The Art of Building MVPs That Actually Validate

After years in the startup world, I've learned that building an MVP isn't just about speed — it's about building the right thing quickly.

The MVP Mindset

Too many founders think MVP means "half-baked product." In reality, an MVP should be:

• Focused: Solve one core problem exceptionally well
• Testable: Built to validate specific hypotheses
• Scalable foundation: Rapid, but not reckless

My MVP Framework

1. Problem Definition

Before writing a single line of code, I spend time understanding:

• Who exactly has this problem?
• How are they solving it today?
• What would make them switch to a new solution?

2. Technology Choices

For MVPs, I typically reach for:

• Frontend: React/Next.js for rapid development
• Backend: Node.js with Express or Python with FastAPI
• Database: PostgreSQL for structured data, Firebase for rapid prototyping
• Hosting: Vercel for frontend, Railway/Render for backend

3. The Build Phase

• Start with core user flow
• Fake it before you make it (manual processes are fine initially)
• Focus on user experience over technical perfection

Key Lessons

Ship imperfect software: Perfect code that never ships validates nothing.

Talk to users constantly: Build, measure, learn isn't just a phrase — it's a discipline.

Technical debt is okay: But document it and plan to address it when you hit product-market fit.

The goal isn't to build the final product — it's to build confidence in the solution.