Entrepreneur Edge

The concept of the MVP is widely misunderstood.
It is not a smaller product.
It is a test of risk.

What MVP Actually Means

An MVP is the minimum experiment required to validate your riskiest assumption.

That assumption is rarely technical.

Common risky assumptions:

• Users care enough to change behavior
• They will pay
• They will return without reminders

Building features before testing these is avoidance disguised as productivity.

Why MVPs Become Overbuilt

Founders overbuild because:

• Building feels controllable
• Rejection feels uncertain
• Shipping creates the illusion of progress

But complexity delays learning.

Better MVP Alternatives

Depending on your risk, your MVP might be:

• A landing page with a payment button
• A concierge service
• A spreadsheet delivered manually
• A no-code prototype with forced constraints

If it feels uncomfortable, it is probably closer to the truth.

The Real Question

Instead of asking:

“What is the smallest product we can build?”

Ask:

“What is the smallest action that would prove this matters?”

Build that first.