The tech world has ruined the term "MVP." Minimum Viable Product used to mean something. Now it's just an excuse to ship garbage and call it strategic.

"We'll launch the MVP and iterate!" they say, as they release an app that crashes on launch and has a UI that looks like it was designed in 2003.

Minimum Does Not Mean Broken

An MVP is the smallest version of your product that still delivers value. The key word there is VALUE. Not "technically functional." Not "good enough for now." Value.

If your MVP doesn't solve the core problem well, it's not an MVP. It's a prototype. And prototypes don't belong in front of paying customers.

What You Should Actually Ship

Instead of asking "What's the minimum we can get away with?" ask "What's the minimum we need to solve this problem really well?"

Cut features. Cut scope. But don't cut quality. A simple product that works perfectly beats a complex product that barely works.

Your first impression matters. You don't get a second chance to launch.