What is a Minimum Viable Product (MVP)?
A Minimum Viable Product is the simplest version of you tech product that solves a core problem for early users while allowing teams to validate ideas quickly. It focuses on essential features only to test demand before full development. its basically your survey, testing and data gathering prototype
Why Build an MVP?
Key Benefits:
Speed to Market: Launch fast, test real demand
User Validation: Confirm if product solves real pain points
Cost Efficiency: Avoid wasting resources on unwanted features
Iterative Growth: Improve based on feedback before scaling
How to Build an MVP (Step by Step)
Align with Business Goals: Does the MVP support company strategy? Is now the right time?
Identify Core Problem: Focus on one key user need. Use research and competitor analysis.
Build Only Essentials: Must be fully functional (not half-built).
Measure & Iterate: Track key metrics (engagement, retention). Collect user feedback. Pivot or scale based on data.
Real-World MVP Example
Uber:
Started with SMS-based ride requests, no app, and only 3 cars.
The Accidental Disruptor: How Uber’s “Crazy” MVP Changed Transportation Forever Paris, December 2008
Two tech entrepreneurs—Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp—stood shivering on a snowy street, waving desperately at passing taxis. The LeWeb tech conference had just ended, but not a single cab would stop.
“There’s got to be a better way,” muttered Camp, blowing into his frozen hands. Little did they know, that frustrating night would birth a $70 billion company... and it all began with three cars and text messages. San Francisco, 2009 The founders’ original idea was absurdly simple:
No app (This was pre-smartphone era) ,No fancy tech (Just SMS messages to Travis’s iPhone), Only 3 cars (Their own black Mercedes-Benz sedans)
users—mostly their friends—would text:
“Need ride to Marina District. -Marc”
Travis would personally dispatch one of the cars, then manually calculate the fare. Payments? Cash only.
Investor Reaction:
“You want to replace taxis with… text messages?”
New Year’s Eve 2009
The team staked out San Francisco’s busiest party zones. As drunk revelers struggled to find cabs, Uber Cab’s phones blew up:
100 rides completed that night
Drivers earned $90/hour (vs. $30 for taxis)
Users paid 1.5x taxi rates—and loved it
The MVP proved two radical truths;People would pay more for reliability
Drivers would flock to higher earnings
From MVP to Global Juggernaut
fastforward to 2010: The app Pivot
Uber Launched real apps after iPhone exploded. Renamed to “Uber” after legal threats and Scaled to 45 countries in 5 years
Let's create a scenario for a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) for a simple socio-finance literacy app.
Financial Literacy App MVP Scenario
Product Name: FinLit Basics
Target Audience: Young adults (18 to 30) with limited financial knowledge
Core Problem: Many young adults struggle with managing finances, leading to stress and poor financial decisions
MVP Features
Bitesized lessons covering basic financial concepts, such as budgeting, saving, and credit scores.
A manual budget tracker to help users track their expenses. A system to track user progress, including badges and completion streaks.Short quizzes to reinforce learning and ensure users understand the material.
Validation Approaches
Create a landing page with a signup form and offer PDF lessons and a simple spreadsheet budget tracker to the first 100 signups.
Build a basic app using minimal code with core features and manual expense logging.
Offer manual email lessons and human graded quizzes to validate demand before building an automated system.
Key Metrics
Signup Rate : Measure the number of users who sign up for the MVP.
Lesson Completion Rate : Track the percentage of users who complete each lesson.
7Day Retention : Measure the number of users who return to the app after 7 days.
User Feedback : Collect feedback from users to identify areas for improvement.
Next Steps
Launch and Measure : Launch the MVP and track key metrics.
Iterate and Refine : Refine the MVP based on user feedback and data analysis.
Scale and Expand : Expand the app's features and content based on user demand and validation.
Are you ready to work on your app, send me a DM via linked in. free MVP and prototype for 5 new founders.
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