Summary (read time: 4 min 52 seconds)

• My personal experience
• The real minimum viable product
• Step 1: Map Out the Core User Experience
• Step 2: Test Real User Engagement Manually
• Step 3: Observe and Measure What Really Matters
• Step 4: Gather Feedback and Iterate
• The True Purpose of an MVP

So, you’ve got a business idea that’s been through the wringer: researched, validated, and enthusiastically backed by potential customers. You’re ready to take it to the next level and see it come to life! A few weeks ago, I was at that exact point, thinking it was time to start talking to developers, applying for funding, and building what I believed was the “real deal.”

But thankfully, a mentor of mine—who happens to be an experienced tech developer—hit the brakes on my plans. He told me he wouldn’t touch my idea with a line of code yet. While I was disappointed to hear this, he motivated me to consider a different approach; create a true minimum viable product (MVP). Initially, I was aiming for a coded product, but he recommended I find the barest way to bring it to life—without a single line of code and without blowing the budget.

The Real Minimum Viable Product

The core idea of an MVP is not to have a watered-down, coded version of your future product; it’s about having a bare-bones version that’s lean, functional, and capable of gathering essential insights. My mentor explained that the MVP isn’t about creating the thing; it’s about creating the test. It’s how you check that your idea has legs in the real world, gathering data on user interest, engagement, and, most crucially, payment.

Consider the following analogy –

Problem: Getting from A to B takes too long on foot.
Minimum Viable Product: A bicycle.
Final Product: A jetpack.

Before investing time and resources in building a jetpack, you first need to know if people even want to get from A to B faster. To test this, you offer them a bike. If the bike is a success—people use it and want even quicker options—you have real proof of demand and can move toward building the jetpack.

This means using whatever tools and services are at your disposal to set up a basic version of your idea—no algorithms, no code, just the essential experience your users need. As counterintuitive as it sounded, this approach made complete sense. So let’s break down how to create a true MVP without diving into development.

Step 1: Map Out the Core User Experience

Ask yourself: What’s the simplest version of your products offering that users can interact with to test its core value? Rather than thinking about every feature or perfecting the UI, map out the essential steps that allow people to engage with the idea. Imagine you’re solving a pain point for users: what’s the bare minimum needed for them to experience that solution?

For example:

• If it’s a service-based business, could it be as simple as a Google Form to sign up, a Calendly link to schedule, and a Zoom call for service delivery?
• If it’s a digital product or platform, could you use a combination of no-code tools (Airtable, Zapier, or even an email list) to deliver the core experience?

Step 2: Test Real User Engagement Manually

The best part of an MVP? You don’t need fancy tech to deliver value to your users. You’re testing assumptions about their needs, so start by offering the service manually. Set up appointments, send emails, run tests, and take notes on how users respond. By delivering the experience yourself, you’re not only saving costs but also gaining invaluable insights into the user journey and potential pain points.

For instance, let’s say your idea is a subscription-based fitness platform. Instead of building an entire website, use a simple newsletter platform to send weekly workout routines. Monitor engagement: Are people opening the emails? Are they completing the workouts? Would they pay for a personalised plan?

Step 3: Observe and Measure What Really Matters

Metrics at this stage are straightforward but critical. Don’t get hung up on every detail, but focus on these key areas:

• User Interest: Are people signing up? Is there real demand, or just polite interest?
• Engagement: Are users actively interacting with the MVP? Engagement can show if your idea is solving a real problem.
• Retention: Are people coming back? This is a good indicator that your MVP delivers value.
• Willingness to Pay: The ultimate test—are users willing to pay for what you’re offering, even if it’s a manual process?

The beauty of a non-coded MVP is that you can pivot, adjust, and tweak based on user behaviour without costly re-development.

Step 4: Gather Feedback and Iterate

Use this MVP to learn, adapt, and improve. Reach out to users for honest feedback and tweak the experience to address common pain points. At this stage, you’re still validating your assumptions, so the more you know, the better your future product will be.

A non-coded MVP has two huge benefits:

• You save money by not investing in development until you’re certain of your product’s potential.
• You get immediate, actionable feedback to guide the evolution of your idea into something people genuinely want.

The True Purpose of an MVP

An MVP is more than a functional test; it’s a reality check. It’s how you go from a solid idea to a proven concept without getting lost in development before you’re ready. I’ve realised that building an MVP isn’t about perfection—it’s about learning fast and with minimal investment. My mentor’s advice made me rethink my approach, and I hope it helps you too.

Remember, your MVP’s role is to prove your idea’s potential, even after you’ve validated the concept. Only when you have clear evidence of demand should you move into development and start refining your product.

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