MVP meaning – What does it mean and when to use it?

If you are starting a startup, developing a digital product or want to validate a service-based idea, you have probably come across the term MVP (Minimum Viable Product). But what exactly does it mean, and why is it crucial to ensure your product not only launches but also survives the first months? Most entrepreneurs fall into the trap of wanting to launch a too perfect product initially, with long, costly development cycles and many extra features that no one may need. The MVP concept helps to avoid exactly that.

In this guide: - We explain what MVP means exactly. - We show what advantages it has. - Using detailed examples, we show what a good MVP looks like. - We take you step by step through the MVP design process. - Finally, we help you decide which type of MVP fits your idea.

An MVP is a product version that is good enough to provide value, simple enough to launch quickly, and minimalist enough to validate your idea at low cost. This approach comes from the lean startup philosophy, where the main goal is to learn from users as quickly as possible.

An MVP is the product version created with the least effort that allows you to get real feedback from the market.

The market environment is changing faster than ever. New trends, AI-based solutions—everything is given to test, learn, and adapt quickly.

- Faster time to market: instead of months you can launch in days. - Real feedback: you don't guess—you get validated data. - Lower risk: you don't build unnecessary features. - Cost efficiency: you only develop the essentials. - Pivot opportunity: if the idea doesn't work, you can change in time.

- Smoke test: e.g. landing page plus ads. There is no product yet; you just see how many click. - Concierge MVP: you personally provide the service that you would later automate. - Wizard of Oz MVP: it seems automatic to the user but you do the background work manually.

- Airbnb: rented out one apartment via its own site. Booking was handled manually. - Dropbox: they made only a video showing the concept. Tens of thousands of sign-ups in 24 hours. - Zappos: There was no stock behind the webshop; they procured ordered shoes from a shop.

- Wanting too many features at once: then it's no longer an MVP. - Not testing on real people: friends don't count as validation. - Missing measurement: no analytics, no A/B test – no learning. - Perfectionism: It's not about beauty but feedback.

1. Define the problem: what is the one specific problem you want to solve? 2. Describe the most minimal solution: don't imagine the ideal software, just what already works. 3. Create a prototype or mockup: You don't necessarily need code at step zero; a Canva or Figma presentation can be enough. 4. Test on the target audience: landing page, campaign, test call—all can work. 5. Measure, learn and implement: the first MVP is only the first version. The goal is to develop based on feedback.

- Prototype: a visual plan, UI/UX testing; used for early design and flow testing. - MVP: the very first working product; used for real market entry. - POC: proof of concept; demonstrates technical feasibility for developers or investors.

Type of MVP – Estimated cost: - Simple web MVP: 500,000 – 1.5 million HUF. - Mobile app MVP: 1.5 – 4 million HUF. - Custom system MVP: 3 – 6 million HUF+. Important: it is always cheaper to simplify than to discard a complete system later.

- What does MVP mean in Hungarian? Minimum Viable Product = minimálisan működőképes termék. - When should I use it? When you have a new idea but don't want to spend millions immediately. - Do I need a developer? In most cases yes. - How do I measure the results? Google Analytics, Hotjar, feedback form, number of clicks. - What is the next step after the MVP? Learning + iterating → new version → scaling.

The MVP does not mean perfection but learning. The faster you get feedback, the lower the risk and the greater the chance that you will create a truly useful product. The goal should not be for everyone to love the first version. The goal should be to learn from it and to know how to go further.