---
title: "Can You Build an MVP?"
section: "Product"
sectionId: "product"
date: "2026-06"
---

*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.