How to Build an MVP in 5 Steps
Real Examples + Free Checklist
Learn how to build a minimum viable product that validates your startup idea fast. See how Dropbox and Airbnb built their MVPs, avoid the 7 mistakes that kill most startups, and download our free checklist.
Not sure if your idea is validated yet? Read our Idea Validation Guide first
How to Build Your MVP in 5 Steps
For founders who've never built a product before
Define the Problem
- •Who has this problem?
- •How are they solving it now?
- •Why is that painful?
Pick Your Target Users
- •Be specific (not "everyone")
- •Example: "Solo founders making <$10k/mo who need invoicing"
One User, One Flow, One Outcome
- •Build for ONE specific user, not everyone
- •ONE flow from start to finish
- •ONE measurable outcome to validate
Build Landing Page + CTA
- •Headline that speaks to pain
- •Clear call-to-action (waitlist, early access, pre-order)
Set Up Feedback Loops
- •Talk to users weekly
- •Track 1-2 KPIs max
What Is a Minimum Viable Product (MVP)?
- 1.One user — solve for one specific person
- 2.One flow — one path from start to finish
- 3.One outcome — one measurable result
Dropbox MVP
A 3-minute video showing the product concept. No code. Just a landing page + waitlist.
75,000 signups overnight.
Airbnb MVP
Founders rented out their own apartment with air mattresses. A simple website, 3 guests, $80 each.
Now worth $80+ billion.
What an MVP is NOT
7 MVP Mistakes That Kill Startups
Avoid these and you're already ahead of 90% of founders
Building too many features
You don't need user roles, dashboards, and analytics on day 1
Skipping user research
Building what you think users want vs. what they'll pay for
Perfectionism before launch
Waiting until it's "ready" means it's already too late
No clear success metric
If you can't measure it, you can't validate it
Building in isolation
No feedback until launch = building blind
Wrong tech stack obsession
The framework doesn't matter. Getting paid does.
Ignoring distribution
Great product with zero users = failed MVP
Free Download
Free MVP Checklist for Startups
6 items every founder needs to validate before building
- ✓Define problem clearly
- ✓One user — who exactly?
- ✓One flow — start to finish
- ✓One outcome — how to measure success
- ✓Landing page + CTA
- ✓Early feedback loops
Need Help Building Your MVP?
- ✓We build MVPs that make money, or you don't pay
- ✓First paying customer in 90 days, guaranteed
- ✓Built by a founder who's done it before