A Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is the most basic version of your app that includes only the core features needed to test with real users and validate your idea.
Why It Matters
Why Founders Should Care About This Term:
- Launches your app faster and with lower upfront cost
- Helps validate your idea before full investment
- Reduces risk of building something no one wants
- Gathers real user feedback early in the process
- Focuses your budget on what matters most first
Use This Term When...
- Scoping your first app version
- Prioritising features for early launch
- Pitching your idea to investors
- Planning a fast go-to-market strategy
- Deciding between "nice-to-haves" and "must-haves"
Real-World Example
In one of our projects, we built an MVP focused solely on the core booking flow, leaving advanced features for later. This let the client test market demand and secure investor interest before scaling.
Founder Insight
Founders often try to include too much in the first version. An MVP isn’t about launching a ‘lite’ version — it’s about launching a focused, testable product that proves your concept fast.
Key Metrics / Concepts
- User Retention Rate – How many users return after their first visit.
- Activation Rate – How many users reach a key milestone (e.g., complete a task).
- Customer Feedback Loop – Process of gathering and acting on user feedback.
- Cost to Build – Lower for MVPs; helps measure ROI of early development.
- Time to Market – How quickly you can go live and start testing.
Tools & Technologies
- Figma – For fast prototyping and testing ideas visually
- Firebase – Great backend option for MVPs needing speed and scalability
- No-code Builders (e.g., Bubble) – Ideal for testing MVPs without full development
What’s Next / Future Trends
MVPs are evolving with AI to include smart user feedback collection and automated usage analysis. The future of MVPs is faster, cheaper, and more data-driven — often built with low-code tools or modular backend systems.
Related Terms
- App Prototype – Often used before building the MVP
- App Estimation – Helps define MVP scope and budget
- Lean Development – Philosophy behind MVP thinking
- App Development Roadmap – MVP is step one
- User Interviews – Key input for defining MVP features
Helpful Videos / Articles / Pages
Call to Action
Still unsure how to define your MVP? Book a discovery call — we’ll help you plan a smart launch that saves time and budget.