Concept
Minimum Viable Product
Business & OrganizationsWhat is a minimum viable product?
A minimum viable product (MVP) is a development technique in which a new product is built with the minimum set of features required to validate core hypotheses with real users. It enables teams to collect verified learning about customers while expending the fewest possible resources.
In short
A minimum viable product allows entrepreneurs to test strategic assumptions in live market conditions with minimal overhead. By launching streamlined prototypes, developers observe real customer interactions and adjust their roadmap iteratively. The approach minimizes commercial risk while accelerating iterative product development.
Key facts
- What is the primary purpose of releasing an MVP?
- To validate business hypotheses and gather authentic customer feedback with minimal initial capital expenditure.
- In what software methodology is the MVP a foundational concept?
- It is a foundational concept within the Lean Startup methodology popularized by Eric Ries.
- What frustration regarding MVPs is expressed in Issue 18?
- Issue 18 discusses the author's struggle with launching unpolished visual identities and packaging under the done-is-better-than-perfect rule.
Overview
The minimum viable product methodology emerged from lean manufacturing and agile software design, advising founders against building elaborate features without customer confirmation. Instead of investing extensive capital in unvalidated concepts, organizations deploy bare-bones versions that solve one key problem. Real-world feedback gathered from early adopters informs subsequent iterations, steering product roadmaps based on evidence rather than assumption. However, over-reliance on MVP logic in visual craft can lead to careless releases that undermine brand perception.
In the Agency editorial
In Issue 18, Thiago Patriota recounts his uneasy experience with MVP culture during his years working in Silicon Valley and the emerging cannabis market. The author describes the inner tension of being pushed to launch crude logos, websites, and packaging under the startup mantra of done is better than perfect. While acknowledging the market necessity of rapid deployment, Patriota highlights the risk of eroding craftsmanship when MVP speed replaces thoughtful design integrity.
Source editions
Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.
Also from these editions: concepts
Related terms
- Iterationnoun
- The repetition of a process or procedure in order to generate an improved version or achieve a desired outcome.
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Sources
- Issue.18 - 20.000 Impressions (opens in a new tab), Agency Brasil