Hire an MVP Developer$2,997. 2 Weeks. Guaranteed.
Skip the freelancer roulette, agency sticker shock, and co-founder equity drain. Get your MVP built by startup specialists.
Why Most Founders Struggle to Hire MVP Developers
You have a startup idea. You need it built. Sounds simple, right? Here's what actually happens:
The Freelancer Roulette
You post on Upwork or Fiverr. Get 50 proposals, all claiming they can do it for $500-$5,000. You hire someone promising. Two months later: missed deadlines, communication gaps, and maybe they ghost you entirely. Now you're starting over with less money and more frustration.
The Agency Sticker Shock
You reach out to "real" development agencies. They schedule discovery calls, create elaborate proposals, and finally reveal the price: $50,000-$150,000+. For an MVP. That's your entire runway, gone before you've validated anything.
The Technical Co-Founder Myth
"Just find a technical co-founder!" Easy to say, hard to do. Good developers have jobs or their own ideas. And if you convince one to join, you're giving away 20-50% of your company for what might cost $3,000-$10,000 to build.
Your Options for Hiring MVP Development
Let's compare your realistic options, with real costs and real tradeoffs.
Option 1: Freelancers ($20-150/hour)
Platforms like Upwork, Toptal, and Fiverr connect you with individual developers worldwide.
Pros
- Lower hourly rates (especially offshore)
- Flexible engagement
- Large talent pool
Cons
- High ghosting risk
- Quality varies wildly
- You manage everything
- Final cost: $8,000-25,000+ typical
Option 2: Development Agencies ($50k-150k+)
Traditional software development companies with full teams.
Pros
- Professional processes
- Full team (design, dev, QA)
- Reliable delivery
Cons
- Massive cost ($50k-150k+)
- Slow (3-6 months typical)
- Built for enterprises, not startups
- Overhead you don't need
Option 3: MVP Specialists ($3k-10k)
Developers and small teams who focus exclusively on startup MVPs.
Pros
- Fixed, predictable pricing
- Fast delivery (2-4 weeks)
- Startup experience
- Business guidance included
- Direct communication
Cons
- Limited to MVP scope
- Not for enterprise projects
Option 4: Technical Co-Founder (Equity)
Convince a developer to join as a co-founder in exchange for equity.
Pros
- No upfront cash needed
- Long-term partner
- Aligned incentives
Cons
- Very hard to find
- 20-50% equity cost
- Complicated cap table early
- May have different vision
What to Look for in an MVP Developer
Whether you hire a freelancer, agency, or specialist, here's what separates good MVP developers from bad ones:
1. Startup Experience
Enterprise developers build differently than startup developers. You need someone who understands speed over perfection, MVPs over feature-complete products, and validation over polish.
2. Fixed Pricing
Hourly billing creates misaligned incentives: more hours = more money. Fixed pricing means the developer wants to deliver efficiently. You know exactly what you'll pay.
3. Clear Communication
How quickly do they respond? Do they explain technical concepts clearly? Can you reach them when you need to? Communication issues kill more projects than technical ones.
4. Accountability
Do they have a portfolio? Reviews? Case studies? A guarantee? Anyone can claim to build MVPs. Look for proof they've done it successfully, repeatedly.
The Webscension Approach: $2,997, 2 Weeks, Guaranteed
We've helped 50+ founders launch their MVPs. Here's exactly what you get and how it works:
Fixed price, no surprises
From kickoff to launch
First customer or we work free
What's Included
- Complete MVP with core features
- User authentication (signup, login, forgot password)
- Payment integration (Stripe)
- Admin dashboard
- Responsive design (mobile + desktop)
- Production deployment
- 90 days bug-fix support
- Launch strategy guidance
What's NOT Included
We focus on MVP essentials. These require separate scoping:
- Native mobile apps (iOS/Android)
- Complex integrations (custom APIs)
- AI/ML features
- Multi-language support
Our Process
Day 0: Scoping Call
Free 15-min call. We understand your idea, define scope, and give you a fixed quote.
Day 1: Kickoff
Requirements locked. Design direction confirmed. Development begins immediately.
Week 1-2: Build
Daily updates, weekly calls. You see progress every day. Feedback incorporated fast.
Day 14: Launch
Deployed to production. You own everything. Launch strategy call included.
MVPs We've Built
See real MVPs we've launched for founders like you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Hire Your MVP Developer?
Book a free 15-minute scoping call. We'll discuss your idea, define scope, and give you a fixed quote. No commitment, no pressure.