How to Build An MVP | Startup School

Y Combinator Group Partner, Michael Seibel, explains how to build a minimum viable product (MVP) for your startup idea. Using examples from real YC companies, Michael walks through how to determine your MVP feature set, build prototypes and demos for user testing, and present your MVP to early customers or investors.

00:00 - How to Build an Minimum Viable Product (MVP)?
01:50 - Pre-launch Startup Goals
04:26 - Founders Biggest Fear
07:17 - Examples - Software MVP
07:48 - Airbnb
08:36 - Twitch
09:15 - Stripe
10:36 - Solving Hair On Fire Problem
14:12 - Build an MVP Quickly
15:51 - Outro

[MarkMonroe]

This is the discussion that all first time founders need to hear

[Grensley]

Stripe: 2010
Twitch: 2007
AirBnb: 2008
iPhone: 2007

I believe that a lot of the fundamentals you lay down are true, but I think there's a much higher level of execution expected by consumers now vs 15 years ago. While the "back in the day" stories are fun, I hope you can provide us with more recent examples, given your exposure to those startups through YC.

[jimhart]

My favorite quote ever: "Fall in love with the problem, not the solution". I've been a software engineer for over 22 years and it wasn't until I learned about MVP 5 years ago that I felt like I was making a real difference. This video is one of the greatest videos I've seen on MVP. Very well done!

[LauraGutierrez-zluh]

Even though I've watched all YC videos I've made so many mistakes... I am rewatching all of them and understanding them better, thank you very much for the content, it is gold

[justcruise]

I’m so emotional about this😢, thank you Sir. No one told me these things but I’ve been following these advice for a year now.

[melissaviolin]

These videos have saved me years and so much money/potential regrets - I would have fallen for so many of these traps, and I can see how much closer I am to my goals, and it's helped me make so much more money, for free! Thank you guys for putting this material out there. Thank you Michael!

[arijitgoswami]

This is the Best advice for all first time founders. Awesome, Michael!
Building an MVP quickly is an essential step in the product development process as it allows you to test your assumptions and validate your idea with minimal investment, helping you to save time and money in the long run.

[djbuckrogers]

This is probably the most important video to watch at this point in time for any founder out there either currently building or thinking of building a product

[marioacosta]

Thank you Michael and YC for keep producing and delivering quality guidance to founders.

[punnyabrata]

I cannot believe YouTube is such a useful tool for mere mortals like myself. You can pretty much learn anything here.

[ReinventingRogerOsorio]

Love this video, Michael! I love how succinctly you taught his incredibly impactful lesson. I teach this topic and will be sharing this video with my students!

[locksporter]

This one video has helped me out more than anything. I keep coming back to this video every once in a while. Thank you Yc

[Lexweecon]

My favorite episode so far! Straightforward, no bs.

[samyakverma]

I feel that the 2014 Y combinator lectures have some of the best startup advice but please keep making these kind of videos that build up on those points.

[hamidurrahman]

Oh man, you completely changed my mind. last two months I have been working on my project and thinking about how to make it perfect and input enough information into the service. Without stumbling upon your video, I might have spent another two months heading in the wrong direction before launching.

Now I'm thinking differently as you suggested and planning to share my MVP with my potential customers. Hope I can learn new things from here.

Thanks for your contribution to my dream project. love
❤

[tilingmyway]

Best communicator at YC! Thank you for all you do.

[PriyankBolia]

I had seen this advise 100 times, but never explained in such detail and in simple words and examples.

[allenmandikutse]

I've been in love with my MVP for many years and haven't launched yet 😭😂

I learnt a lot from this video. AirBnb, Twitch, Stripe also started from the bottom, improved gradually whilst they were learning from their users.

Thank you Michael

[soumen_das]

Thank you so much Michael. I so wish to meet you one day. You are a mentor to all of us.

[ethiopianbillionaire]

This is really what the first startup owners wants to hear and should hear. Thanks very much for your open and clear brief.