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An MVP tests your idea on real users before you build the full product. Here's what an MVP is, how it differs from a prototype, and CAD's practices for building one that actually works
Cardiff App Developers
A minimum viable product, or MVP, is a version of your app with just enough features for early customers to use it properly. It lets you test your core idea on real users, gather genuine feedback, and shape your business strategy before you commit to building the full product.
MVP (minimum viable product): a version of a product with just enough features to be used by early customers, built to test whether the core idea works for real users.
A minimum viable product, or MVP, is a version of your app with just enough features for early customers to use it properly. It lets you test your core idea on real users, gather genuine feedback, and shape your business strategy before you commit to building the full product.
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Quick Answer: An MVP is the smallest usable version of your product, built to test your core idea with real users before you invest in the full build. Done well, it lowers your development costs, speeds up your learning, and makes it far easier to change direction if something isn't working.
Building an MVP lets you deliver value to users quickly, while keeping development costs as low as possible. You get real feedback early, which means any features that need to change or go can be dealt with efficiently, without wasted resources. You also learn far more about your users' behaviour and your market than a business plan alone can tell you, and any mistakes are much cheaper to fix now than once the product is more complex.
An MVP is also a strong tool for early testing and for planning what comes next, and it helps you build and grow your user base with a working strategy rather than guesswork. If you're seeking funding, whether from investors, crowdfunding, or simply building credibility in your space, a working model of your idea carries far more weight than a pitch deck alone. And because an MVP keeps your scope tight, it stays easy to pivot if new ideas or new evidence change your thinking.
Prototype: a discardable early test version of a product, used to explore an idea rather than to launch on.
An MVP is not a prototype. A prototype is a throwaway first test version, useful for exploring an idea. An MVP is different: it's the foundation you build the final version of your app on, so it needs to be solid and built to last, not discarded once it's served its purpose.
A proof of concept (PoC), built before the MVP, is a useful extra step for early, practical verification of your idea. As well as testing feasibility, a PoC helps build belief in the product among your own team, stakeholders and investors before you commit further budget.
Technically, there isn't much difference between building an MVP for web or mobile, aside from the choice of technology. The real decision is which market and platform to explore first, since trying to cover both at once risks splitting your focus and your budget.
A web MVP can, in some cases, launch faster, since there's no app store certification or acceptance process to go through. It's worth noting that companies including Facebook and Airbnb started out as web apps and expanded to mobile later. That said, if most of your market is on mobile, a web MVP won't reach your users. And because mobile is split between Android and iOS, entering both may call for a cross-platform technology such as Flutter or React Native.
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1. Define your business needs and research your market
Start by defining the business need your MVP is meant to meet. This deserves the same care as scoping the full product, since it usually takes a similar process of discussion to make sure everyone understands the idea in the same way. Speak to investors, users and experts as part of your research. A similar solution to yours may well already exist, and that's not a reason to drop your idea, but a reason to learn from it and improve on it, or to focus on a specific niche where you have a genuine edge.
2. Decide which features are essential, which are nice-to-have, and which can wait
List every feature that would create value for your customers, map the user journey with usability in mind, and be clear on what makes your product different. Then sort that list into essentials, nice-to-haves and add-ons. This makes it far easier to see what you actually need to build first, and helps you bring in the right team, including marketing, sales, project management and development expertise, for that specific scope.
3. Consider building a proof of concept first
A PoC, built ahead of the MVP, is a useful way to verify your idea practically before committing further time and budget, and helps bring your team and stakeholders on board.
4. Define what success looks like
Set clear success criteria and the KPIs you'll use to judge whether it's worth investing further time and resources into development.
5. Measure your progress as you build
Once development is underway, keep measuring and learning as you go. Show the product to users and investors early to start building traction, and keep testing and monitoring performance so the app is always in a fit state to make a good impression.
6. Keep quality high, even at minimum scope
Minimum does not mean sloppy. Your team should build only the core functions needed to solve the defined problem, but those core functions need to be well designed and genuinely useful. In this context, viable means usable, and effective at attracting real users.
7. Don't cut corners, and don't compromise on expertise
Resist the urge to cut corners with the plan to fix things later, and don't compromise on the expertise behind the build. An MVP is the fastest way to test your product and get it in front of users, but it still needs to represent your brand properly. Avoid delaying launch to squeeze in extra functionality, and avoid overloading it with features that don't earn their place yet. Track how users actually behave, and use that to shape what comes next.
Viable means usable, and able to solve the problem with its core functionality alone. That's the target, no more and no less. An MVP only really proves itself once it sells or gains real traction, so it pays to think ahead: if your target market is large, build your MVP so it's straightforward to scale once it's proven itself.
Is an MVP the same as a prototype?
No. A prototype is a discardable early test version used to explore an idea. An MVP is built to last, since it forms the foundation of your final product.
Should I build my MVP for web or mobile first?
It depends on where your target users already are. If your market is mobile-first, a web MVP won't reach them. If speed to launch matters most and your audience isn't tied to mobile, a web MVP can be quicker to get live.
How do I decide which features belong in my MVP?
Sort every feature you want into essentials, nice-to-haves and add-ons, then build only the essentials first. The essentials are whatever your product needs to solve the core problem and feel genuinely usable.
Can CAD help build my MVP?
Yes. CAD scopes MVP builds as part of an initial consultation, covering platform choice, feature prioritisation and a realistic cost and timeline breakdown.
Get in touch today for help scoping or building your MVP. No commitment, no sales pressure, just expert advice on your technology challenge.
