The secret to building an MVP that has it all

You have just completed the first 6 steps to building an MVP (minimum viable product). This means that you and your team should by now have a design prototype. Now, it’s time to take your MVP into the development stage.

You know what you want, and you already know how your product should look. But now it’s time to begin that crossover phase from design to development. This is where all the fun (and hard work) lies: converting your ideas and design into real features. This is where MVP development really begins. 

Less is more

Start with a feature that solves one problem, then move forward into solving additional problems for your customers.

To understand this even better, let’s take a close look at Airbnb:

In late 2007, Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia had one single problem to solve: they needed help paying their rent. Having some extra space in their apartment living room, they thought — maybe a few people would be willing to pay to stay with them.

That first problem helped them spot a second problem. San Francisco is a city that hosts frequent conferences. It was hard, almost impossible, to find a hotel room, and conference attendees needed a place to stay.

They created a website for people looking for a place to stay when attending a conference in San Francisco, with one product assumption: strangers will pay to stay in your house.

The AirBed & Breakfast MVP consisted of air mattresses in their living room, free wifi, free breakfast, the promise of a unique networking experience with like-minded people, and a well-targeted demographic: tech conference attendees at a single sold-out conference.

Even when choosing the features for your product, it can be hard to know exactly which ones will deliver the best value to your first users. Remember the goals you set when building an MVP, and only choose the features that align with that end goal.

It’s a good idea to start with as few features as possible. At this stage, your development and design team can bring great input and guide you on the features that help you collect the feedback you need in the testing phase.

It’s not that hard. If you did your homework, you know your audience, and solving their problems should come naturally.

Let’s start digging into this topic with one simple question: 

Are potential customers willing to lose quality just because it is a simple test?

Users are used to a minimum of quality, and they expect it of every product. You have to be willing to walk the extra mile when developing your features.

We’ll give you a twist of approach!

A while ago, the only thing we had in mind when building an MVP was that the product was functional enough. If the user could run at least 2–3 things perfectly, you had your working MVP ready to go out into the world.

Things have changed. Your end customer understands more, knows more, and expects more — even from an MVP. So you have to provide a better experience: features, speed, fluidity, and design. This is the essential starting kit to compete with other products in your niche.

Focus on an MVP that is not only viable but marketable, desirable, delightful and lovable.

While building an MVP, keep in mind that a lot of people might like your product (which is awesome). But there is a huge difference between them and the people who would actually pay for your product.

When testing your MVP, ask people if they would be willing to spend a certain amount of money in exchange for the features your product offers. If they are not, gather feedback, find out what they would pay for, and tweak your product. Analyze, fix, and deploy again.

Why an MVP development agency might be the smart move — especially if you are a non-technical founder.

This one choice defines the quality of your minimum viable product in every possible way. So you need to be very careful when choosing your MVP development agency.

Here are a few reasons why working with an agency is a great idea for your startup:

1. Their cross-functional team

You’ll need around 6 different types of people to develop the different parts of your MVP. As a startup, hiring them all can become very expensive. An agency’s team already has the resources needed to deliver the MVP you want.

2. You won’t get better advice

You are not the only founder they have worked with. They know people, know stories, and their hands have touched a considerable number of products. If you pick an agency with a track record of MVP development for startups, they bring a wealth of relevant knowledge and experience that you wouldn’t necessarily get from hiring a single developer (or team of developers).

3. They are in this with you

They will care about your success, because building a powerful product is their main interest, so they will make you a priority.

4. They take team management off your plate

You don’t have to manage the team, so you can put all your energy into growing the business and giving constant feedback — which is important. 

5. An already-formed team is always a more powerful team

One of the hidden gems of working with an agency is that their team is, in most cases, a strong one. They already know each other, they know their strengths and weaknesses, and they know how to combine their skills as a team. That is one vital thing you would struggle to achieve with a team of freelancers. In most cases, freelancers won't even know each other, so forming them into a team is almost impossible, or it takes a long time. The way a team communicates internally directly shapes the end result of your app.

While building an MVP, a lot of people might get excited about your product (which is great). But keep in mind that there is a huge difference between them and the people who actually pay for it.

One last tip: when testing your MVP, ask people if they would be willing to give a certain amount of money in exchange for the features your product offers. If they are not, gather feedback, find out what they would pay for, and tweak your product. Analyze, fix, and deploy again. There's no shortcut!

If you'd like to read more about building your MVP, here is an article we recommend you start with.

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