No. 060
Strategy
Minimum Viable Product
A minimum viable product (MVP) is the simplest version of a product that delivers real value and can be released to learn from users.
Why it matters
It lets teams test core assumptions quickly and cheaply, avoiding the waste of building a full product nobody wants.
In depth
Popularized by the Lean Startup movement, an MVP is about learning, not just shipping less. It should still solve a genuine problem well enough to gather meaningful feedback. The emphasis is on 'viable' — it must actually deliver value, not just be minimal.
Real-world example
Before building a full marketplace, a team launches a simple page that manually matches buyers and sellers to validate demand.
Principle
Minimum Viable Product
The smallest thing that delivers real value and teaches you something.
Related terms