INTRO
MVPs fail when everything is “must have.” Use this checklist to separate spine from backlog. If an item is not required for one success event, it waits.
Must ship for a real MVP
Auth for the primary role. One complete workflow with persisted data. Basic authorization. Staging environment. Error visibility (even if just structured logs + a channel).
Empty states and validation that prevent corrupt data. A path to reset or support a stuck user.
Usually later
Complex billing tiers, referral programs, dark mode, every notification channel, and AI features without a workflow owner.
Multi-region, advanced analytics warehouses, and mobile apps — after the web spine proves value.
Context-dependent
Multi-tenant isolation: required if you sell to multiple companies on day one; optional for a single-operator pilot labeled as such.
Marketing site: needed for acquisition; not a substitute for the product spine.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
“One success event defines the MVP.”
- 02
Auth + workflow + staging are non-negotiable.
- 03
Label pilots honestly when tenancy is deferred.
CONCLUSION
Closing thought
Paste your must/later list into Contact — I will challenge anything that smuggles a v3 platform into an MVP quote.
CONTINUE
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