Minimum Viable Product (MVP)

A Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is the simplest version of a product that delivers enough core value to satisfy early users and generate the feedback needed to guide future development. It is a foundational concept in lean product development.

How it works: Rather than building a fully featured product before launching, teams identify the smallest set of features that address the core user need and release that version first. The MVP is then tested with real users, feedback is collected, and the product is iteratively improved based on what is learned.

The goal of an MVP is not to build a mediocre product; it is to learn as quickly and cheaply as possible. By putting a working product in front of real users early, teams validate or invalidate their core assumptions before investing heavily in features that may not matter.

User testing plays a critical role throughout the MVP cycle: before building, usability tests and concept tests validate whether the proposed MVP addresses a real need; during and after launch, in-product feedback and AI-moderated sessions reveal what is working and what should be prioritized next.

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