As anyone who has worked in tech knows, Minimum Viable Product (MVP) solutions are the popular approach for launching new products. But after a decade in the industry, I think that releasing products in an MVP state to your customers is generally a mistake.

The Hidden Cost of “Viable”

No customer wants to feel like they’re paying to use something incomplete. When Google launched Gmail, it wasn’t an MVP—it was a polished product with 1GB of storage when competitors offered 2-15MB. When Apple released the iPhone, it wasn’t minimal—it redefined what a phone could be.

Contrast this with products that launched too early: Google Wave confused users with incomplete features. Color burned through $41 million because their MVP didn’t make sense to anyone. Quibi’s “quick bites” felt like a half-baked concept that no one asked for.

The MVP Trap

The problem isn’t the concept of starting small—it’s what we’ve let MVP become:

  • Excuse for shipping broken features (“We’ll fix it later”)
  • Justification for poor UX (“Users will figure it out”)
  • Cover for lack of vision (“We’ll see what sticks”)

Your first impression isn’t just about features. It’s about trust. When Spotify launched, it had a limited catalog but the experience was flawless. When Slack entered a crowded market, it wasn’t minimal—it was delightful.

A Better Approach: The Complete Experience

Instead of Minimum Viable Product, think Minimum Delightful Experience:

Focus relentlessly: Ship one thing that works perfectly rather than five things that sort of work. Instagram started as just photo sharing—but it was the best photo sharing experience available.

Polish what you ship: Your limited feature set should feel intentional, not incomplete. Basecamp has famously kept their product simple, but every feature feels thoughtfully complete.

Set expectations clearly: If you’re in beta, act like it. Don’t charge full price for half a product. Discord grew by being free while they figured things out.

When MVPs Actually Work

There are exceptions. MVPs work when:

  • You’re validating a truly new concept (Airbnb’s air mattresses)
  • You have a captive, forgiving audience (internal tools)
  • The core value is immediately obvious (Twitter’s 140 characters)
  • You’re transparent about the journey (Hey.com’s public development)

But these are exceptions, not the rule.

The Brand Debt You’re Creating

Every time a user encounters a broken feature, slow performance, or confusing UX, you’re taking out a loan against your brand. Unlike technical debt, brand debt compounds with interest:

  • Users won’t try your product again
  • They’ll tell others about their bad experience
  • You’ll need to spend more on marketing to overcome negative perception
  • Your team will lose confidence in the product

Key Takeaways

  1. Your MVP is your brand’s first impression—make it count. Users won’t remember that you were “just getting started.”

  2. Minimum ≠ Broken—A skateboard is minimal transportation, but it should still roll smoothly.

  3. Delight beats features—One thing that makes users smile beats ten things that frustrate them.

You can only launch once. Make it worth remembering for the right reasons.