An MVP is not a stripped-down product, but a test of the idea’s demand
- February 28, 2026
- App , Development
Table of Contents
An MVP is not a stripped-down product, but a test of the idea’s demand
Over 14 years in product development, and over five years providing development services to clients at ODAXY Labs, I’ve encountered the same misconception again and again. When someone says “let’s build an MVP,” many people might think about two things:
- “We’ll do it poorly, then we’ll finish it later” This turns the MVP into a weak version of the future product, embarrassing to show to users and unclear how to evaluate it.
- Or “we’ll do a lot, it will be perfect.” This leads to unnecessary features being developed, everything drags on, and often no one uses it.
An MVP (minimum viable product) is all about minimizing risks. Ultimately, no one knows whether there will be users or sales after the product launch. After conducting a market analysis, defining the target audience, and formulating a hypothesis, we need to decide what functionality to develop. If this isn’t the case, or if there’s too much or too little functionality, the product might be unsuccessful. If too little functionality can still be improved by adding new features, but when too much is implemented, those are resources that can’t be recovered.
For example, if you manage to stop without delaying development, you can test more hypotheses or switch to another product.
An MVP is a working product with a minimal feature set that solves one specific problem for the target audience. It doesn’t have “extra” buttons, not because you’re greedy or in a hurry, but because each feature must be justified by testing with real users.
Also, developing an MVP shouldn’t take a long time. This amount of time varies for different products. But if it takes more than three months of full-time development, it’s worth considering. And if it takes more than six months, you’ve likely already gone beyond the MVP.
At ODAXY Labs, we can develop an MVP in 1-3 months, depending on the project complexity. It’s important to note that a conflict of interest can often arise between the client and the development company. On the one hand, the development company benefits from dragging out the project, adding more functionality, and thereby earning more money. At ODAXY Labs, we don’t chase short-term profits, and we understand that long-term relationships are better than if the client leaves dissatisfied (having wasted resources and not achieved the desired result, not because of their unsuccessful idea, but because of the developers). Even at the beginning, we often simply advise clients not to start developing what they want, as there are certain risks: the product is already finished, some of the functionality is unrealistic, and this could lead to the project being delayed and not achieving the desired result.
How is an MVP different from a “raw” product?
| “Raw” product | A true MVP |
|---|---|
| Released because “it’s time already” | Released to test a specific hypothesis |
| Doesn’t work correctly | Works fairly stable, but has limited functionality |
| The team doesn’t know if the market needs it | The team is collecting data on demand |
| Being finalized “by feel” | Developed based on feedback |
When an MVP isn’t needed?
If you’re copying an existing product in a mature market, you don’t need an MVP, but a similar product with some difference. If your idea hasn’t been implemented anywhere yet and is truly unique, you need a Prototype, PoC (Proof of Concept), or a test of technical feasibility. This means checking whether it’s feasible or not, and this won’t always be impossible due to technical complexity, sometimes due to legal or other issues.
When can you stop thinking too much about an MVP and just start developing?
When the product isn’t the client’s primary source of income, for example, if the client’s company provides a service, and the developed product is used as a supplement to enhance the brand. Or when the client already has a specific target audience (for example, 100-1,000 people they know in their industry), and in the worst case, it’s enough for them if only a portion of that audience uses the developed product. This is certainly relative, but developing a strategy, analyzing the audience, risks, and desired results also takes a lot of time, and it’s often even more cost-effective for the client to simply do what they want.
At ODAXY Labs, we strive to deliver exactly what our clients want. To achieve this, it’s crucial to first understand what the client wants, what result they expect, and their budget. It all starts with the initial conversation, then the description, then the design, and then the development. We help determine what the client needs, but without feedback and communication, this is impossible; it’s just guesswork. Not every client trusts to tell this right away, but a lot here is also built on trust. The company trusts the client to pay and that there will be a fair process. The client also trusts the company that the work will be done as agreed, and that even if something doesn’t go according to plan, they’ll know about it immediately, and the development process itself will be transparent and understandable.
Would you like us to estimate the cost of your MVP for free?
