MVP development for startups in the United Kingdom

Start with the action your users need to complete. A web app is easier to change as you learn, and changes do not need a store review. A mobile app makes more sense when that action depends on the camera, location or frequent notifications. For example, if the product depends on a notification bringing someone back to complete a task, include that need in the platform decision.

A no-code tool such as Bubble, Glide or Softr gives you a way to test demand quickly. The trade-off comes when you need custom logic, usage grows or you want to move the product into code later. A coded MVP fits when your value depends on custom logic, data or integrations, or when you intend the first version to grow into the product.

For a marketplace, decide which side of the transaction you need to learn about first. You could recruit suppliers personally and build the experience for the users whose behaviour is less certain. That keeps the early build focused on the evidence you need.

A product that collects user information needs data protection considered in its sign-up and data handling. UK data protection is governed by the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. We include privacy information in the build and plan what information the sign-up flow needs to collect.

For statistical cookies that qualify for use without consent under the updated UK rules, users still need clear information and an easy way to object. We set up that information and objection route as part of the relevant analytics implementation. The choice of cookies belongs in the build scope.

Bring what you know so we can make the first scope specific.

• Write the problem in one sentence, name the people who have it and bring evidence they care, such as interviews or a waitlist.
• Choose the result that would test your idea, such as repeat use or paid conversions.
• List must-have features and later features; write why each must-have is needed for the core loop.
• Show us what users do today, including spreadsheets, competitors or manual workarounds, and where those fall short.
• Identify steps you could handle manually, such as matching orders or emailing reports, while you test demand.

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  Building too much

  Keep the first release focused so you can see which part users value, instead of delaying learning with more features.

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  Treating praise as proof

  Watch what people outside your friends and family do, especially whether they return or pay.

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  Launching without a decision rule

  Agree the success target and what you will do in response before the product goes live.

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  Assuming the code will be discarded

  Keep it clean, documented and tested around the core loop, because it may become the product.