An MVP (minimum viable product) is the simplest version of a product that lets you check, with real users, that it meets a need. In eight weeks, an experienced team can scope the project, design the screens, build the core features and launch a first test. The goal is not to build everything, but to learn fast before investing more.
MVP, POC, prototype: what is the difference?
- A POC (proof of concept) checks that a solution is technically feasible.
- A prototype shows what the product will look like, often without working code.
- An MVP is a real, usable product reduced to the essentials and put in the hands of real users.
The 8-week method
Weeks 1 and 2: scoping. Define the problem, the target, the hypothesis to validate and the success indicator. List every imagined feature, then keep only those without which the product makes no sense.
Weeks 2 and 3: design. User journey, key screen mock-ups, quick test of the mock-ups with a few target users.
Weeks 3 to 7: development. Short sprints with a demo every week. Proven technologies to move fast without unnecessary technical debt.
Week 8: launch and measure. Release to a first group of users, collection of feedback and usage data.
The most common pitfalls
- Too many features: each addition delays the moment you learn something.
- No success indicator defined upfront: without it, you cannot tell if the test worked.
- Neglecting user experience: a minimal product must remain pleasant to use, otherwise feedback is biased.
- Building to throw away: a well-designed MVP should be able to evolve into the final product.
- Waiting for perfection before showing the product.
And after the MVP?
Three outcomes are possible: results confirm the hypothesis and you invest in the full product, they reveal a different need and you adjust, or they show there is no market and you avoided a much bigger investment.
How STEPS helps
STEPS supports the design and development of digital products, from scoping to MVP and POC, then to the full product. To turn your idea into a first testable product, book a scoping session.
Frequently asked questions
An MVP, or minimum viable product, is the simplest version of a product that lets you check with real users that it meets a need, before investing in a full version.
With a well-defined scope, about eight weeks: two for scoping and design, four to five for development and one for launch and measurement.
A POC checks that a solution is technically feasible. An MVP is a genuinely usable product put in users’ hands to validate the need.
Yes, if it is built with solid technologies. That is better than a throwaway prototype, because the work done becomes the base of the full product.