What an MVP Is and What It Is Not

This lesson defines a minimum viable product as the smallest credible product experiment that can test a real market assumption with real users. It separates MVP thinking from common shortcuts such as launching a sloppy prototype, building a miniature version of the final product, or shipping whatever can be finished fastest.

Students learn that an MVP is not mainly about saving effort, although it often does. Its purpose is to reduce uncertainty. A strong MVP focuses on one target user, one painful problem, one core promise, and one measurable learning goal.