Minimum Viable Product (MVP) Development

I don't think people know what they mean when they say "minimum viable product" (MVP). What it stands for and its implementation are nebulous to say the least. So I hear you saying, alright smartypants, so what is an MVP? Its is the most basic version of a product that still allows you to test your key hypotheses about customers' interests and behaviors. The goal is to put a product into the hands of users as quickly as possible to gather insights and iterate based on real feedback. With me so far? Ok now lets define the two most important words in there - Minimum and Viable - some more. Minimum: This refers to the smallest set of features needed to successfully deploy the product. The emphasis is on 'bare essentials' to test the most important hypothesis about the product. Viable: This means the product is sufficiently good to satisfy early adopters. The product should not only function to solve the basic problems but also deliver enough value that users are willing to adopt it and provide feedback. An MVP is crucial because it minimizes the resources spent on untested features and focuses on core functionalities that meet customer needs. It allows a startup to: - Test its hypotheses with minimal risk. - Learn from real user feedback. - Iterate quickly before additional features complicate the product. Lets take a real life example to bring this to life: Airbnb Its hard to recall now but Airbnb's MVP was three air mattresses in their living room and a simple website, which they called "Air Bed and Breakfast." What Made Airbnb's MVP Effective? Immediate Problem Solving: The MVP directly addressed a pressing need—accommodation for conference attendees when traditional options were unavailable. Low Complexity: The initial setup required minimal investment and effort: a basic website, some air mattresses, and the willingness to share their living space. Direct Feedback Channel: Hosting guests in their own home allowed the founders to interact directly with their users, gaining insights that were crucial for refining their concept. Scalability Test: This initial experiment tested not just the demand for such a service but also the feasibility of scaling this idea into different markets and events. The MVP strategy is about learning as much as possible with the least effort, reducing wasted development hours, and speeding up the learning curve about the market's actual needs and desires. It's not just about bringing a product to market; it's about bringing the RIGHT product to market and evolving it based on informed insights from actual users.

From Idea to Execution: How We Validated the TruckSuvidha Concept 🚛💡 Turning an idea into a successful business isn’t just about execution; it starts with ensuring there’s real demand for what you’re building. At TruckSuvidha, we knew the challenges in the logistics industry firsthand—but we needed to validate if a digital solution could truly make an impact. Here’s how we went from an idea to a validated concept, with practical steps we took along the way: 1. Identify the Problem Clearly For us, it was the lack of efficient connections between truck drivers and shippers in India, leading to empty miles and lost revenue. This wasn’t just an inconvenience; it was a widespread problem with real economic impact. Takeaway: Make sure you’re solving a problem that truly matters to your audience. 2. Engage with Potential Users Early On We began by speaking to truck operators, fleet owners, and small business shippers to understand their needs and pain points. These conversations confirmed a strong demand for a streamlined platform to connect both sides. Takeaway: Get on the ground and talk to those who’ll benefit most from your solution. 3. Create a Simple Minimum Viable Product (MVP) Our first version of TruckSuvidha was basic: a straightforward way for shippers to post load requirements and truckers to find loads. This MVP helped us test the core idea without overcomplicating things. Takeaway: Start small, solve the core problem, and build out based on actual feedback. 4. Test Viability with Pricing and Business Model We experimented with different approaches—transaction fees, subscription models, and a freemium version to attract early users. This phase was critical in understanding what users were willing to pay and which revenue model worked best. Takeaway: Revenue validation is just as important as product validation. 5. Focus on Target Regions First We initially concentrated on regions with high trucking activity, like northern India. By targeting specific areas, we could refine our offerings, build a user base, and establish TruckSuvidha’s value before expanding nationwide. Takeaway: Start where you can make the most impact and grow from there. 6. Measure, Iterate, and Improve User feedback drove every iteration. Shippers wanted better tracking; truckers wanted quicker payment options. Listening to this feedback helped us enhance our platform and stay aligned with what users actually needed. Takeaway: Make sure feedback and data guide your roadmap. Building TruckSuvidha taught us that the best ideas are those validated by real users and real needs. Validation isn’t just a first step; it’s an ongoing process that continues to shape our platform. Are you working on an idea? Remember, every successful startup starts with a strong foundation built on validation. #startupecosystem #Entrepreneurship #Logistics #BusinessValidation #ProductDevelopment

Startups often misunderstand the MVP. The term Minimum Viable Product is thrown around in every pitch deck and product sprint. But somewhere along the way, viable came to mean: → A barebones version → With limited features → Built to prove it works That’s not enough. Here’s a better definition: MVP = Minimum Valuable Product. → Valuable to whom? To the customer. To the person who is willing to use it, pay for it, or recommend it. Because the goal of an MVP isn’t just functionality. It’s validation. Here’s what the data says: → According to CB Insights, 35% of startups fail because there's no market need for the product. → Harvard Business School research shows that 65% of startups pivot, often because they built a product that didn’t resonate with the market. So the real question becomes: → Is your product solving a real problem? → Is it valuable enough that someone would pay for it, even in its early form? An MVP should do three things: 1. Address a specific, painful customer problem 2. Deliver immediate value, even if limited 3. Provide learning through real usage, not assumptions What’s not an MVP: → A feature-light demo with no user demand → A product built for a pitch deck, not for the user → A launch strategy that skips validation in favor of speed The right MVP doesn’t just prove you can code. It proves you understand the market. → That’s the difference between a product and a business. If you're building your MVP now, ask this: → Is this viable… or is this valuable?

How to Go from Idea to MVP with AI Thanks to AI, you can go from idea to simple MVP (Minimum Viable Product) - without writing a single line of code yourself. AI makes it easier than ever to transform concepts into live products quickly. Investors want to see a product, ideally one with traction or paying customers, to prove your idea has legs. When customers pay for your solution to their pain point and the market is big enough, you know you're onto something. Let me share a real example I just completed: creating a pricing calculator for usage-based billing. While this particular case was a widget for a blog post, the MVP-building concept remains the same. Tools used: - Claude AI (writing, debugging, and iterating the code) - Cursor (IDE for code edits) - Terminal (Mac) - Vercel (hosting) The key to success? Getting the right output from AI requires the right input. Be detailed with your prompt and explain your concept as clearly as possible. Here's my process: 1. Asked Claude to create a pricing calculator based on specific requirements 2. Claude built the initial code 3. When I encountered an error, I asked Claude to debug it 4. Once I had a working prototype, I asked Claude how to make it live 5. Claude guided me through installing the code locally, pushing it to GitHub, and connecting GitHub to Vercel for deployment 6. Finally, I added the iframe code (provided by Claude) to my blog post Time invested: 2-3 hours of elbow grease Traditional approach: 2-3 weeks, 1-2 developers, $5,000-8,000 The best part? After Claude walked me through the process a few times, it became second nature. Also, you'll notice Claude explained why it did what it did so I learned on the fly - bonus! For more complex features like CRUD operations (Create, Read, Update, Delete) and user logins, you'll need a database and API layer. Tools like lovable.dev connect directly to Supabase for this. Need a paywall? You'll need a payments API integration. While these add complexity, AI can guide you through most steps. So why hire a developer at all? For an MVP, if you're ambitious and want to test your product without significant investment, you can follow these steps. However, if you get stuck or don't have time, developers (also leveraging AI) can help. Once you have users and need more features or complexity, that's when hiring a developer makes sense. Wait until your product has traction and the investment has a higher potential ROI. As a non-technical startup founder for many years, I'm beyond excited by AI's power to build and test true MVPs, and I want to empower others to do the same. Let me know if you find this helpful or if you want me to expand on either how to build an MVP using AI (and/or low/no code tools) or when to hire a developer. #mvp #startups #aiengineers #hiredeveloper

🚀 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗮 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗩𝗣: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 Let me walk you through the step-by-step journey of taking a product from concept to Minimum Viable Product (MVP): 1️⃣ 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺 Start by deeply understanding the problem you’re trying to solve. • Who is your target audience? • What pain points are you addressing? • Why does this problem matter? 🔑 𝘛𝘪𝘱: Talk to customers and stakeholders to validate the problem. 2️⃣ 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲 Brainstorm possible solutions and prioritize them based on impact and feasibility. • What will deliver the most value quickly? • What aligns with your business goals? 🔑 𝘛𝘪𝘱: Use frameworks like ICE (Impact, Confidence, Effort) or RICE (Reach, Impact, Confidence, Effort) to prioritize effectively. 3️⃣ 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 Analyze the market to identify opportunities and potential gaps. • Who are your competitors? • How does your idea differentiate? 🔑 𝘛𝘪𝘱: Focus on your unique value proposition (UVP). 4️⃣ 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗼𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 Create a low-fidelity prototype to test the concept with real users. • Does the solution resonate with your target audience? • Are there any red flags or deal breakers? 🔑 𝘛𝘪𝘱: Use quick feedback loops to refine your idea. 5️⃣ 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗠𝗩𝗣 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝗽𝗲 Identify the 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁-𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 features for your MVP—just enough to solve the core problem and validate your hypothesis. • What’s the smallest possible version that delivers value? • What can you leave out for now? 🔑 𝘛𝘪𝘱: Avoid feature bloat! Stay laser-focused on the essentials. 6️⃣ 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗩𝗣 Collaborate with engineering and design teams to develop the MVP. • Ensure clarity in requirements and alignment across teams. • Keep communication open throughout the process. 🔑 𝗧𝗶𝗽: Agile methodologies work wonders for fast iterations. 7️⃣ 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 Release your MVP to a small group of users or a specific market segment. • Measure key metrics (e.g., engagement, retention). • Collect qualitative feedback to understand user experiences. 🔑 𝘛𝘪𝘱: Stay flexible—this is the beginning, not the end. 8️⃣ 𝗜𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 Analyze the feedback and data to refine your product. • What worked? • What didn’t? • What’s next? 🔑 𝘛𝘪𝘱: Build, measure, and learn—repeat the cycle for continuous improvement. 💬 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗩𝗣? I’d love to hear your stories—what worked, what didn’t, and what lessons you’ve learned along the way. Let’s share and grow together! 👇 💡 Interested in learning more about product management or need help bringing your ideas to life? Visit www.productdiscipline.io or reach out—I’d love to help! #ProductManagement #DigitalProductDiscipline #Innovation #CustomerFocus #MVP #Leadership #BuildRightProducts #Collaboration

Your AI product won't sell if people can't understand it. Founders obsess over their product features. Customers ignore all of that. People don't just buy AI. They buy solutions to their problems. This step is about creating a clear plan for what your product will do and how people will use it. Start by defining the core of your solution in simple terms. Avoid technical jargon and focus on what problem you're solving. For example: "Our AI ad manager automates campaign creation, optimization, and scaling SO THAT you can maximize ROI without you doing all the work manually, AI watches how your ads are doing and moves your money to the ones that work best automatically, you save 70% of your time, your ad money works 35% better, your ads perform better with less effort. This gives you time to work on other important things for your business." Next, map out the complete path a user will take through your product: ▪️Where do they start? ▪️How can they start with minimal friction? ▪️What are the main things they'll do with your product? ▪️How does your AI learn from its behavior to get better? ▪️Why would people want to use it again? For a real estate AI, this might look like: Agent signs up → connects their email/CRM → sets preferences → AI immediately identifies clients needing follow-up with personalized messages ready to send. Then build your Minimum Viable Product (MVP) - the simplest version that solves the core problem. Most founders try to include every feature they can imagine. List all possible features, then ruthlessly prioritize only what's necessary for launch. For each feature, ask: ▪️How important is this for solving the main problem? ▪️How difficult is it to build? ▪️Can we launch without it? By prioritizing clarity and building only what's truly necessary for your MVP, you'll not only save development time but also create a product that resonates instantly with your target audience. What AI solution are you working on? I'd love to hear your simple explanation of what it does and the value it provides.

For founders, building a successful product is often less about the idea and more about the process. Knowing when to use a Proof of Concept (PoC), Prototype, or Minimum Viable Product (MVP) can be the difference between scaling up or burning out. 🌱 Proof of Concept (PoC): Testing “Possible” vs. “Impossible” Insight: PoC is about finding limits, not solutions. It’s the stage to test if your concept is even technologically achievable with current resources. This stage isn’t about showing off or impressing; it’s about brutally honest assessments. It’s where you ask, “Are we chasing something we can’t feasibly build?” Use it when: You’re unsure if a novel tech component will work in practice. Example: Is the AI algorithm actually capable of processing data at this scale? Founder's takeaway: Don’t fall in love with the concept just because it’s new. PoC is where you might need to abandon the idea early, saving resources and learning key constraints. 🎨 Prototype: Bringing Ideas to Life, Not to Market Insight: The Prototype phase isn’t about building a working product; it’s about exploring user interactions and design flow. A good prototype reveals what’s broken in the user journey before you commit resources to coding and development. You’re here to answer, “Is this something people will want to use? Is the experience intuitive?” Use it when: You need a vision, not a finished product. Example: How will users navigate the app? Does the layout make sense? Founder's takeaway: Prototyping forces you to confront your assumptions about user behavior and design. A great idea with poor UX is doomed, so listen to feedback carefully and iterate. 🚀 Minimum Viable Product (MVP): Testing If People Actually Care Insight: MVPs are not meant to be “perfect”—they’re meant to be functional enough to test market need. The MVP is your experiment in real-world conditions. The goal isn’t to sell the product but to learn what will make it sell. This is where startups often discover whether they’re solving a problem worth paying for or just building something “cool.” Use it when: You have a clear problem you’re solving and need to validate that users care enough to engage (and hopefully, pay). Founder's takeaway: An MVP is not your “launch” but a learning opportunity. Don’t be afraid to fail or pivot based on real-world feedback—it’s cheaper and easier than overbuilding a product people don’t want. 🔍 Key Takeaway: Not Every Stage Is Necessary Founders often assume they need to go through all three stages, but the reality is that many products don’t need a PoC, and some products might skip a Prototype if the MVP serves that purpose. Final Thought: Think of PoC, Prototype, and MVP as tools for falsifying assumptions. Each stage should help you eliminate uncertainties before moving to the next. #startups #productdevelopment #founderinsights #innovation