If you’ve spent any amount of time in the startup world, you’ve heard the term MVP—a “minimum viable product.” Everyone rushes to build it, yet so many entrepreneurs skip the crucial steps beforehand.
But here’s the real deal: jumping straight into building your MVP without proper validation is like lighting your money on fire.
I get it. You’re excited to create your startup. But trust me—knowing what comes before MVP will save you a ton of frustration, time, and money.
Here’s exactly what you need to know (and do) first.
Proof of Concept: Is Your Startup Idea Worth Pursuing?
A Proof of Concept (POC) is a quick and inexpensive way to find out if you can actually build your product.
Too many startups fail because founders assume people will automatically want their product. But assumptions can kill your business before it starts.
Your goal here is straightforward: test assumptions cheaply to see if your idea makes sense at all.
A strong POC helps you avoid the risk of building something no one wants. It helps you answer the most important question: “Should I even spend another minute on this?”
You can test your idea in a few simple ways:
• Set up a landing page with a clear value proposition. Collect sign-ups or early interest.
• Run inexpensive ads directing users to your landing page.
• Conduct quick surveys using Google Forms or Typeform.
If no one signs up or shows interest now, no one will buy later. It’s as simple as that.
Market Research: Know Your Audience First
Skipping market research is startup suicide. Before touching a line of code, deeply understand the problems your potential users face.
Great startups solve painful problems—not nice-to-have annoyances.
Here’s exactly how to perform fast, effective market research:
• Search Google Trends to check if interest in your idea is growing or fading.
• Explore Reddit communities and LinkedIn groups related to your industry. Notice what problems people repeatedly complain about.
• Check competitor websites. Notice their positioning—then ask yourself how you can stand out.
Doing this takes very little time but can save months of wasted effort later. It gives you confidence to move forward or pivot early if needed.
Customer Interviews: Validate Your Product Idea Without Guesswork
Early customer interviews give you insights no survey or landing page can match.
Speaking directly with your potential users ensures you’re solving real-world issues, not imaginary problems you invented.
But what questions should you ask? Here are some concise, practical examples:
• “Tell me about how you’re currently solving [specific problem]?”
• “What’s the hardest part about this?”
• “How much would you pay to make this easier?”
Interviews might feel awkward at first, but they’re your single best way to gain true insight. Even 5-10 meaningful conversations can dramatically refine your idea.
Never build without interviewing users first. It’s a step you can’t afford to skip.
Prototypes vs. MVP vs. POC: Choosing the Right One at the Right Time
There’s still confusion around these terms, so let’s clear it up quickly:
• Proof of Concept (POC): Simple, cheap tests to confirm your idea could work.
• Prototype: A visual representation of your product (wireframes or clickable mockups) used to showcase user experience.
• MVP: An MVP is a working version of your product, but it differs from a prototype in key ways. If you’re wondering how to decide between the two, here’s a full breakdown.
If you want a deeper breakdown of the differences between POC, MVP, and prototype, check out this guide.
Knowing exactly when to use each one helps you avoid costly mistakes.
I’ve seen startups attract investors with nothing but a prototype. Why? Because visualizing the experience was enough to prove market interest without a costly MVP.
Before spending big money, first prove demand in the cheapest way possible. Save your resources for when they truly matter.
No-Code Tools: Test Your Startup Idea Fast, Without Coding
You no longer need technical skills or huge budgets to validate a startup idea. This isn’t ten years ago.
Today, no-code tools like Webflow, Bubble, or Typeform let you launch simple landing pages, surveys, and prototypes within hours—not weeks.
If the idea flops, great—you learned early and lost very little. If it’s a hit, even better: now you’ve got initial traction to attract investors or customers.
Concierge MVP: Manually Validate Demand Before Automation
If your startup relies on a complex service or tech product, consider launching as a concierge MVP first.
That simply means manually delivering your product’s core value to early customers, no automation required yet.
For example:
• Instead of building an automated dating app, manually match users via email.
• Instead of developing a scheduling SaaS, manually handle bookings with emails or calendars.
I love this method because it massively reduces your initial costs. It also gives clear evidence whether your idea has real demand or just sounds cool on paper.
Always test your assumptions cheaply before automating.
Pre-MVP Marketing: How to Attract Early Users Before Launch
Here’s something most founders overlook: MVPs don’t attract users by themselves. Pre-launch marketing does.
Before your MVP launches, you should build your audience:
• Create a landing page to collect early access sign-ups.
• Post valuable content in social media communities or LinkedIn to attract your target market.
• Partner with existing businesses who have your audience.
Investors love seeing clear, tangible proof that people care about your idea before it even exists. Early traction speaks louder than any pitch deck.
Use social proof—testimonials, follower counts, engagement rates—to build credibility. Marketing now makes launching your MVP much easier later.
Early Traction Metrics Investors Actually Care About
Speaking of investors, what traction metrics do they really want to see before funding your startup?
Forget vanity metrics like website visits. Investors want clear signs that your market validation is real. Here’s what actually counts:
• Waitlist growth rate (how fast are people signing up?)
• User sign-up frequency (is interest steady and increasing?)
• Quality of customer feedback (are people genuinely excited?)
• Engagement within your community or email list.
These metrics show investors you’ve found an initial pipeline of customers. You’re proving that people want your solution and may even pay for it.
My advice? Track these metrics closely from day one. Regularly update your pitch to clearly reflect this early traction.
