Prototyping & MVP0

How do you move beyond the idea stage? Prototyping & creating an MVP0 are tried and tested development techniques in creating product or services.

What is a Prototype?

A prototype can be defined in various ways depending on the need and situation of startups or businesses in general. In essence, the prototype is the conceptual initial model of your product or service that target users can understand. Furthermore, it is

• Rudimentary mock-up or sample (of the actual product based on which the other forms) - A ‘quick and dirty’ version of the end-product; it may or may not be fully functional.
• Refinement of Functionalities - Represents the solution to gather feedback from potential users, but it is not usually released to the market
• The ‘HOW’ of your product or service - Illustrates the product or service specifications to streamline the development as well as inspect possible errors
• Conveys the Value Proposition - Displays functionality and prove market traction when presenting to investors

Although a Prototype is most useful in the early stages of development, it can be used at any stage. Startups use prototypes for these purposes:

• Use as a Basis for Building the MVP: A prototype dictates features that are possible to be integrated into the first version of your product or service. This helps define which features are essential.
• Streamlines the Development Process: As a visual representation of the target end-product, a prototype illustrates the purpose of the product/ service specifications. Thus minimising back-and-forth across teams and makes building more efficient.
• Testing and Refinement of Functions: in design phase and production, prototypes are used to inspect potential errors and to test usability & functionality

Additionally, a prototype can be used in reserving Intellectual Property Rights of a product or service--given that the idea is feasible, unique, and marketable.

Forms of Prototypes

A prototype takes different forms, depending on how and which stages of development it will be used. It also depends on funding (or lack thereof), as well as the nature of the product or service. Is it better presented through simulation? Is there a need to inspect the product integrity to get it ready for building? Will you develop the prototype with an in-house team or outsourced services?

Software Prototype presents “a complex idea in a realistic form” simulated in different scenarios used to interact with stakeholders for demonstrations and feedback gathering. Simulation but users can’t interact with it.

Examples of software prototypes are:

• Wireframes
• Screens (for apps or software products)
• Features
• User flows

Physical Prototype is a fabrication of the idea into a scale model usually constructed through 3D modelling/ printing. It is used in the design phase to test and inspect the physical aspect and feasibility of the idea. Potential customers can have direct contact and provide a more accurate feedback. On the other hand, these could fall apart as a basic model of the final product

Examples of physical prototypes are:

• 3D Print
• Scale Model
• Injection Mold
• 4D Experiential Prototype (for services)

Remember: In building prototypes, keep the target customer in mind. Understand their needs as their feedback will help mold your product, from the first minimum viable versions up to the end-product.

Below are more resources on the forms of prototypes:

• How to Develop a Perfect Prototype
• 5 Cheap And Easy Ways to Prototype Your New Startup Idea

Using the Prototype to Fund Your Startup

For startups at the Idea phase, prototypes mainly have two goals: (1) get funding from investors and (2) feedback from potential users.

“It takes money to build a prototype; but you need a prototype in order to raise money.”--Emily Straubel, Author of Get Funded

1. Secure Seed Funding

There are many ways that a startup can get funding for a prototype. Prototypes can be more affordable in a simplified form. Usually, founders use personal or ‘Love Money’ or loans from banks. Our article on Startup Funding expounds more on the different options that you can explore.

Prototypes may not be fully functional but it has the essential features that can be shown to and evaluated by potential investors and support from other financial sources (e.g. from early adopters/ Crowdfunding). Here’s how a Prototype can be used to get funding:

1. Proof of Concept: Market Fit

• Materialises the business idea into a usable and interactive form
• Conveys core value proposition
• Exemplifies key differentiators across competition

2. Proof of Commitment: The team’s ability to execute the idea

• Aligns with and supplements your business plan and roadmap
• Demonstrates a clear vision of your end-product or service
• Identifies possibilities and limitations of functionalities

Explore more ways to get funding with your Prototype:

• Get Funded: Part 6
• How to Get Seed Funding Using Your Prototype

2. Get Direct Feedback

Prototypes are also presented as a demonstration of the expected product or service to selected consumers--who may even include your direct connections.

“You can’t build great products in the dark, without a well-defined customer. And you can’t develop the right product for your customer if you fall in love with a prototype that nobody wants to buy.” --Bill Aulet, managing director of the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship and a senior lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management

Unlike the MVP, a prototype is not used to gain market traction once it reaches a potential customer. However, same as the MVP, presenting a prototype to the public opens the line of communication to customers which startups should nourish constantly. Talk with them, listen to their critique, and learn from them.

Use all the feedback to tweak the initial hypothesis or assumptions for your business idea.

Here are more articles on using the Prototype:

• Why Do You Need A Prototype? | The Startup Process
• Is this a prototype or an MVP? Well actually, it’s a proof of concept.

MVP, Prototype and Proof-Of-Concept

Prototype VS MVP

What is an MVP? An MVP or a "Minimum Viable Product" is a set of essential features and specifications of a product or service. MVPs are iterative by nature as each version tests the validity of that product/ service into a better version from the original specs. In the very first stages of development (or from conceptualisation of a product or service), a preliminary MVP called the MVP0 is usually created.

Our previous article on MVP details the lifecycle from building, processes, advantages and disadvantages: Build MVP

While there is often a confusion between the term “prototype” and “MVP”, it is generally understood that a prototype is a representation of the product that does not include actual or full building (this can range from an InVision clickable prototype to a landing page that captures the key benefits of your product).

An MVP is meanwhile a sellable product with a functional backend. The main goal of an MVP is to get the most viable but minimum version of your business idea to the market in order to evaluate its value and gain market traction. The Prototype, on the other hand, is used for testing, and while it may reach the potential customers, it is mainly for that purpose. It is a working model that may still have errors but is helpful in the development process.

Prototype

• What it is: A minimum but viable version of your business idea that is sellable and has a fully functional backend
• Goal: Get the most viable but minimum version of your business idea to the market in order to evaluate its value and gain market traction.

MVP

• What it is: A working model that may still have errors but is helpful in the development process.
• Goal: Used for testing, and while it may reach the potential customers, it is mainly for that purpose

In one sentence, the Prototype is a ‘draft’ of the product--the MVP--brought to the market.

For example, a prototype of an app can be just 5 screens of the app created through a design software. On the other hand, the MVP will be the beta version of this app, softly launched into the market through App Store.

Proof-Of-Concept

A proof-of-concept is created to test whether a certain idea or theory about the product can be implemented. Compared to the MVP and Prototype, the POC focuses on proving the feasibility of a business idea--the solution to the identified problem in the market.

Having a POC is a precursor to the prototype and MVP. It doesn’t necessitate the need of complex material or flows. It mainly focuses on proving if a business idea is doable.

While both the MVP and Prototype can validate the idea, the POC is most useful in these cases:

• When it is unclear whether an idea can be brought to life
• If certain features are feasible and/or necessary
• Getting first funding for your startup
• Lack of resources (time, funding, access to specialists and technical experts
• During development, a POC can be used to prove if specific features (of the prototype or MVP) can be built

MVP

• A version of a product that has just enough features to stay viable
• Conveys the Core Value Proposition to early adopters
• Illustrates functionalities, performance, usability, scalability
• Captures market demand through a faster and more efficient release of the product
• Garners feedback directly from customers; invaluable in market testing

Prototype

• The HOW of the product or service
• Illustrates functionalities and usability
• May or may not be fully functional
• Not released to the market (only for early testing)
• Communicates the value proposition and can be used to raise seed funding

Proof-Of-Concept (POC)

• Proves feasibility the business idea
• Simplest and most efficient means of proving a single assumption on the product or target market
• Minimal use of resources
• Directly addresses the market need with a focused solution
• Not released to the market
• Can be used to raise seed funding.

Remember: The POC, Prototype and MVP each have their own place in the Startup Lifecycle and when used well, results to the efficient development of the whilst communicating value and capturing the market.

For a deeper discussion on MVP, Prototype and POC, read these articles:

• MVP VS POC VS Prototype: What Does Your Company Really Need
• Proof of Concept vs. Prototype vs. MVP: Journey to Product Market Fit
• Entrepreneurs, Don’t Build Too Soon
• What's the Difference Between a Prototype and an MVP

The MVP0

The MVP0 makes your business idea or project concrete. The MVP0 or “Pilot” is the first version of the product or service with a set of the core functions and minimum specifications that solves the defined problem. It can be a design, wireframe, or clickable prototype--whichever best represents your idea. Building an MVP0 reduces upfront costs and scales-down needed resources--an advantage for businesses just starting out.

How do you use the MVP0?

• Set as a starting point for the first version of your product. Evaluate the resulting features. Does it address the problem you are trying to solve?
• Evaluate market traction. Does it attract your target market? Is it competitive? You can showcase the MVP0 to potential customers to gather feedback and even secure early adopters through letters of intent (that you can show to investors).
• Present to potential investors and showcase your vision. With the MVP0, you can fully explain the features as well as overall value through a tangible demonstration.

Bill Gates himself created Microsoft on the basis of an MVP. He and co-founder Paul Allen pitched to a tech company a computer program which they have not created at that time (not even an MVP). After securing a meeting for demonstration, they then worked on writing the program and simulating it as an MVP. They were successful in the end (full article here). That product they simulated is now known as the Altair BASIC program, which is led to the foundation of Microsoft.

Building an MVP0 allows you to pivot into the creation of your full product. The MVP0 is not just a precursor but a critical stage in the process of realising your business idea.

Here are some resources that discuss MVP further:

• 10 Awesome MVPs from Lean Startup Machine
• 7 Reasons Why You Need an MVP for Your Startup

Case Study: AirBed & Breakfast (Airbnb)

10 years ago, two designers and one software engineer launched a platform where users can post an “airbed” for thrifty travellers to rent. Now known as Airbnb, the initial website served as an MVP0, with stipped down functions:

• posting photos and information;
• making reservations; and
• paying for the duration of stay

Not only does it provide a variety of accommodations at different locations; Airbnb also helped homeowners and innkeepers make their place visible thus helping them reach more customers through the internet.

Now worth $10Billion, Airbnb just started off with $20,000 capital. Here are articles detailing the story of Airbnb:

• AirBed And Breakfast Takes Pad Crashing To A Whole New Level
• From broke to billionaires: The rise of Airbnb founders who rented out air mattresses in their apartment for $80-a-night to make rent and now run a $30billion global travel empire

Your MVP0 with Creatella

The first step in creating an MVP0 is to understand your project. Prior to the design phase, a product manager sets up regular calls with you in order to understand your vision, aesthetics and UX needs. Although design is not a part of the MVP0, creating the right user journey will contribute a lot to the overall success of your product!

After our product manager creates the specs for the project, an in-house Creatella designer then gets started designing your product screen by screen. Throughout this process, you will be consulted in order for our team to get your feedback about everything from the logic of the UX to the colors used in the footer. No detail is too small in perfecting your MVP0.

Next, our designer will import the screens into InVision, producing a prototype with no backend, that nonetheless allows you to experience what your product will look like.  

Deliverables for the MVP:

• -specs in the wireframe
• -InVision prototype

Even if your budget is small and you do not yet wish to proceed to tech development, building an MVP0 with us can be invaluable to raising funds. Once a potential investor can get a sense of the look and feel of the final product from your prototype, they will feel safer about investing in a product that already exists, in the form of an MVP0.

We call it a zero, but the powers of the MVP0 cannot be underestimated!

This article was originally posted on our Creatella Resource Library. Visit the page for more resources on Prototyping & MVP0.