What is Minimum Viable Product (MVP)?
A Minimum Viable Product is the simplest version of a product that delivers enough value to attract early customers and generate validated learning.
A Minimum Viable Product is the simplest version of a product that delivers enough value to attract early customers and generate validated learning. Coined by Frank Robinson and popularized by Eric Ries in The Lean Startup, MVP is about learning, not building.
The MVP is not the smallest thing you can build — it's the smallest thing you can build that validates or invalidates your core hypothesis. A landing page that measures signup interest is an MVP. A fully functional product with no users is not.
Common MVP types: Concierge MVP (manually deliver the service), Wizard of Oz (human behind the curtain), landing page test (measure demand), single-feature product (one thing done well), and audience-first (build the audience before the product).
The biggest MVP mistake is building too much. Engineers and product people want to build complete solutions. An MVP is intentionally incomplete — it tests whether the problem exists and whether your solution approach resonates.
Why It Matters
The MVP principle prevents the most expensive product failure: building a complete product nobody wants. By validating assumptions early in cheap, fast experiments, you avoid committing engineering resources to unvalidated ideas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an MVP?
A Minimum Viable Product is the simplest version of a product that tests whether customers want what you are building. It is about learning, not building a complete solution.
How long should an MVP take to build?
Weeks, not months. If your MVP takes more than 8 weeks to build, you are building too much. Some MVPs (landing pages, concierge tests) can be done in days.
Related Terms
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Richard Ewing is a Product Economist and AI Capital Auditor. He helps companies translate technical complexity into financial clarity.
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