MVP software development is a tried and true way to reduce risk when building new products. But it’s not always clear how to put together an MVP, or even what MVP stands for. In this guide, we’ll explain the basics of MVP development and walk you through creating your own MVP strategy. We’ll also share tips on how to validate your MVP and make sure that its job of reducing risk.

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Rohan Arora
MVP Software Development: The Complete Guide
appincubator.io/blog/mvp-software-development-guide/
MVP software development is a tried and true way to reduce risk when building new
products. But it’s not always clear how to put together an MVP, or even what MVP stands
for. In this guide, we’ll explain the basics of MVP development and walk you through
creating your own MVP strategy. We’ll also share tips on how to validate your MVP and
make sure that its job of reducing risk. By the end, you should have a good understanding
of what MVP software development is and how to use it. Let’s get started!
What is MVP in Software Development?
In software development, an MVP refers to a minimum viable product. This is the bare
minimum that a product should do in order to be released to customers. It should have
just enough features to be usable and allow customers to give feedback. Using this
feedback, you will be able to make improvements to the product before it is released.
An MVP can also help to reduce risks by allowing developers to gather data and assess
customer needs before investing too much time and resources into a product. In short, an
MVP is a way to test the waters with a new product before fully committing to it.
Oftentimes, releasing an MVP can help save time and money in the long run while still
providing value to customers.
What is the Purpose of a Minimum Viable Product?

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The purpose of a Minimum Viable Product, or MVP, is to test a new product idea with
potential customers in order to gather feedback and validate the product concept. The
MVP is usually a very basic version of the product that has just enough features to allow
for testing. The goal is not to get feedback on the product itself but on the overall
concept.
By definition, an MVP is not meant to be a fully-fledged product; it is simply a way to test
an idea and get valuable feedback. However, in some cases, an MVP can be successful
enough that it does not need to be further developed.
For example, the first version of Instagram was little more than a photo-sharing app with
basic filters and editing capabilities. However, it quickly gained popularity and did not
need to be further developed in order to be successful.
In other words, the MVP can be seen as a tool for gauging customer interest and refining
the product concept, rather than a fully-fledged product in its own right.
Benefits of MVP Software Development for Startups
MVP app development can save time and money while helping to ensure that your final
product is built with your users’ needs in mind. Before we move on to how to develop an
MVP, we will look at the many benefits that come with developing an MVP.
1. It’s More Cost-Effective
Developing an MVP is cheaper than developing a fully-fledged product because you’re
only building the bare minimum—just enough to get it out there and in front of users. This
approach allows you to focus your resources on what’s absolutely essential and save
money in the long run. Furthermore, users’ feedback can help you improve your product
before investing too much money in it.
2. Allows for Quicker Time-to-Market
When you’re focused on developing a fully-fledged product, it can take months or even
years to get it ready for launch. An MVP, on the other hand, can be developed relatively
quickly since you’re only including the essentials. This shorter time-to-market means you
can start generating revenue sooner which is critical for any startup.
3. It is Easier to Get Feedback from Users
Since MVPs are released to users quickly, you can gather feedback early on in the
development process and use it to make informed decisions about which features to
pursue and which ones to scrap. This feedback loop is essential for any startup as it
allows you to validate your ideas and make sure you’re on the right track.
4. Helps You Focus on Your Core Value Proposition

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When you’re bringing a new product to market, it’s important to focus on your core value
proposition—the one thing that makes your product unique and appealing to users. An
MVP product development approach forces you to focus on this key selling point and
figure out how best to communicate it to users instead of getting bogged down in non-
essential features.
5. Attracts Investors
Investors are always looking for startups that have a clear vision and are able to execute
quickly. By developing an MVP, you can show potential investors that you have a strong
understanding of your target market and that you’re capable of delivering a high-quality
product within a reasonable timeframe— two things that will surely pique their interest.
What are the Steps to Building an MVP Software?
Building an MVP can be a great way to reduce risk when launching a new software
product. By starting small and gathering feedback along the way, you can avoid spending
months (or even years) developing a product that no one actually wants. Here, we’ll show
you MVP development stages step by step and give all the answers on how to develop
MVP easily.
Step 1: Define Your Goal
The first step in the MVP development process is to define your goal. What do you hope
to achieve by launching this software? Do you want to solve a specific problem for your
customers? Or are you planning to enter a new market? Once you’ve answered these
questions, you’ll have a better idea of what features your MVP will need to include.
Step 2: Identify Your Target Audience
Who will be using your software? When you know your target audience, you can tailor
your MVP specifically for them. This will ensure that your MVP includes only the features
that your target audience needs (and nothing more). For example, if you’re targeting
small businesses, your MVP might include features like invoicing and expense tracking.
But if you’re targeting enterprise companies, those same features might not be
necessary.
Step 3: Prioritize Features
Now that you know what goal you’re trying to achieve and who you’re building for, it’s time
to start prioritizing features. For each feature, ask yourself whether it’s essential for
achieving your goal and whether it’s something that your target audience will actually use.
The features that meet both criteria should be included in your MVP; anything else can be
saved for later releases.
Step 4: Build and Test

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So, it’s time to start building! As you build out each feature, keep your target audience in
mind—they should be able to use your MVP with ease. Once you’ve built out all of the
essential features, it’s time to start testing. Put yourself in your target audience’s shoes
and try using the software as they would. Are all of the features easy to find and use? Do
any areas need further explanation? Use feedback from testing to make any necessary
changes before launch.
Step 5: Launch and Gather Feedback
Finally, we’re ready for launch! When your MVP is ready for launch, make sure to
promote it among your target audience so they’re aware that it’s available. Then once
users start coming in, pay close attention to their feedback—it will help inform future
development plans. And that’s it! By following this MVP development process, you can
launch an MVP with confidence knowing that you’ve reduced risk and gathered valuable
feedback along the way.
MVP Development Cost
MVP Development Cost can vary depending on the features included in the MVP. For
example, a basic MVP web development app might include login functionality and a front-
end interface, while a more complex MVP could include a back-end database and
support for multiple users.
The cost of startup MVP development services also depends on the platform used and
the experience of the development team. In general, however, it is possible to develop a
high-quality MVP for around $10,000-$20,000. This is a relatively small investment
compared to the cost of developing a full product, and it can help to validate assumptions
about the market and reduce risk.
Moreover, an MVP can be developed relatively quickly, meaning that it is possible to get
feedback from users and make changes before the product is launched. As such, MVP
app development is often seen as a wise investment for startups.
Minimum Viable Product Examples
We’ll take a look at two companies who used MVPs to get their products off the ground—
and ultimately achieve massive success.
1. Airbnb
Founded in 2008, Airbnb is now a household name in the travel industry. But it all started
with an MVP called “AirBed & Breakfast.” The original idea for AirBed & Breakfast came
about when co-founders Joe Gebbia and Brian Chesky found themselves without a place
to stay for a design conference in San Francisco—and realized they could make some
extra cash by renting out air mattresses in their apartment.

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Gebbia and Chesky set up a simple website and started promoting their AirBed &
Breakfast service via Craigslist and design blogs. They received such positive feedback
from early adopters that they decided to pivot from AirBed & Breakfast to focus on
building Airbnb. Today, Airbnb is valued at $31 billion and has over 150 million users
worldwide.
2. Groupon
Groupon is now the world’s largest daily deals site, but it started out as “The Point.” The
Point was founded in 2006 by Andrew Mason as a way to encourage collective action
around social causes. Users would sign up for causes they cared about and only take
collective action (e.g., donate money, or write letters) once a certain number of people
had signed up for the same cause.
After struggling to gain traction with The Point, Mason realized he could apply the same
concept of collective action to deals on local businesses—and Groupon was born. Today,
Groupon is valued at $2.8 billion and boasts tens of millions of users worldwide.
Things to Consider When Developing an MVP
When developing an MVP, there are a few things to keep in mind.
First, it’s important to focus on the core features that will provide the most value to
users. This means identifying the key problem that your product will solve and only
including features that are essential to solving that problem.
Second, it’s important to keep your MVP as simple as possible. This means
avoiding unnecessary bells and whistles that will just add complexity and make it
more difficult to use.
Finally, it’s important to make sure your MVP is easy to use and understand. This
means keeping the interface clean and intuitive and providing clear instructions on
how to use the product.
By keeping these things in mind, you can develop an MVP that provides value and is
easy to use.
How AppIncubator Can Help You to Build an MVP?
A lot of entrepreneurs have great app ideas, but they don’t necessarily have the time or
the resources to bring their vision to life. That’s where AppIncubator comes in. We help
entrepreneurs build MVPs (Minimum Viable Products) so they can test their idea with
potential users and investors. We’ve developed a process that takes an entrepreneur’s
idea and transforms it into a working product.
We start by helping the entrepreneur define what features are essential for the MVP.
Then, we work with them to design a simple, yet elegant user interface. Once the design
is complete, our developers begin working on the back-end code. We also provide quality
assurance testing to make sure the MVP is free of bugs.

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Throughout the process, we provide feedback and guidance with our MVP development
services to ensure that the MVP meets the entrepreneur’s goals. When it’s finished, we
hand over a complete, polished product that’s ready for launch. So if you have an app
idea but don’t know how to bring it to life, contact the best MVP development company:
AppIncubator today. Let us help you make your vision a reality.
Wrap Up
An MVP is a key tool for software development. It allows you to release a product quickly
and efficiently while still providing value to your customers. The benefits of MVP are that it
validate your ideas, saves time and money, allows you to get feedback from users. If
you’re thinking about developing a new software product, be sure to keep the MVP in
mind. It could be the difference between success and failure.
FAQs
Q1. What is an MVP?
MVP stands for Minimum Viable Product. It’s a product with just the essential features,
nothing more and nothing less. The purpose of an MVP is to test a product hypothesis
with the least amount of effort and resources. This allows startups to get feedback from
early adopters and make necessary changes before fully committing to the product. An
MVP is not a fully developed product, but it’s a good starting point for further
development.
Q2. Why is an MVP important?
An MVP is important because it allows you to validate your hypotheses with real data,
rather than relying on assumptions. It also allows you to get feedback from users and
make necessary changes before investing too much time and resources into the product.
Furthermore, an MVP can help you determine whether there is a market for your product
and whether users are willing to pay for it. Ultimately, an MVP is a crucial tool for any
startup that wants to increase its chances of success.
Q3. How long should it take to build an MVP?
It can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to months to build an MVP, depending on
the features and complexity you want to include in your product. Keep in mind that the
goal is to create a minimum viable product, so don’t get too caught up in adding
distracting features that aren’t essential to your core functionality. Focus on creating a
product that solves a problem for your users and you’ll be on the right track.
Q4. How much does it cost to build an MVP?

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It can cost anywhere from a $1000 to $10,000 to build an MVP, depending on the features
and functionality required. The most important thing is to focus on delivering value to
early adopters, rather than trying to create a perfect product. A MVP should be designed
to test key hypotheses and gather feedback from users, so that the final product can be
refined and improved.
Q5. What is MVP in design thinking?
In design thinking, it refers to the simplest possible version of a product or service that
can be used to test a concept with users. This helps to ensure that the final product is
human-centered and meets the needs of the people using it. MVPs can be quick and dirty
prototypes that are rapidly developed and iterated upon, or they can be more polished
products that are close to their final form.
Q6. Are MVPs only for startups?
No. Not at all. MVPs are designed to validate hypotheses quickly and cheaply with real
users for businesses, products, or services. They are also for businesses that want to
learn what their users really want before investing too much time and money into building
something they may not even need or want. That being said, MVPs are especially well-
suited for startups because they provide a way to test an idea with very little risk and gain
valuable feedback early on. So while MVPs are not only for startups, they can be an
invaluable tool for them.