How to Create a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) for Your Startup: A Step-by-Step Guide
In the startup universe of high risk and high reward, success or failure often comes down to one key question: Do you have a way to prove your idea before wasting time and money? That's where a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) enters as your ace in the hole. The MVP idea, made famous by Eric Ries in The Lean Startup, is all about creating the least amount of your product necessary that provides essential value to early users. Consider it an "idea test drive"—a means of collecting feedback, shaping your vision, and preventing expensive errors. Dropbox, for instance, began as a simple video demo of its file-sharing idea, while Airbnb began with a minimal website providing air mattresses in a San Francisco apartment. In this guide, we’ll break down the MVP development process for startups, share actionable strategies, and highlight real-world MVP examples to inspire your journey. What is an MVP? (And Why Lean Startup Methodology Matters) An MVP is the bare minimum version of ...