Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
The simplest version of your product that lets you test your core hypothesis with real users.
Definition
An MVP is not a crappy v1 — it's the smallest experiment that tests whether customers want your solution. It could be a landing page, a Figma prototype, a concierge service, or a no-code tool. The key is that it generates real data: signups, payments, usage. Reid Hoffman said "if you're not embarrassed by the first version, you launched too late."
Why it matters for founders
Building too much before testing wastes time and money. An MVP lets you validate demand with minimal investment. The faster you get something in front of real users, the faster you learn.
Example
Dropbox's MVP was a 3-minute video demonstrating the product concept. Signups jumped from 5,000 to 75,000 overnight — proving demand before writing a single line of storage code.
How Foundra helps
Foundra's Build & Launch phase generates an MVP Scope card that defines what to build first and — crucially — what to skip.
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Related terms
Lean Startup
A methodology for developing products through validated learning and rapid iteration.
Product-Market Fit
When your product satisfies strong market demand.
Customer Discovery
The process of talking to potential customers to validate your assumptions about their problems.
Iteration
The process of making incremental improvements based on user feedback and data.