Glossary term
What Is MVP (Minimum Viable Product)?
The smallest version of a product that delivers the core value to users, used to test market demand before investing in a full build.
Coined by Eric Ries in The Lean Startup, an MVP is the earliest version of a product that a real user can use for its intended purpose — not a demo, not a prototype, but a functioning product with the minimum feature set. The point is to test hypotheses about demand, usage, and willingness-to-pay before investing months or years. In 2026, MVPs are typically shipped in 4-12 weeks using AI and no-code tools.
Common Questions
What's the difference between an MVP and a prototype?
A prototype demonstrates the idea but isn't meant to be used. An MVP is a real product used by real users to perform the real use case.
How small should an MVP be?
Small enough that you can ship it in 4-8 weeks. If your MVP plan has more than 5 features, cut features until it does.
Related terms
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