7 Lessons from Launching an MVP That Hit Hard and Fast 💥 Launching an MVP isn’t just about shipping a product—it’s a reality check that reveals what really matters. Here’s what I’ve learned from building Calk with 18 beta testers across industries. These are the hard-hitting insights for any founder diving into product development: - Give First—Content and Advice Are Your Best Assets Before expecting anything in return, focus on delivering value. Share insights, provide guidance, and build a foundation of trust with your audience. Feedback flows more freely when people see you’re genuinely invested in helping them. - You Think You See the Whole Picture, But You Don’t When you’re immersed in product development, you become laser-focused, and it’s easy to miss the bigger picture. Step back, listen, and keep your vision adaptable. - Complexity Creeps In—Keep It Simple and listen to feedback We tend to overcomplicate things, adding unnecessary layers and features. Keep it lean and focused. The simplest version of your idea is often the most effective. - Two Types of People: Supporters and Skeptics Some people genuinely want to help you succeed, while others are waiting to see if your product becomes “worth it.” Both groups are essential—embrace the support and let the skeptics keep you sharp. - Speed is Non-Negotiable Get it out there. An MVP needs to be in users' hands, not sitting in development purgatory. Iterate quickly and let real-world use refine your product. - Humility Makes You a Better Builder Learning from anyone, anywhere, at any time is crucial. Every interaction is an opportunity to improve, and humility lets you see value in every perspective. - Your First Users Are Partners, Not Just Testers Early adopters are more than users—they’re part of the journey. Their feedback shapes the product, and their engagement builds momentum. Building Calk has been humbling, challenging, and exhilarating. These lessons have reshaped our approach and strengthened our vision every step of the way. 🚀 👉 What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned from launching something new? #MVP #ProductDevelopment #StartupJourney #LessonsLearned #Innovation
Quentin F.’s Post
More Relevant Posts
-
“Your obsession with perfection is killing your product before it even gets to market.” As a designer, I see this all the time: founders start with the goal of a quick MVP launch but end up stuck in an endless loop of “just one more feature” or “a bit more polish.” Instead of delivering value early, they’re chasing perfection that’s impossible to reach. Here’s the uncomfortable truth: every extra month spent on an MVP that’s never released is time, money, and feedback lost. What I think Product Owners/Founders can do 1. Focus on the Core Solution: Identify the bare essentials to solve your users’ primary problem. Anything extra is just noise—save it for later. 2. Adopt a Version Mindset: MVPs aren’t supposed to be perfect. Launch, gather real user insights, and iterate. This is how you build a product that truly resonates. 3. Set a Non-Negotiable Launch Date: A fixed deadline forces focus and prevents endless tweaking. Commit to it, and let it be your guide. 4. Build Feedback Loops for Real-Time Improvements: Once live, listen to what your users actually want. Often, their needs differ from what we assume, helping you avoid wasted development on the wrong features. The fastest way to kill your product is to keep it hidden. Get it out there, let users test it, and learn from real feedback. Perfection is a moving target—progress is what gets you in the game. #ProductDesign #MVP #StartupLaunch #UserFeedback #GetItDone
To view or add a comment, sign in
-
The Hardest Part of Building an MVP—And How to Overcome It Building an MVP sounds simple in theory, right? But ask anyone who’s been through it, and they’ll tell you it’s far from easy. Whether it's deciding which features to prioritize, gathering meaningful feedback, or getting the product to market on time, there's always something that feels like an uphill battle. Here’s the real challenge—most MVPs face these common obstacles: ↳ Deciding what to build first Too many ideas? You're not alone. It’s easy to feel lost when you’re overloaded with feature requests. ↳ Getting user feedback that matters Not all feedback is helpful. How do you separate the noise from the insights that actually move the needle? ↳ Finding Product-Market Fit The holy grail. But how do you know when you’ve truly hit the mark? It’s often harder than it looks. But here’s the good news—each challenge holds the key to success. When deciding features, ask yourself: Which problem hurts the most for my users? Start with that. For feedback, focus on early adopters—their input is gold and will shape your product's future. And as for Product-Market Fit? It’s all about iteration. The more you refine, the closer you get. Which of these challenges has hit you the hardest? Drop your experience in the comments, and let’s figure out how to overcome these MVP struggles together! #MVPJourney #StartupChallenges #ProductManagement #BuildingBetterProducts
To view or add a comment, sign in
-
Avoid These 4 MVP Pitfalls That Could Derail Your Product Building an MVP is tough, but you don’t have to learn every lesson the hard way. Here are four common pitfalls MVP developers encounter—and how you can avoid them: Feature Overload → MVP stands for “Minimum Viable Product,” not “Maximum Everything Product.” Keep it lean. Focus on the core value and resist the urge to build every cool idea. Ignoring User Feedback: → Feedback isn’t just a checkbox—it’s a compass. If you’re building in isolation, you’re missing the most important guide: your users. Lack of Clear Goals: → What does success look like? Define your MVP’s key metrics before launch. If you don’t know what you’re aiming for, you’ll never know if you’ve hit it. Scaling Too Early: → Just because you have initial traction doesn’t mean you’re ready to scale. Validate your core assumptions and make sure your product can handle growth. Want to learn more? Let’s discuss the MVP challenges you’ve faced and how you’ve tackled them! #MVPChallenges #StartupPitfalls #ProductManagement #BuildSmart
To view or add a comment, sign in
-
The best MVPs are ugly and broken... but loved by customers. We often forget that the "M" in MVP stands for "minimal." MVP is not about launching a polished product. It's about testing your core idea as quickly and cheaply as possible. What a REAL MVP looks like: - Rough around the edges - Focused on ONE core function - Potentially embarrassing (to you, not your customers) - Solving a real problem, even if imperfectly Common Pitfall: Delaying launch for "just one more feature." Remember, every day you're not in the market is a day you're not learning from real users. Key Takeaway: The goal of an MVP is to learn rather than to impress. You're testing a hypothesis, not launching a finished product. #MVP #StartupStrategy #EntrepreneurMindset #ProductDevelopment #LeanStartup
To view or add a comment, sign in
-
🛠️ Building an MVP in a rush? You might be heading for a Minimum Viable Mess! 🛠️ Launching an MVP quickly can feel like the right move to get ahead, but if you're not careful, you may end up with a product that confuses more than it impresses. Here’s how to dodge common pitfalls and make sure your MVP is a solid foundation rather than a ticking time bomb. Key Challenges: ▶️ Balancing Scope & Speed: Speed is crucial, but sacrificing essential features for quick delivery can lead to user frustration. Focus on the core functionality that delivers value. ▶️ Managing Customer Expectations: Early adopters want innovation, but they also expect a smooth experience. Make sure your MVP sets the right tone for what’s coming. ▶️ Iterating Based on Feedback: Collecting feedback is easy; knowing which insights to act on is hard. Keep your team agile and ready to prioritize user needs over assumptions. Best Practices: ▶️ Set Clear Objectives: Know what you’re aiming to learn or prove with your MVP—whether it’s validating your hypothesis or testing product-market fit. ▶️ Involve Users Early: Get your early adopters involved from the start. Their feedback on beta versions can save you from costly post-launch changes. ▶️ Focus on Essentials: Stick to the must-have features. Every additional bell and whistle can wait until you’ve validated the core product. ▶️ Plan Ahead & Prioritize: Before coding a single line, take the time to map out the MVP’s roadmap. Prioritize features by their importance to solving your users’ main problems and set clear milestones. Knowing what needs to be done and when can save time, prevent rework, and keep the team aligned. 💡 What MVP horror stories or triumphs have you experienced? Drop your comments and let’s learn from each other’s journey!👇 #ProductDevelopment #MVP #StartupTips #LeanStartup #TechLeadership #CustomerFeedback #Agile #GrowthHacking #Innovation
To view or add a comment, sign in
-
Why MVP matters: The first step in crossing the chasm to market success. Creating a product for the masses isn't easy. It starts with a minimal viable product (MVP), aiming to satisfy the simplest needs of early adopters. The MVP is NOT about perfection. It's about learning. 🚀 Here's why MVP matters: → Test the waters: Early adopters provide feedback, which is GOLD. They tell you what's missing, what works, and what doesn't. This guides the next steps in development. → Avoid the big leap: Jumping straight to a full-fledged product can be a HUGE mistake. The mass market is cautious. They want proof, case studies, and tested solutions. MVPs help you build this credibility over time. → Build trust: Start small, earn big. By addressing initial pain points, you earn trust, creating a foundation for broader market expansion. The path to market success isn't linear. It's a journey of discovery, adjustment, and scaling. 🌟 What's your experience with launching an MVP? How did it help shape your product? #productmanagement #productmarketing #saasgrowth
To view or add a comment, sign in
-
𝖨𝖿 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗂𝗌 𝖺 𝗉𝗋𝗂𝗈𝗋𝗂𝗍𝗒, 𝗇𝗈𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗂𝗌." Sometimes the best feature is the one you don't build. Who else has battled feature creep in their product development journey? Share your stories below! 😅 #koolkatcre8 #ProductManagement #ProductStrategy #TechHumor #StartupLessons
To view or add a comment, sign in
-
“The Hard Truth About Building Products” Building a product sounds exciting. But let’s be honest—it’s tough, messy, and sometimes frustrating. Here’s a more realistic take on how it usually goes: I. Build: You start with an idea, full of passion and optimism. Then reality hits: timelines slip, scope expands, and unforeseen challenges arise. It’s not about building perfectly—it’s about prioritizing what actually matters for launch. II. Launch: You’re rarely ready. The MVP you dreamed of feels more like a Minimum Viable Compromise. But you launch anyway, knowing it’s not perfect—and that’s okay. III. Feedback: Customers will give feedback, but it won’t always be what you expected. Some love it, some hate it, and many won’t care. The challenge? Distilling the noise into actionable insights. IV. Iteration: Iteration is key—but it’s not a one-size-fits-all process. Some feedback is useful, some isn’t. Knowing when to pivot, when to hold your ground, and when to double down on a feature is what separates successful products from failed ones. In the end, building a product is a journey, not a sprint. It requires resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to embrace the chaos. To those in the trenches—you’re not alone. Keep going. #ProductDevelopment #MVP #FeedbackLoop #StartupJourney
To view or add a comment, sign in
-
Released your first product but not getting any traction? Welcome to the club! You’re probably in the same boat as 99% of products out there. Personally, I think the goal of your first version isn’t to go viral. Success shouldn’t be measured by signups or active users right away. Instead, it’s about collecting as much data as possible. You need to find out if users are even interested, what pain points they’re running into, and why they aren’t using it more. It’s all about getting feedback on your product. The next step? This is where things get real. Instead of jumping to add new features right after launch, focus on that feedback. Dig deep into what your users need and want. Prioritize the changes that will make the biggest difference. I’ve been in situations where a feature that took 30 minutes to build had more impact than one that took weeks. It’s not about how much effort you put in—it’s about the impact it has on the product. In my opinion, the more realistic you are about the first version, the easier it’ll be to handle those early results. Pro tip: If you’re tight on development budget, don’t blow it all on the first version. Save something for additional month or two of development. It’s the second or third iteration that really counts. How do you approach the first version of your product? What’s been your biggest learning so far? #productdevelopment #startupjourney #userfeedback
To view or add a comment, sign in