Written by Felix Heikka
A minimum viable product is the simplest version of a product that delivers core value to users. If you want to dive deeper into minimum viable products (MVPs), you can read this comprehensive article on the topic.
To make the concept of MVPs really clear, here are 10 minimum viable product examples:
Now: A cloud storage platform with over 700 million users, offering file synchronization across devices.
MVP: A 3-minute video demo showing how the file synchronization would work. This simple video generated 75,000 overnight signups from potential users on a waitlist, validating demand before building the actual product.
Now: An online shoe and clothing retailer acquired by Amazon for $1.2 billion.
MVP: Founder Nick Swinmurn photographed shoes at local stores, posted them online, and only purchased inventory after receiving orders. This tested market demand without investing in inventory.
Now: A social media management platform used by millions to schedule and analyze content.
MVP: Joel Gascoigne created just a landing page explaining the concept with a sign-up button. When clicked, it revealed pricing plans to gauge interest and collect email addresses before any development began.
Now: A global platform with over 4 million hosts and 150 million users booking accommodations worldwide.
MVP: The founders simply offered their San Francisco apartment for rent during a design conference when hotels were full, using photos and a basic website. No platform, just a concept test.
Now: One of the world's largest companies with services spanning e-commerce, cloud computing, digital streaming, and AI.
MVP: Just an online bookstore operated from Jeff Bezos's garage, focusing on a single product category before expanding to "everything."
Now: A global e-commerce marketplace connecting subscribers with local merchants in 15 countries.
MVP: A WordPress blog with manually created PDFs of deals emailed to subscribers. Vouchers were made using FileMaker and delivered via email, proving the concept before building a platform.
Now: A music streaming giant with over 422 million users and 182 million subscribers across 183 markets.
MVP: A desktop-only application focused solely on music streaming with limited features but delivering on the core value proposition of instant access to music.
Now: A location data platform powering business solutions and consumer products used by millions.
MVP: Launched with only two features: check-ins and badges. This simple functionality attracted early adopters before expanding to city guides and recommendations.
Now: A global social platform with hundreds of millions of users sharing news and opinions.
MVP: Started as "twttr" offering only basic 140-character text updates. No retweets, hashtags, direct messages, or any of the features that define it today.
Now: The go-to platform for product discovery with millions of users and thousands of product launches.
MVP: Ryan Hoover started with a simple email list using Linkydink where he and friends shared cool products daily, validating the concept before building a dedicated platform.
Are you ready to start building your minimum viable product? Would you like to follow a step-by-step process and get guidance along every step of the way? Then try Buildpad now for free and get the help you need to build a product that people actually want.