Hey there, Future MVP of MVPs!

If you’re here, I’m guessing you’re in the exciting (and let’s be honest, slightly terrifying) phase of building your first MVP—Minimum Viable Product. MVPs are a bit like pizzas. You don’t need a dozen toppings for it to be a hit; you just need the essentials that make it tasty, satisfying, and, well, worth another bite. But which “toppings” should you include in your MVP to satisfy your customers’ cravings? Today, we’re diving into the art of prioritizing the right features, so you can deliver something lean, mean, and ready to rock the market.

Why an MVP and Not a Full-Fledged Product?

Think of an MVP as your product’s “skeleton suit”—stripped down but packed with just enough muscle to stand out. You’re not aiming to dazzle yet; you’re aiming to solve a specific pain point, and the rest can wait. Here’s the biggie: an MVP lets you learn fast, pivot faster, and avoid throwing wads of cash into a product nobody wants. (Hint: trust me, it’s happened to the best of us.)

So, Let’s Talk Features—What Goes In, and What Gets the Boot?

Step 1: Start with the Core Pain Points—That’s What Your MVP’s All About!

Think back to when you first thought up your product idea. You probably had a customer, an issue they’re facing, and a lightbulb moment when you thought, “Hey, I can fix that!” That issue is where your MVP starts. Your MVP should be built around the core problem your customer faces, without adding features that stray from this focus.

Here’s a litmus test: If your feature doesn’t solve or relieve that main pain point, it’s time to Marie Kondo it.

Example: Say you’re building a meal-prep app for busy professionals who want healthy food without spending ages in the kitchen. The primary pain points are time and healthy eating. So, your MVP could start with recipe options that are fast and nutritious—don’t worry about adding shopping lists, advanced nutrition tracking, or social sharing features yet. Those are nice-to-haves, but they’re not solving the main pain points.

Step 2: Find Your “Must-Haves” vs. “Nice-to-Haves”

Once you’ve nailed down the core problem, it’s time to prioritize. Not all features are created equal, and knowing which are “must-haves” versus “nice-to-haves” will save you from building a product Frankenstein.

* Must-Haves: These are the essentials your users absolutely need to solve their problem. They are non-negotiable.

* Nice-to-Haves: These are the fun bells and whistles—features that might make the product more enjoyable or unique but aren’t necessary to solve the problem.

Take Airbnb, for instance. In its MVP days, the platform focused on just listing homes for rent. No fancy filters, no “wish lists,” no “experiences” (like cooking classes in Bali). The MVP solved a specific problem—giving travelers affordable, convenient lodging. Everything else came later.

Pro Tip: Write out all the features you think you want, then filter them through the “must-have vs. nice-to-have” test. You’ll be amazed at what you can leave out and still have a strong MVP.

Step 3: Keep It Lean but Keep It Customer-Centric

While building your MVP, it’s easy to get caught up in feature excitement (we’ve all been there). But remember, it’s about your customer, not you. Every feature should answer this question: How does this make my customer’s life easier?

Here’s where an analogy helps. Think of your MVP as a speedboat and your feature-packed full product as a luxury yacht. You want to be nimble, responsive, and capable of making swift course corrections. Every feature you add is extra weight, and with each pound, you’re slowing down that initial learning you’ll need for your product to grow. So stay light, agile, and customer-focused—that’s what makes an MVP float.

Example: If you’re building a financial budgeting app, customers might just need a simple way to input expenses and track spending habits at first. A full-fledged accounting tool with tax reporting and portfolio analysis might be cool, but it’s too heavy for MVP. Start small, let users input expenses, view a basic analysis of their spending patterns, and focus on learning what else they need before you add more features.

Step 4: Test Early, Test Often—And Listen to Your Users

The beauty of an MVP is that it gives you room to test and evolve based on real feedback, not assumptions. The earlier you release a bare-bones version and get customer insights, the sooner you can refine and perfect it.

Imagine you’re creating a workout app that sends users quick daily exercise routines. You might think people want reminders, progress tracking, or social sharing. But after releasing the MVP, you find out the top feedback is to add video tutorials because users don’t know if they’re doing the exercises right. Boom—now you have data-backed feedback to guide your next feature, rather than building what you assume users want.

Step 5: Don’t Forget the Feedback Loop—Your MVP Isn’t One-and-Done!

Launching an MVP is only the beginning. Embrace the iterative process: release > get feedback > improve. Your MVP is a work in progress, just like a first draft of a novel. Some of your most valuable insights will come after launch, as customers interact with your product and tell you exactly what they want to see.

Pro Tip: Keep track of feedback, feature requests, and usage analytics. These will form the basis of future updates. And don’t be afraid to cut features that aren’t getting any love!

Building an MVP is like making a great sandwich: You don’t need every condiment in the fridge. You need the best combination that makes the sandwich satisfying and easy to eat. (But hold the mayo if your customer hates it!)

Signing off, your

Startup Coach Manoj

That’s a Wrap on MVPs!

If this post sparked some lightbulb moments (or just made you a bit hungry), you’re in the right place. Crafting an MVP is a skill, and there’s no better way to develop it than with guidance, practice, and a community of like-minded founders to cheer you on. Ready to dig deeper? I’ve got a FREE course packed with webinars, 1:1 consultations, workshops, and community access waiting for you. Join our startup tribe now and turn your MVP into a reality!

👉 Sign Up Here for the FREE Course 👈

P.S. Not sure if an MVP is worth the effort? Here’s a hint: If you want to skip the guesswork and nail down exactly what your customers need, there’s no better path forward. Start small, aim high, and keep that MVP light, friendly, and full of flavor!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit manojthomas.substack.com