How to Build an MVP and Raise Funding in 2024

Launching an MVP isn’t the end of the journey. It’s just the first stop in your product development lifecycle. So, what does an MVP mean in project development?

In today’s business world, success often boils down to getting a minimum viable product (MVP) into the market and securing enough funding so that the idea can be presented on a larger scale. In 2024, successful business owners are all working on various projects to monetize their business more, and the best way to decide if an idea is good enough is to develop an MVP. 

This blog will guide you through the critical steps and strategies of building a successful MVP and securing the much-needed funding for businesses so they can test the waters before diving into them. 

Let’s delve into this topic together!

Do Businesses Still Get MVP Development in 2024?

Absolutely. Examples of successful MVPs such as Airbnb, Uber, Instagram, Facebook, and Amazon demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach. These companies started with simple MVPs, gathered user feedback, iterated their products, and grew to large platforms.

MVP development is essential for any business idea, allowing them to test, refine, and validate their products efficiently and cost-effectively. This approach saves time and resources and increases the chances of getting funding and achieving long-term success.

To understand what the customers need the most from your final product, you should primarily develop a minimum viable product. MVP costs less than a full-fledged solution, helping you investigate the market environment with minimum financial and time losses. This method has led to the success of well-known companies like Dropbox and Amazon, and it is worth considering.

Four reasons why we need MVP in the first place

 Early customer feedback

In 2004, Facebook was launched as TheFacebook, which has only a few features: user account, photo, friend requests, and pushes. It was available only to those with a Harvard email address. It spread quickly, and early adopters demanded more features, timelines, photos, status updates, and messages. So it’s not just “Build it, and they will come.” Build it and learn; then there are more of them.

Quick learning curve

If product development is a guessing game, it can be a quagmire (any difficult or sticky situation you find yourself in). An MVP allows your team to learn, not guess. Because it’s a truly minimal version of the product, the team can adapt quickly based on what they know. This creates a quick learning curve and a much higher chance of success.

Efficient use of resources

When a team works on a product without customer feedback, they invest time and money into something unlikely to have a market. MVP allows the team to focus more effectively, saving time and money.

Attract investors through early traction

What do Uber, Airbnb, Instagram, Facebook, Dropbox, and Amazon have in common? They all started as MVPs, and that’s how they built their marketability and then investors. An MVP is the fastest way to gather attention and give investors a good reason to invest.

Real-World Examples of Companies that Started with MVPs

There are several real-life examples of industry leaders who entered the business world with an MVP and became big brand names with whom we interact daily. Some world-famous companies started with a Minimum viable product (MVP).

• Amazon

Jeff Bezos developed the concept of selling books online when the Internet expanded. Despite its rudimentary design, the original Amazon website proved that selling books online at low prices was a viable business model, and they progressed through the full e-commerce process. We all know what prototype Amazon showed today. He developed a successful e-commerce website that can rule worldwide, and we all know about that brand.

• Spotify

The original idea of ​​Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon was to create a free music streaming service and use ads to make money. They developed the MVP as a desktop application whose main function was music streaming. They later added a monthly subscription option for consumers who wanted an ad-free experience. Using this strategy, they can test their concept by limiting their financial commitment. The limited beta version of Spotify MVP was initially used to test the market and control costs. And now we all know about Spotify.

• DropBox

Dropbox is a special illustration of developing an MVP without an actual product. Dropbox’s creator, Drew Houston, chose to show consumers how to operate it in a video.

It was challenging to create Dropbox’s main feature, seamless file sharing. A proper MVP was beyond the discussion because it required months of development and specialized technical knowledge. However, a video has benefits. The Dropbox demo soon became popular since it was simple to share on the Internet.

So, instead of unnecessarily spending hundreds of dollars, create an explanation video to showcase your creative MVP concept to users and possible investors.

Essential Steps for a Successful MVP in 2024

In 2024, building a successful MVP requires a focus on agility and efficiency. Gone are the days of lengthy development cycles and feature-heavy initial releases. Today’s MVP should be laser-focused on solving a core user problem with minimal functionality. This streamlined approach, as highlighted in a recent report by McKinsey & Company, boasts several advantages. Firstly, it allows you to get your product into the hands of users faster, enabling crucial early feedback. Secondly, it reduces development costs, allowing you to stretch your resources further.

Here’s a breakdown of essential steps for building a successful MVP in 2024:

• Deep market research: Identify your target audience and their specific pain points. What problem are you uniquely positioned to solve?
• Prioritization is key: Focus on the core functionalities that deliver the most value to your users. Don’t get bogged down in building unnecessary features.
• Embrace rapid prototyping: Utilize low-fidelity prototypes or even landing pages to validate your concept before diving into development.
• Build for iteration: Design your MVP with the ability to adapt and incorporate user feedback easily.
• Data is your friend: Integrate user tracking and feedback mechanisms from the very beginning.

By following these steps and keeping your MVP focused, you’ll be well on your way to building a product that resonates with users and investors alike.

How Your MVP Can Secure Funding in 2024

Imagine this: you have a brilliant business idea, a solution to a common problem that will revolutionize the market your business leads in. But getting that idea off the ground requires funding. In today’s competitive investment landscape, a strong Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is no longer just a nice-to-have; it’s a necessity. Recent studies by Funding Circle show that a staggering 90% of investors consider an MVP crucial when evaluating a startup for funding. This first iteration of your product allows you to showcase its core functionality and validate market demand, making your pitch significantly more attractive. But how do you craft an MVP that resonates with investors in 2024?

The key lies in focusing on data-driven insights and demonstrable traction. According to a survey by PitchBook, investors in 2024 prioritize ventures that not only address a clear pain point but also demonstrate a strong understanding of their target market. Building an MVP with user acquisition and engagement metrics built-in allows you to showcase this understanding. Incorporating features that gather user feedback and track key actions within the MVP can provide investors with concrete evidence of product-market fit.

How to find a good MVP development partner

Knowing what to look for is essential when you’re in the market for an MVP development company. This decision isn’t just about who can build your MVP project but who can guide you, support you, and help shape your business’s destiny.

It all starts with you scheduling your initial meeting to discuss your development needs. Your MVP development partner will take care of everything else. Suppose you are working with a renowned MVP Development company like Cubix. In that case, they will have highly experienced project managers, MVP developers, MVP testers, designers, and all the other talent you need to get your product to market fast!

Here are some of the factors you need to keep in mind while choosing your MVP Development partner:

MVP development experience

An experienced MVP development company will better understand your MVP needs. Because these companies are experienced enough to understand your technical limitations well, they will advise you to turn your idea into a product.

A large talent pool

A team of experienced and battle-tested developers is always better than a team of non-professionals. A professional MVP development company will always have experienced consultants, project managers, UI and UX teams, developers, testers, and DevOps engineers who understand the MVP development process inside out. Your company needs a company with experience in MVP development.

Technical skills and choosing the right technology stack

With in-depth technical expertise, your development partner can develop the right product for your MVP. No matter what they promise in your initial meeting, you need to find a partner who understands your needs and has a comprehensive tech stack to provide the best solution for your dream MVP.

Time and Materials

Time and Materials help you work on MVPs that still need a clear product vision. You can start project development early and add or subtract resources. This model is very flexible and can fully utilize the power of the agile (iterative and continuous) development model. The time-and-materials model also reduces your company’s risk because you can stop development if necessary. However, you will be heavily involved in all stages of MVP development, and your budget may vary from the forecast to actual costs.

Fixed Price

This model is best if you know exactly what you need. It lets you complete your team on your terms and enables quicker execution. You can hire talents like testers, programmers, or UX designers to add to your team for a limited time. However, you will pay the contractor’s fee, developer’s fees, and other additional costs. This model is best for short-term commitments.

Quality and Reliability

The last and most important factors are quality and reliability. Your partner’s MVP development process determines your MVP’s stability, reliability, and quality, eventually defining your launch success. The right technology partner will help you create a high-quality product in every iteration, ensuring your customers love it from the start!

How Much Does it Cost to Develop an MVP?

After knowing the steps to create an MVP and how to find a good partner for it, your next important question should be the Cost of Developing it. 

• An MVP development cost is much lower than a full app developer cost. However, if you need to know the factors that affect this cost, the MVP development cost comes with a big price tag. 
• The average cost to build a minimum viable product can be $15,000 to $150,000, depending on various factors such as the product’s complexity, its UI/UX design, and skills, as well as the location of the MVP development team.

So, it is important to consider these costs before starting MVP development. For example, developing an MVP for a video-calling app may cost $30,000 to $50,000, while an MVP for a food delivery app may cost $42,000 to $51,000. In most cases, the cost of MVP development depends on the project’s complexity. These are just some examples of the price for your MVP, whether you are a business owner or a startup.