Product
Can You Build an MVP?
From the Jason Calacanis startup checklist.
MVP stands for minimum viable product — the most basic version of a product that you can launch. Don't be precious about it.
Reid Hoffman: "If you're not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you've launched too late."
Before building your MVP, assess your skills:
| Skill area | Questions to ask |
|---|---|
| Building | Can you code? If not, are you familiar with Bubble, Webflow, or other no-code tools? |
| Design | Do you have UI/UX experience? If not, do you at least know what good UX looks like? |
| Growth | Do you have a sales/growth background? Can you build a growth model and a go-to-market plan? |
How minimum is minimum? You need to be able to solve a customer's problem.
How viable is viable? Will customers actually pay for it?
Is a landing page enough? It depends on the complexity of the problem. Some founders have launched with just a landing page and a Typeform — but in most cases you'll want more functionality to see real traction.
If you can reach an MVP using no-code tools, you can get traction. And if you can get traction, you can get meetings with investors.