Building Your Startup MVP: A Technical Founder's Guide

Launching a startup is exciting but challenging. This guide helps technical founders navigate the MVP development process.

Defining Your MVP

What to Include

Your MVP should have:

• Core value proposition - The one thing that solves the problem
• Essential features only - Strip everything else
• Basic user authentication - If needed
• Payment integration - If monetizing from day one

What to Skip

Leave these for later:

• Advanced analytics
• Multiple auth providers
• Mobile apps (start with responsive web)
• Extensive customization options

Technology Choices

Stack Recommendations

For speed and reliability:

• Frontend: Next.js or Remix
• Backend: Node.js, Python, or Go
• Database: PostgreSQL (start here)
• Auth: Clerk, Auth0, or Supabase Auth
• Hosting: Vercel, Railway, or Render

Buy vs. Build

Buy solutions for:

• Authentication
• Payments (Stripe)
• Email (Resend, SendGrid)
• File storage (S3, Cloudflare R2)

Development Process

Week 1-2: Foundation

• Set up project and CI/CD
• Implement authentication
• Create database schema
• Build core API endpoints

Week 3-4: Core Features

• Build the main user flow
• Implement the key differentiator
• Add basic error handling
• Set up monitoring

Week 5-6: Polish and Launch

• UI improvements
• User testing and fixes
• Landing page and docs
• Launch preparation

Metrics to Track

From day one, measure:

• User signups
• Activation rate
• Core action completion
• Retention

Common Mistakes

Avoid these pitfalls:

• Over-engineering - Don't build for scale you don't have
• Feature creep - Stick to the MVP scope
• Perfectionism - Ship something imperfect
• No feedback loop - Talk to users early

Conclusion

Your MVP is about learning, not perfection. Ship fast, gather feedback, and iterate. The best products evolve based on real user needs.