Plan Your MVP Launch: Tips from Michael Seibel

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This article is a summary of a YouTube video "Michael Seibel - How to Plan an MVP" by Y Combinator
TLDR Launch quickly, get feedback, and iterate to reach your goal.

Key insights

  • 💡
    "The goal of an MVP is to get to product market fit as quickly as possible."
  • 💡
    Launching quickly with a bad product is better than not launching at all, as getting initial customers and feedback is crucial for early stage startups.
  • 🛠️
    Continuously iterate and improve your solution until it actually solves the problem at hand.
  • 📺
    Twitch launched as an online reality TV show with only one channel, and the video quality was extremely low resolution.
  • 💰
    Billion dollar companies started with "pretty shitty" MVPs, proving that simplicity can be effective in launching a successful product.
  • 💡
    Building an MVP and putting it in front of customers is more valuable than spending time on a pitch deck because it allows you to know right away if your product solves their problem.
  • 📝
    Writing down your MVP spec can help you stay honest with yourself about changes and prevent your three week plan from turning into a three month plan.
  • 🚀
    Getting anything out in the world is key to momentum and avoiding delays.

Q&A

  • What is the importance of talking to users before building an MVP?

    Talking to users before building an MVP allows you to determine if you can deliver value to them and meet their needs.

  • How should I approach launching an MVP?

    It is recommended to launch quickly, get initial customers, and gather feedback from users to improve your solution.

  • What should be the focus when creating a lean MVP?

    When creating a lean MVP, it is important to focus on the highest order problems of a small set of initial users and prioritize limited functionality.

  • Can a heavy MVP be built quickly in regulated industries?

    Yes, in industries with significant regulation, a heavy MVP can be built in days instead of weeks by starting with a simple website explaining what you do.

  • What should be prioritized over spending time on a pitch deck?

    Spending time building something to give to a customer is more valuable than spending time on a pitch deck.

Timestamped Summary

  • 💡
    00:00
    Talk to users before building an MVP to ensure you can deliver value.
  • 🚀
    01:41
    Launch fast, get feedback, and iterate!
  • 🛠
    03:47
    Build a lean MVP to quickly solve the highest order problems of a small set of users.
  • 🚀
    05:39
    Airbnb & Twitch started small, and Stripe founders offered on-site integration for customers.
  • 💻
    08:06
    Building a heavy MVP in regulated industries can be done in days with a simple website.
  • 🚀
    09:35
    Focus on getting customers and learning from them, not on perfecting a pitch deck.
  • 🚀
    11:22
    Launch in 3 weeks by time-boxing your spec & cutting if needed.
  • 🚀
    12:44
    Start small and iterate quickly to reach your goal.
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This article is a summary of a YouTube video "Michael Seibel - How to Plan an MVP" by Y Combinator
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