Test your startup idea today!

Why and how to test your startup idea by developing an MVP?

Would you like to create a startup linked to an IT project? You want to validate quickly your idea for software or application before getting started, but you are put off by the work of development to be carried out behind? This whole step could be much simpler than expected, thanks to the MVP (Minimum Viable Product). Explanations.

Why launch a startup and develop an IT tool?

Moving from idea to action

Do you dream of launching a mobile application or software useful to a large number of people? YOU have always thought that there is an application or functionality missing that could change everyday life thousands or millions of people, but you hesitate to take action? Start with you free from preconceived ideas. No, you do not have to invest a fortune to create the draft of your product and test your idea and the IT project behind it: mobile application, licensed software, etc.

Here are some examples of applications and software that have met with success:

• WhatsApp
• Waze
• Deezer
• Mailchimp
• Salesforce

And the list is long: accounting software, mailing tools, CRM, etc. There are many examples of products that are simple to develop and whose valuation has subsequently become very significant.

The example of SaaS IT projects

SaaS products occupy an important place in the world of startups. The SaaS market (Software as a Service) is an economic model in itself. The particularity of SaaS software is to be hosted in the cloud by the publisher or provider of the solution, and not on the device the user. It is precisely this technical point that makes all the difference. For the user, this option is less restrictive. All he needs is an Internet connection to use the tool online. question.

For entrepreneurs, the main interest of a SaaS product is to be based on the model economical subscription. The user pays a subscription (usually monthly or yearly) for access the solution. He does not pay for a product he buys but for a service he uses.

Still from an economic point of view, the big advantage of a SaaS product is its “scalability”, that is to say its ability to respond to growing demand and even to tend towards hyper growth with a large number of users. SaaS tools offer good financial prospects business.

SaaS tools are increasingly used in the professional world, but also by individuals. This model therefore appeals to many entrepreneurs, who hope to launch a business thriving by developing a tool in SaaS mode.

Why develop an MVP version of your product?

Understanding the interest of the MVP

The MVP (Minimum Viable Product) designates the first version of a tool. This is a lighter version, but which still contains the essential functionalities allowing users to take the tool in hand. The MVP is located at the beginning of the development cycle and allows you to validate an idea of produced with minimal investment.

Validate a business idea without investing too much time or money

You have carried out market research and demonstrated that there is a market ready to welcome your product? You can get started on the development stage of an MVP version. This version has few features, but they are enough to demonstrate how your product is able to solve the problem of the market you are targeting. You can get this first MVP version in a few months.

At this stage, you do not need to invest heavily in the development stage. You can collaborate with a business analyst to determine the minimum functionalities for the right operation of the product. The budget required to launch an MVP version is limited. YOU You can therefore get started on the project without needing to borrow. Once your product is launched and the users are there, you can then decide to invest more.

Example: invest in a single OS to test the product (Andriod version or iOS version).

Minimalism also exists in the development world. No need to invest upfront in scalable and extensible infrastructures with experienced developers and at prices students.

Obtain user feedback to improve your product

You can test your product with a small number of users, but with a large pay attention to their comments. You will thus be able to improve the tool, make it more functional and attractive to follow up on interviews and exchanges with users.

Test different ideas or products

The interest of the MVP is also to allow you to test several different ideas or products, because you do not make a long-term commitment. If success is not there, you will not have any way not too invested in the initial idea. You can easily try another idea, until you come across the goose that lays the golden eggs like WhatsApp, LinkedIn or many others.

In short: why develop your MVP?

Do you have an idea to test, but your budget is limited and your timing is tight? Develop a MVP version allows you to see how users receive your project, what comments they formulate, etc. Are you looking for investors? You will find them more easily if you have a product in production to present to them.

5 concrete tips to succeed in your MVP version

1. Take care of the essential functionalities of the product

The most important part of an MVP release is getting the features to work perfectly. essential.

2. Test and fix all bugs and malfunctions in this minimal version

Never put a site, product or application into production with bugs. The testing phase is crucial and should not be neglected, even if the project schedule is very tight.

3. Place the user at the center of development

He is the one you need to convince. The user decides very quickly whether to continue using a tool or if he drops it. A user who has already encountered a malfunction on the product may be very difficult to bring back, even if the bug has been fixed in the meantime.

4. Call on a QA (Quality Assurance) engineer

It is recommended to always request a QA engineer in addition to the developer. Captured by their code writing work, developers are not necessarily able to test all of the features that will be offered to users. However, testing a product well is a specialty to full part. This is precisely the job of a QA engineer: to be the guarantor of the developments carried out through various functional and technical tests. The different bugs are then presented to the developer in order to correct them.

5. Hire a graphic designer

One of the common mistakes when developing an MVP version is wanting to dispense with a graphic designer. A developer can certainly implement the code of a model, but he is not a graphic designer (even if he is a web developer). If your goal is to obtain a product with a modern design and ergonomic, then the best is to call on a professional graphic designer. Remember that the users want to use a pleasant and intuitive tool. This point has become essential to the adoption of new tools.

And then? What to do after developing your MVP?

After you have ensured that there is a market for your product, and once your MVP has been validated, it is time to launch your product. You must then enrich the functionality of your product with team of developers and continuously improve the product.

Pay particular attention to recruiting developers. Being able to rely on a code of quality (sustainability of the code, ease of maintaining and evolving it, low quantity of bugs, etc.) is essential for a successful startup project.

Do you want to validate a business idea? I help you create your MVP and quickly develop a minimum version of your product. After testing and validating your MVP, I can help you continue to develop your idea.

Contact me!