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Minimum Viable Product

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Minimum Viable Product

The simplest version of a product that allows a team to collect the maximum amount of validated learning about customers with the least effort. A core concept of the lean-startup methodology.

What an MVP Is NOT

An MVP is not the product with fewer features. It is the simplest thing you can show to customers to get the most learning at that point in time. The emphasis is on learning, not on product.

Common misconceptions:

  • “MVP = v1.0 with fewer features” — Wrong. An MVP might be a landing page, a concierge service, or a Wizard of Oz prototype.
  • “MVP = low quality” — Wrong. It should be the minimum needed to learn, but it must actually work for the hypothesis being tested.
  • “We need to build the MVP” — Sometimes “don’t build” is the right first step. A conversation, a mockup, or a pre-sale can test assumptions faster.

Types of MVPs

  • Landing page MVP: Test demand by measuring signups before building anything
  • Concierge MVP: Manually deliver the service to validate the value proposition
  • Wizard of Oz MVP: Users interact with what appears automated, but humans do the work behind the scenes
  • Piecemeal MVP: Combine existing tools to simulate the product experience
  • Single-feature MVP: Build only the core feature — like Instagram stripping Burbn down to photo-sharing

The Role in Build-Measure-Learn

The MVP is the “Build” phase of the loop. Its sole purpose is to initiate the learning cycle:

  1. Identify the riskiest assumption in your business model
  2. Design the minimum experiment to test that assumption
  3. Build only what’s needed for the experiment
  4. Measure the result with actionable metrics
  5. Learn whether to pivot or persevere

See Also

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