Is Minimum Viable Product, Viable Anymore?

The Minimum Viable Product (MVP) has been a cornerstone of lean startup methodology for over a decade. Build the bare minimum, test with users, iterate based on feedback. Simple, right? But in today's saturated app market, this approach increasingly falls short.

The Problem with MVP in 2021

When Eric Ries popularized the MVP concept in "The Lean Startup," the app ecosystem looked fundamentally different:

• Fewer apps competing for attention
• Lower user expectations for polish
• More tolerance for rough edges
• Less sophisticated design standards

Fast forward to today. Users have sophisticated apps for everything. They've experienced world-class UX from companies like Apple, Google, and Airbnb. Their expectations aren't just high; they're sky-high.

The UX Expectation Problem

Here's the challenge: users don't grade on a curve. They don't think, "Well, this is just an MVP from a small team, so I'll overlook the clunky navigation and confusing flow."

Instead, they think: "This app is frustrating. I'll try one of the other dozen apps that solve this problem."

You get one chance to make a first impression. If your MVP creates friction, users won't wait around for version 2.0. They'll delete your app and likely never return.

Enter the Minimum Lovable Product (MLP)

The Minimum Lovable Product represents a crucial shift in thinking. Instead of asking "What's the minimum we can build?" ask "What's the minimum we can build that users will love?"

The Key Differences

MVP Focus:

• Core functionality
• Learning quickly
• Minimum features
• Technical validation

MLP Focus:

• Delightful experience
• Learning AND retention
• Polished core features
• Emotional connection

But Doesn't This Take Longer and Cost More?

This is where the magic of modern no-code and low-code platforms comes in. Tools like Bubble, Squarespace, and Webflow have fundamentally changed the economics of product development.

The Low-Code Revolution

Bubble: Build sophisticated web applications without traditional coding. What once took months of development can now be prototyped in weeks, with professional-grade UX components built in.

Webflow: Create responsive, beautiful websites with design flexibility that rivals custom development, but with a fraction of the time investment.

Squarespace: Launch polished web experiences quickly, with professional templates and integrated functionality.

These platforms offer:

• Pre-built UI components that follow best practices
• Responsive design out of the box
• Professional templates as starting points
• Integrated functionality (payments, authentication, etc.)
• Faster iteration cycles

The Competitive Advantage of MLP

1. Higher Retention Rates

When users enjoy their first experience with your product, they return. They give you the benefit of the doubt when things go wrong. They become advocates.

An MVP might validate your hypothesis, but an MLP builds a user base that sticks around.

2. Better Feedback Quality

Users who love your product provide better, more thoughtful feedback. They're invested in seeing your product succeed. They'll take time to explain their needs and ideas.

Users frustrated by a rough MVP provide shallow feedback or, more likely, no feedback at all; they just leave.

3. Word-of-Mouth Marketing

People don't tell their friends about viable products. They tell them about lovable ones.

An MLP creates organic growth through genuine user enthusiasm. An MVP creates... well, usually not much buzz at all.

4. Team Morale

Building something you're proud of matters. Teams building MLPs are more motivated, more creative, and more committed than teams rushing out bare-minimum MVPs.

What MLP Doesn't Mean

Let's be clear about what we're not advocating:

Not: Build every feature you can imagine
Instead: Build fewer features, but make them delightful

Not: Polish every detail to perfection before launching
Instead: Ensure the core experience feels complete and satisfying

Not: Ignore user feedback and iteration
Instead: Start from a higher baseline that users actually want to engage with

Not: Spend a year in development
Instead: Leverage modern tools to build lovable experiences quickly

Practical Steps to Build an MLP

1. Define Your Core Experience

What's the one thing your product must do exceptionally well? Focus ruthlessly on making that experience delightful. Cut everything else.

2. Invest in UX Design

This doesn't mean hiring an expensive agency. It means:

• Using well-designed templates and components
• Following established UX patterns
• Testing your flows with real users
• Sweating the details that matter

3. Leverage Modern Tools

Choose platforms that give you professional results without custom development:

• No-code platforms for web apps (Bubble, Webflow)
• Design systems and component libraries
• Pre-built integrations and plugins
• Template marketplaces for quick starts

4. Set Quality Bars

Before launch, ensure:

• The happy path feels smooth and intuitive
• Error states are handled gracefully
• The design feels cohesive and intentional
• Loading and transitions feel snappy
• The core value proposition is immediately clear

Case Studies: MLP in Action

Instagram

Instagram launched with just photo sharing and filters, but those features were polished to perfection. The filters weren't just functional; they were delightful. Users loved sharing their enhanced photos. That lovability drove growth.

Superhuman

Email already existed. Gmail worked fine. But Superhuman built an email experience users loved, with keyboard shortcuts, blazing speed, and delightful interactions. They could have built an MVP email client. Instead, they built an MLP and created a waitlist of people eager to pay $30/month for email.

The Strategic Shift

In a world where users have unlimited options and high expectations, viability isn't enough. You need lovability. And thanks to modern development tools, lovability is more achievable than ever, even with limited resources.

The MVP served us well. But it's time to raise the bar. Build products people love, not just products that work.