Steps Startups and Enterprises need to Build an MVP - Checklist
Mayank Patel
Feb 1, 2024
5 min read
Last updated Feb 1, 2024
Table of Contents
Define the problem and the solution
Identify the key features and prioritize them
Create a prototype and test it with people
Iterate and improve your MVP based on feedback
Conclusion
FAQs
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If you are a startup founder, a CTO, or an enterprise software development company, you might have heard of the term MVP. MVP stands for Minimum Viable Product, and it is a version of your product that has the minimum features needed to solve a problem for your target customers. 🎯
Building an MVP is a crucial step in the product development process, as it allows you to test your assumptions, validate your ideas, and get feedback from your users before investing too much time and money into building a full-fledged product. 💡
But how do you build an MVP? What are the steps you need to follow to create a successful MVP that can help you achieve your business goals? 🚀
In this blog post, we will share with you a checklist of the steps you need to take to build an MVP for your startup or enterprise. We will also provide you with some practical insights and tips to make the process easier and more effective. 🙌
Define the problem and the solution
The first step to build an MVP is to define the problem you are trying to solve and the solution you are offering. This will help you to focus on the core value proposition of your product and the main benefits it can provide to your customers. 🔥
To define the problem and the solution, you can use the following questions:
What is the challenge you're attempting to solve?
Who are your target customers and what are their pain points?
What is your unique value proposition and how does it differ from your competitors?
How will your product solve the problem and deliver value to your customers?
You can also use tools like the Lean Canvas or the Value Proposition Canvas to help you visualize and communicate your problem and solution. 📝
The next step to build an MVP is to identify the key features that your product needs to have to solve the problem and deliver value to your customers. These are the features that are essential for your product to function and provide the core value proposition. 🚀
To identify the key features, you can use the following questions:
What are the main tasks or actions that your customers need to perform with your product?
What are the minimum requirements or specifications that your product needs to meet to perform those tasks or actions?
What are the nice-to-have or optional features that can enhance the user experience or add more value to your product?
You can also use tools like the MoSCoW method or the Kano model to help you prioritize the features based on their importance and impact. 📊
Create a prototype and test it with people
The third step to build an MVP is to build a prototype of your product that showcases the key features and the core value proposition. A prototype is a simplified version of your product that can be used to demonstrate how it works and how it solves the problem. 🛠️
To build a prototype, you can use the following tips:
Choose the right level of fidelity for your prototype based on your goals and resources. You can start with a low-fidelity prototype, such as a sketch, a wireframe, or a mockup, and then move to a high-fidelity prototype, such as a clickable prototype, a landing page, or a demo video.
Use tools like Figma, Adobe XD, or InVision to help you create and share your prototype with your team and users.
Keep your prototype simple and focused on the key features and the core value proposition. Avoid adding unnecessary details or functionalities that can distract or confuse your users.
To test your prototype, you can use the following tips:
Define the goals and metrics of your testing, such as the user feedback, the user behavior, or the user satisfaction.
Choose the right method and tool for your testing, such as interviews, surveys, usability tests, or analytics.
Recruit and select your users based on your target market and customer segments. You can use tools like UserTesting, UserInterviews, or Respondent to help you find and recruit your users.
Conduct your testing and collect your data. You can use tools like Zoom, Google Forms, or Hotjar to help you conduct and record your testing sessions and surveys.
Analyze your data and draw your conclusions. You can use tools like Excel, Google Sheets, or Tableau to help you organize and visualize your data and insights.
Iterate and enhance your MVP according to feedback
The fourth and final step to build an MVP is to iterate and improve your MVP based on the feedback and data you collected from your testing. This will help you to refine your product and make it more aligned with your customers’ needs and expectations. 💯
To iterate and improve your MVP, you can use the following tips:
Identify the strengths and weaknesses of your MVP based on the feedback and data you collected. What are the things that your users liked and disliked about your product? What are the things that worked and didn’t work for your product?
Prioritize the areas of improvement based on their importance and urgency. What are the things that you need to fix, change, or add to your product to make it better and more valuable for your users?
Implement the changes and improvements to your product based on your priorities. You can use tools like Jira, Trello, or Asana to help you manage and track your tasks and progress.
Repeat the process of testing and iterating until you reach your desired level of product-market fit. You can use tools like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, or Amplitude to help you measure and monitor your product performance and user behavior.
Building an MVP is a vital step in the product development process, as it allows you to test your assumptions, validate your ideas, and get feedback from your users before investing too much time and money into building a full-fledged product. 💡
To build an MVP, you need to follow these four steps:
Define the problem and the solution
Identify the key features and prioritize them
Build a prototype and test it with users
Iterate and enhance your MVP according to feedback
By following these steps, you can create a successful MVP that can help you achieve your business goals and delight your customers. 🚀
If you need help with building an MVP for your startup or enterprise, you can contact us. We are a software development company in USA that provides startup software development services for other software companies, startups, and their founders, CTOs. We have the expertise and experience to help you build an MVP that can solve your problems and deliver value to your customers. 🙌
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Frequently Asked Questions - FAQs
Mayank Patel
CEO
Mayank Patel is an accomplished software engineer and entrepreneur with over 10 years of experience in the industry. He holds a B.Tech in Computer Engineering, earned in 2013.
What are the Challenges of Custom CRM Software Development?
Custom CRM software development is not without its challenges. It requires a lot of time, effort, and resources to create a CRM software that meets your requirements and expectations. Some of the common challenges that you may face are:
Right development partner
Finding the right development partner who can understand your business needs, deliver quality work, and communicate effectively. You may have to do a lot of research, screening, and evaluation to find a reliable and reputable development partner who can handle your project.
Project scope and requirements
Defining your project scope and requirements clearly and accurately. You may have to spend a lot of time and energy to identify your CRM goals, objectives, and expectations, as well as document your business processes, workflows, and user stories. You may also have to deal with changing or evolving requirements as your project progresses.
Project budget and timeline
Effectively manage your project budget and timeline by allocating adequate funds and resources. Monitor progress, milestones, and be prepared to address unexpected delays, issues, or changes impacting your project's schedule and budget.
Project quality and security
Ensuring your project quality and security consistently. You may have to conduct rigorous testing, debugging, and quality assurance to ensure that your CRM software is free of errors, bugs, or glitches. You may also have to implement robust security measures and protocols to protect your CRM software and data from unauthorized access, theft, or loss.
How to Succeed in Custom CRM Software Development?
Custom CRM software development can be a rewarding and beneficial endeavor if done right. Here are some of the best practices and tips that we recommend to help you succeed in your custom CRM software development project:
Choose the right development partner who can meet your expectations and standards. Look for a development partner who has the relevant skills, experience, and expertise in custom CRM software development. Check their portfolio, reviews, and references to see their previous work and feedback. Communicate your project vision, goals, and requirements clearly and regularly with your development partner to ensure alignment and collaboration.
Plan your project scope and requirements carefully and thoroughly. Define your project scope and requirements in detail and document them in a clear and concise manner. Prioritize your features and functionality based on your business value and customer needs. Validate and verify your requirements with your stakeholders and users to ensure that they are accurate and feasible.
Manage your project budget and timeline realistically and proactively. Estimate your project budget and timeline based on your project scope and requirements, as well as your development partner’s rates and availability. Set realistic and achievable milestones and deliverables for your project. Track and measure your project performance and progress using appropriate tools and metrics. Anticipate and mitigate any potential risks or issues that may arise during your project.
Ensure your project quality and security constantly and consistently. Test your CRM software thoroughly and frequently throughout your development cycle. Use automated testing tools and frameworks to speed up and simplify your testing process. Implement security best practices and standards to safeguard your CRM software and data. Conduct regular backups and audits to prevent data loss or corruption.
How Can We Help You with Your Custom CRM Software Development?
We are a leading custom software development company that specializes in custom CRM software development. We have a team of skilled, experienced, and dedicated developers who can help you create a CRM software that suits your specific needs and preferences.
We offer a range of services to help you with your custom CRM software development project, such as:
Consulting and analysis: We can help you define your project scope and requirements, as well as advise you on the best CRM software solutions and strategies for your business.
Design and development: We can help you design and develop your CRM software according to your specifications and preferences, using the latest technologies and tools.
Testing and quality assurance: We can help you test and ensure the quality and security of your CRM software, using automated testing tools and frameworks, as well as security best practices and standards.
Deployment and maintenance: We can help you deploy and maintain your CRM software, using cloud-based or on-premise platforms, as well as provide ongoing support and updates.
If you are interested in our custom CRM software development services, please contact us. We would love to hear from you and discuss your project needs and goals.
We are confident that we can help you create a CRM software that meets your expectations and standards.
What Factors Affect Custom Software Development Pricing?
Custom software development pricing can vary widely depending on several factors:
The scope and complexity of your project
The more features and functionalities you want, the more time and resources it will take to develop them. The complexity of your project also depends on the type of software you need, such as web, mobile, desktop, or cloud-based applications.
The quality and expertise of your development team
The quality of your software hinges significantly on your developers' skills and experience. Opt for a team boasting relevant qualifications, certifications, and a strong portfolio to ensure top-notch results. Also, factor in the team's size and location, as these influence communication and collaboration dynamics.
The technology stack and tools you use
The tech stack refers to the combination of programming languages, frameworks, libraries, and tools you use to build your software. The choice of technology can affect the performance, security, and scalability of your software, as well as the availability and cost of developers. You want to choose a technology stack that suits your project needs and budget, and that is supported by a large and active community of developers.
The development methodology and process you follow
Development methodology and process encompass how you strategize, execute, and oversee your software projects. Options like waterfall, agile, scrum, or kanban offer varying approaches. Your choice impacts project speed, quality, and cost, alongside flexibility and transparency.
How to Estimate Custom Software Development Pricing?
There is no one-size-fits-all formula for estimating custom software development pricing. However, there are some common methods and approaches you can use to get a ballpark figure, such as:
Hourly rate
This is the most straightforward and common method of estimating custom software development pricing. You simply multiply the number of hours required to complete your project by the hourly rate of your developers.
The hourly rate can vary depending on the skill level, location, and demand of your developers. According to Clutch, the average hourly rate for custom software development in India ranges from $25 to $49*, while in the US it ranges from $100 to $149*.
Fixed price
This is another common method of estimating custom software development pricing. You agree on a fixed price for the entire project or a specific milestone, regardless of the time and resources required.
This method can be beneficial if you have a clear and well-defined scope and requirements for your project, and if you want to avoid any surprises or changes in the budget. However, this method can also be risky if you encounter any unforeseen challenges or changes in the scope, as this can lead to conflicts or delays in the project.
Value-based pricing
This is a more innovative and customer-centric method of estimating custom software development pricing. You base your price on the value and benefits your software will provide to your customers, rather than on the time and resources required to build it.
This method can help you align your goals and expectations with your customers, and create a win-win situation for both parties. However, this method can also be challenging to implement, as it requires a deep understanding of your customers’ needs, preferences, and willingness to pay.
How to Save Money on Custom Software Development?
Custom software development can be a costly and complex endeavor, but it doesn’t have to break the bank. Here are some tips on how to save money on custom software development:
Define your scope and requirements clearly
One of the main reasons for overspending on custom software development is having a vague or changing scope and requirements. This can lead to misunderstandings, miscommunication, and rework, which can eventually increase the time and cost of your project.
To avoid this, you should define your scope and requirements clearly and document them in a detailed specification. You should also prioritize your features and functionalities, and focus on the ones that are essential and valuable for your customers.
Choose the right technology stack and tools
Another reason for overspending on custom software development is choosing the wrong technology stack and tools. This can result in poor performance, security, and scalability of your software, as well as compatibility and maintenance issues.
To avoid this, you should choose a technology stack and tools that suit your project needs and budget, and that are supported by a large and active community of developers. You should also avoid using too many or too few technologies, as this can complicate or limit your software development.
Hire a reliable and experienced development team
A third reason for overspending on custom software development is hiring an unreliable or inexperienced development team. This can result in low-quality results, missed deadlines, and wasted resources.
To avoid this, hire a reliable and experienced development team that has the right qualifications, certifications, and portfolio to deliver high-quality results. You should also consider the size and location of your team, as this can affect the communication and collaboration among the members.
Also, you can opt for outsourcing or offshoring your software development, as this can help you access a larger and more diverse pool of talent, and reduce your operational costs.
Follow an agile development methodology and process
A fourth reason for overspending on custom software development is following a rigid or inefficient development methodology and process. This can result in delays, errors, and dissatisfaction in your software development, as well as a lack of flexibility and transparency in your project.
To avoid this, you should follow an agile development methodology and process, such as scrum or kanban. This can help you speed up your software development, improve your quality and customer satisfaction, and adapt to changes and feedback in your project.
How Can We Help You With Custom Software Development?
We are a leading custom software development company that can help you with your software development needs. We have a team of highly skilled and experienced developers who can build custom software solutions for web, mobile, desktop, and cloud platforms.
We use the latest and most reliable technologies and tools to ensure the performance, security, and scalability of your software. We also follow an agile development methodology and process to ensure the speed, quality, and flexibility of your software development.
We can help you with custom software development for various domains and industries:
E-commerce
Education
Healthcare
Finance
Travel
Entertainment
And more
We can also help you with custom software development for various purposes and functions:
CRM
ERP
CMS
BI
AI
IoT
And more
We offer competitive and transparent pricing for our custom software development services. We can work with you to estimate your project cost based on your scope and requirements, and provide you with a fixed price or an hourly rate. We can also work with you to optimize your project cost based on your value proposition and budget.
If you’re interested in working with us, please contact us. We’ll be happy to discuss your project details and provide you with a free consultation and quote.
We look forward to hearing from you and helping you with your custom software development project.
Reimagine your business with our custom software development services
If you are a software development company that uses Scrum, you might wonder about the optimal team size. How many people should be on your Scrum team to deliver high-quality software on time and within budget?
In this blog post, we will explore the benefits and challenges of different Scrum team sizes, the factors that influence the ideal Scrum team size, and some tips and best practices to find the right balance for your specific context and goals.
What is a Scrum team?
A Scrum team is a cross-functional group of professionals who work together to deliver a potentially releasable product increment in each Sprint, which is a short, iterative cycle of work, usually lasting from one to four weeks.
A Scrum team consists of three roles:
Developers: The people who do the work of creating, testing, and delivering the product increment. They have all the skills and expertise needed to complete the work, such as programming, design, analysis, etc.
Product Owner: The person who represents the voice of the customer and the stakeholders. They are responsible for defining, prioritizing, and managing the product backlog, which is a list of features, requirements, and enhancements that the Scrum team works on.
Scrum Master: The individual who guides the Scrum process and guarantees that the Scrum team adheres to the Scrum ideals and principles. They also help the Scrum team to remove impediments, improve their performance, and collaborate effectively.
A Scrum team should consist of 10 or fewer people, including the Developers, the Product Owner, and the Scrum Master. This is based on the empirical evidence that smaller teams are more productive, efficient, and adaptable than larger teams.
However, some experts suggest that the ideal Scrum team size is between 5 and 9 people, excluding the Product Owner and the Scrum Master . This range is based on the two-pizza rule, coined by Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, which states that a team should have only as many people as two pizzas can feed over lunch.
The main benefits of having a small Scrum team size are:
Improved communication and collaboration among team members
Reduced complexity and overhead of coordination and planning
Increased accountability and ownership of the work
Enhanced creativity and innovation
Faster feedback and adaptation
What are the challenges of different Scrum team sizes?
While having a small Scrum team size has many advantages, it also comes with some challenges that need to be addressed. Some of the common challenges are:
Lack of diversity and skills: A small Scrum team might not have enough diversity and skills to handle complex or varied work. For example, if the product requires multiple technologies, platforms, or domains, a small Scrum team might not have the necessary expertise or experience to deliver it. This could lead to quality issues, technical debt, or missed deadlines.
Dependency and bottleneck: A small Scrum team might depend on external resources to complete its work. For instance, if the product requires specialized knowledge, tools, or services unavailable within the team, the Scrum team may face dependencies and bottlenecks. These challenges can impact the team’s autonomy, velocity, and flexibility.
Burnout and turnover: A small Scrum team often faces high workload and delivery pressure. Tight schedules, large scopes, or high demand can force longer hours, more tasks, or quality compromises. This can lead to burnout and turnover, affecting the team’s morale, motivation, and performance.
On the other hand, having a large Scrum team size also has some drawbacks that need to be considered. Some of the common drawbacks are:
Poor communication and collaboration: A large Scrum team might have difficulty communicating and collaborating effectively. For example, if the Scrum team has more than 10 people, it might be hard to have meaningful conversations, share information, or make decisions. This could lead to confusion, misunderstanding, or conflict.
Increased complexity and overhead: A large Scrum team might have to deal with more complexity and overhead of coordination and planning. For example, if the Scrum team has more than 10 people, it might need more meetings, tools, or processes to manage the work. This could lead to waste, inefficiency, or bureaucracy.
Reduced accountability and ownership: A large Scrum team might have less accountability and ownership of the work. For example, if the Scrum team has more than 10 people, it might be easy to hide, blame, or delegate the work. This could lead to low quality, technical debt, or missed deadlines.
As we have seen, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of Scrum team size, as it depends on various factors such as the product, the project, the organization, and the team itself. Therefore, it is important to experiment and find the best fit for your specific context and goals. Some of the factors that influence the ideal Scrum team size are:
Product complexity: The complexity of a product requires a Scrum team with diverse skills and expertise. For instance, if a product spans multiple technologies, platforms, or domains, a larger team may be necessary to address all aspects. However, this can lead to increased communication and coordination challenges. Therefore, the Scrum team should aim to minimize dependencies and interfaces among members to streamline collaboration.
Product scope: The larger the product scope is, the more work the Scrum team has to do. For example, if the product has many features, requirements, or enhancements, the Scrum team might need more people to deliver them. However, this also increases the complexity and overhead of the work, so the Scrum team should try to limit the product scope and focus on the most valuable and feasible items.
Product demand: The higher the product demand is, the more pressure the Scrum team faces to deliver the work. For example, if the product has a tight schedule, a large market, or a high competition, the Scrum team might need more people to meet the expectations. However, this also increases the risk of burnout and turnover, so the Scrum team should try to balance the workload and the quality of the work.
Organization culture: A supportive organizational culture enhances Scrum team flexibility. When an organization values collaboration, innovation, and empowerment, Scrum teams can self-organize and manage their work. In contrast, rigid, hierarchical, or bureaucratic cultures impose rules and procedures that limit Scrum team autonomy, velocity, and flexibility.
Team maturity: The more mature the team is, the more effective the Scrum team can be. For example, if the team has a high level of trust, alignment, and performance, the Scrum team might be able to work together smoothly and efficiently. However, if the team is new, diverse, or unstable, the Scrum team might have to spend more time and effort to build the team, which could affect the Scrum team’s productivity, quality, and satisfaction.
How to find the right balance for your Scrum team size?
Finding the right balance for your Scrum team size is not a one-time decision, but a continuous process of inspection and adaptation. You should regularly monitor and evaluate the impact of your Scrum team size on your product, project, organization, and team, and make adjustments as needed. Here are some tips and best practices to help you find the right balance for your Scrum team size:
Start small and grow as needed: Start with a small Scrum team and add members as needed. This helps establish solid communication and collaboration before scaling up. Avoid adding too many people at once to maintain team dynamics and performance.
Keep the team stable and consistent: It is better to keep the same people in the same Scrum team for a long period of time, than to change the people or the teams frequently. Keeping the team stable and consistent allows you to build trust, rapport, and performance, and then maintain them over time. However, you should also avoid keeping the team too static or isolated, as this could limit the team’s learning and growth.
Empower the team to self-organize and self-manage: It is advisable to let the team decide how to organize and manage the work, than to impose a predefined structure or process on the team. Empowering the team to self-organize and self-manage allows the team to adapt to the changing needs and challenges of the work, and to leverage the team’s strengths and skills.
Provide the team with clear and realistic goals: Giving your team a clear, realistic vision and direction is more efficient than leaving them in the dark or setting unrealistic expectations. Clear goals help the team focus on valuable work and track progress. Involving the team in defining and refining these goals increases their commitment and ownership.
Support the team with adequate resources and tools: Providing the team with sufficient resources and tools enhances productivity, enabling them to work faster, easier, and more effectively, and to surmount work-related challenges and obstacles. However, it's essential to avoid overwhelming the team with excessive or unnecessary resources and tools, which can lead to distraction or confusion.
Encourage the team to learn and improve continuously: Fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement within the team yields greater benefits than maintaining the status quo or disregarding feedback. By encouraging ongoing development, teams enhance their skills and knowledge, adapting adeptly to evolving challenges. Simultaneously, offering constructive, timely feedback enables teams to pinpoint and rectify shortcomings effectively.
Conclusion
Scrum team size is one of the key factors that affects the success of your software development projects. Finding the right balance for your Scrum team size requires you to consider the benefits and challenges of different Scrum team sizes, the factors that influence the ideal Scrum team size, and some tips and best practices to find the best fit for your specific context and goals.
At Linearloop, we have extensive experience and expertise in using Scrum and other agile methodologies to deliver high-quality software products on time and within budget. We can help you to build the optimal Scrum team size for your projects, and to provide you with the best Scrum team members who have the skills and passion to create amazing software solutions for your needs.
If you are interested in working with us, please contact us and let us know how we can help you. We would love to hear from you and to start a fruitful collaboration with you. 😊