concept and a pricing page. This validated willingness to pay before any code was written.
Related concepts
Understanding MVP becomes more powerful when combined with:
Tools for building mvps
Tools like Klero can help you validate your MVP by:
