Video · ~10 min video

How to Build an MVP

Michael Seibel · Y Combinator Startup Library Free Beginner

Michael Seibel, who ran YC, makes the blunt case for shipping something almost embarrassingly simple and learning from real users instead of chasing a perfect first version. His line that if it takes more than a month to build, it is not an MVP is a practical yardstick for anyone stuck polishing. Watch it when the urge to add one more thing before launch takes over.

  • An MVP is the fastest way to start learning what users actually want, so its job is speed to feedback, not completeness.
  • Keep the first version ridiculously simple: if it takes more than about a month to build, you are overbuilding.
  • The fear of losing customers to a rough product is usually overblown; you learn far more from shipping than from refining in private.
Open on ycombinator.com ↗

It answers 29 questions

  1. Which no-code tool should I use to build my first product?
  2. How do I decide what to build next?
  3. When is my product 'ready' to launch?
  4. Can I really build a serious business on no-code, or will I hit a wall?
  5. How long should building an MVP take?
  6. Should I hire an agency or a freelancer to build my MVP?
  7. Should I build an MVP at all, or can I validate without one?
  8. How do I connect payments and handle data if I'm building no-code in India?
  9. What is an MVP and what's the smallest one I can build?
  10. What's the difference between an MVP and just a cheap, half-finished product?
  11. Is no-code cheaper than hiring a developer?
  12. How do I run a landing-page / 'fake-door' test?

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  3. Video · ~13 min How to Plan an MVP Michael Seibel (YC)
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  5. The fastest way to stand up a fake-door landing page. Build a one-page site in an afternoon, add an email capture, and measure... carrd.co Tool Carrd carrd.co
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