Minimum Viable Product: A Smart(er) First Move
A little while ago, I wrote about the Minimum Viable Segment (MVS) — the most focused group of customers to build for first. That exercise sharpened who you’re serving and unlocked better decisions about features, pricing, and launch sequencing.
Now comes the other half of the equation: the Minimum Viable Product.
An MVP isn’t about being cheap, fast, or just getting something out the door. It’s not a placeholder or a throwaway build.
A Minimum Viable Product is the smallest version of a product that delivers real value to a defined user segment and generates a signal you can act on.
Think of it as a strategic move: the smallest, sharpest bet you can place to get market evidence — fast.
How MVPs Differ From Other Tools
Prototypes, demos, investor decks, and feature tests all serve a purpose. But they aren’t MVPs.
One healthcare startup built a slick demo that impressed investors and raised capital. But since it never touched real users, it produced no signal about demand. Six months later, they had money in the bank but no traction.
That’s the distinction: an MVP is built to generate evidence you can act on.
The Power of Precision
A well-constructed MVP forces you to get specific. It asks:
Who is this for? Is the segment narrow enough to matter right now?
What single problem are we solving — well enough to provoke action? Will someone pay, switch, or change behavior?
What signal are we testing? Urgency, fit, retention, pricing sensitivity?
Dropbox is a classic example. Before writing code, they released a simple demo video. Within 24 hours, thousands signed up for early access. No product yet — just a clear, testable signal of demand.
Zappos took a similar tack. The founder posted shoe photos online and, once an order came in, he went to buy the shoes retail and ship them. His MVP wasn’t a sophisticated website or a warehouse of inventory. It was a test to see if people would buy shoes online at all.
The Strategic Benefits of a True MVP
Handled with discipline, an MVP delivers more than just a test. Among the benefits:
Resource Efficiency — Invest the least to learn the most.
Faster Signal — Surface urgency or fit before scaling.
Risk Reduction — Catch flaws in problem framing or pricing early.
Sharpened Focus — Align the team on what matters now versus what can wait.
Momentum — Keep moving forward instead of stalling in speculation.
MVP + MVS: Better Together
The discipline of an MVP gets stronger when paired with a well-defined Minimum Viable Segment.
MVS defines the target.
MVP provides the probe.
Together, they create a feedback loop that reduces waste and accelerates momentum.
In one engagement, this pairing saved a client six months of engineering. By testing one feature with a narrow user group, they discovered 80% of their original roadmap wasn’t relevant. The result: faster traction, less noise, and a sharper path forward.
The First Strategic Move
An MVP isn’t a milestone or a draft. It’s the hinge point between vision and market reality.
Handled with precision, it generates conviction around what matters and keeps momentum going in the right direction.
The fastest way to scale?
Start small, aim with precision, and let the signal guide the path forward.
This piece pairs with my companion post: Minimum Viable Segment: A Smart(er) Approach to Growth.
And if you’re weighing a high-stakes decision — where to invest, how to scale, or how to focus your team’s efforts — let’s talk. This is the work I do with founders and leadership teams every day.
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