Beyond MVPs: Why “Minimum Viable” Can Kill Your Product - Thoughts...
Omar Abaza
Entrepreneurships || AI Product Management || Strategy & Discovery || User-Centric design || Agile || Digital Transformation || Business Analysis || Always Hiring
For years, the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) has been the holy grail of product development. The idea is simple: build the smallest version of your product that delivers value and test it with real users. But here’s the problem—many teams interpret MVP as the bare minimum needed to function, rather than an experience that truly resonates. And that’s where products fail before they even get a real chance. ??
The MVP Trap: Viable Isn’t Always Enough ??
Startups and product teams often rush to launch an MVP, thinking that just getting something out there is the priority. The reality? An uninspiring, clunky, or underwhelming first version can do more harm than good.
Early adopters—your first and most crucial users—aren’t looking for something that just “works.” They’re looking for something that excites them, solves a problem in a way that feels magical, and makes them want to come back.
As Marty Cagan puts it in Inspired: "Customers don’t buy MVPs. They buy products that make a meaningful difference in their lives."
The Shift from MVP to MLP (Minimum Lovable Product) ??
Instead of focusing on what’s viable, the best teams aim for what’s lovable—the Minimum Lovable Product (MLP). This means delivering an experience that sparks an emotional connection with users, even if it’s small in scope.
Think about the first versions of products that took off:
As Reid Hoffman, founder of LinkedIn, famously said: "If you’re not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you’ve launched too late."
But the key is not to confuse speed with mediocrity. There’s a big difference between launching something lovable early and launching something broken too soon.
How to Build an MLP That Captivates Users
1. Find the "Aha!" Moment Early
Every great product has an "aha!" moment—the instant when users realize why this product is different and how it changes their lives. Your job is to identify and optimize for that moment as early as possible.
Airbnb’s MLP wasn’t just about listing properties—it was about making users feel like they could belong anywhere in the world. That emotional hook made it stick.
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2. Polish One Key Experience, Not Everything
Your product doesn’t need to be perfect everywhere—it needs to be brilliant somewhere. Instead of launching a half-baked, generic version, pick one core aspect and make it truly shine.
"Delight is in the details." — Steve Jobs
3. Think Emotionally, Not Just Functionally
Users don’t just evaluate products on logic; they feel them. Focus on design, messaging, and user experience in a way that makes the product feel crafted, not just built.
Spotify’s early versions weren’t just about streaming music—they were about making the experience fluid, instant, and joyful. That’s what turned passive listeners into loyal fans.
4. Test Early, But With the Right Users??
Not all feedback is equal. If you test with users who don’t care, their responses will be lukewarm at best. Instead, find your passionate early adopters, listen deeply, and refine based on what excites them.
"People don’t know what they want until you show it to them." — Steve Jobs
Final Thoughts: Build Something People Love, Not Just Use
Building an MVP can be a death sentence if it’s rushed, uninspired, or lacks emotional pull. Instead, build something people talk about, recommend, and feel attached to—even if it’s small at first.
The best products don’t start as "viable." They start as irresistible.
So, what will you build?
Let’s discuss: Have you ever built a product that was “viable” but didn’t gain traction? What would you do differently now? Drop your thoughts in the comments!
Let's share our thoughts if possible and learn from each other's stories ??