A lot of business coaches, tech experts and conferences within the start-up and tech world constantly talk about building an MVP (minimum viable product = the minimum required before kicking a product out of the nest) and how important it is to get out on the market fast so that competitors don’t get there before you.
“MVP is that version of a new product which allows a team to collect the maximum amount of validated learning about customers with the least effort” - Eric Ries
To build a great product especially as a tech start-up it is important to build relationships with the customers and to understand their daily work so that you can understand how to help them in the best possible way. It is extremely important to not see the time you spend with customers as “the least effort” but as the most vital time in the process of developing a new product.
So, what is my point?
Relationships are built slowly and requires effort, right? You cannot build relationships with the mindset of putting in the “least effort” - who would like to be in a customer relationship where a person has that mindset?
Understanding of customer needs are created when you understand the process that the customer has and that takes time, right? You need to experience and understand what they are experiencing and what they are going through and after that you can try to help them.
Instead of calling MVP for the minimum viable product I prefer calling it the most valuable product - and what is that?
It is a product built with care and love of the customers.
It is a product built from understanding and not guessing.
It is the consequence of understanding the customer needs so well that it almost feels like you are in the same situation as they.
It is the most valuable product that your customers never would want to live without.
Most of all it is not a quick fix, it is a product that takes time to build.
So, what really is important to focus on as a start-up in any sort of market? To build the MOST VALUABLE PRODUCT.
