How do you develop an MVP? A guide for startups

A minimum viable product (MVP) is the first functional prototype of a product with the most important features. It helps startups quickly validate their idea and collect feedback from users without wasting resources unnecessarily. In this article, you'll learn how to efficiently develop an MVP and which steps are necessary to successfully bring your idea to market.

1. Why develop an MVP?

An MVP is a great way to test a business idea with minimal risk. Many startups invest a lot of time and money in developing a complete product, only to discover later that there is no market for it. An MVP helps you avoid these mistakes and specifically address the needs of your target group.

The benefits of an MVP:

• Reduced development time and costs
• Direct feedback from real users
• Get to market faster
• Opportunity for iterative improvement
• Easier capital raising through reliable data

‍

‍

2. Clearly define the problem

Before you start development, you should understand exactly which problem your product should solve. The following questions will help you with this:

• Who is your target group?
• What problem do potential users have?
• Are there already solutions on the market?
• How does your idea differ from existing products?

The more precisely you can answer these questions, the better you can tailor your MVP to the needs of customers.

3. Define core functionality

An MVP should only include the essential features that are necessary to solve your target audience's main problem. Many founders make the mistake of integrating too many features and lose focus and time as a result.

Tip: Make a list of all possible functions and filter them by priority. Focus on the bare minimum required to demonstrate the value of your product.

4. Select a development approach

There are various ways to create an MVP. Depending on your budget, technical knowledge, and target group, you can use different methods:

• No-code/low-code: Ideal for quick implementation without programming knowledge. Tools such as Bubble.io or Webflow enable rapid development without code.
• Manual processes: If the software doesn't exist yet, you can manually perform certain processes first to test demand (such as a concierge MVP).
• Classic software development: If you need complex features in the long term, a development team makes sense. Programming languages such as Python, JavaScript or Swift are suitable depending on the application.

5. Develop the MVP

After you've chosen your core functionalities and development approach, you can build your MVP. Here are some best practices for effective implementation:

• Use existing frameworks and libraries to save time.
• Use cloud technologies to ensure scalability.
• Focus on an intuitive user interface.
• Test your MVP early on with real users.

6. Test and collect feedback

As soon as your MVP is ready to use, you should share it with real users as soon as possible. This can be done via a beta version, a soft launch, or targeted test groups. Use the following methods to collect feedback:

• Interviews with users: Direct conversations provide valuable insights.
• Surveys and questionnaires: Gather structured opinions from users.
• Analysis tools: Use Google Analytics, Hotjar, or Mixpanel to analyze user behavior.

7. Iterate and optimize

Based on user feedback, you can gradually improve your product. The principle applies here: Build — Measure — Learn. Optimize your MVP in small steps and continuously test which changes bring the greatest added value.

Example of the optimization process:

1. Get feedback from users
2. Analysis of the most common problems
3. Make adjustments
4. Test again
5. Repeat until product-market fit is achieved

8. Grow and Scale

If your MVP is successful, you can expand it further. This may mean that you:

• Develop more features
• Tapping into new markets
• Attracting investors to scale

Use the data obtained from the MVP phase to develop a well-founded growth strategy.

‍

‍

conclusion

An MVP is one of the most efficient ways to test an idea on the market without making large investments. Through lean and iterative development, you can ensure that your product meets the actual needs of your users and is successful in the long term.

Would you like to develop an MVP? We're here to help!

‍