How to Define the Core Features of Your MVP
Overwhelmed by MVP Features? Launch lean and learn fast by defining your MVP's core. This guide walks you through understanding the user journey, prioritizing with methods like MoSCoW, and validating assumptions before development. Stop wasting resources and start solving real problems!
Building a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is an essential step in turning an idea into reality. However, deciding which features to include—and which to leave out—can be challenging.
Too many features, and you risk spending too much time and money on development without validating the idea. Too few, and you might not provide enough value for users to engage.
The key is to focus on what truly matters—the core functionality that solves your target users' most pressing problem. This guide walks you through a step-by-step process to define your MVP’s core features, ensuring it’s lean, effective, and user-driven.
1. Start with the Core Problem
Before thinking about features, it’s crucial to clarify the exact problem your product solves. Every successful MVP begins with a well-defined problem statement.
A simple way to do this is by completing the following sentence:
Example: A Budgeting App
Let's apply this to an example of a personal finance tool:
- Problem: Many people struggle to track expenses and save money effectively.
- Solution: A simple app that automatically categorises spending and suggests personalised savings goals.
By keeping this statement in mind, you ensure that every feature you include serves a direct purpose—helping users solve their core problem efficiently.
2. Map the User Journey
Rather than listing features upfront, start by mapping out the user’s experience step by step. This process helps you understand what actions users need to take to achieve their goal and which features are truly necessary.
Ask yourself: How will a new user interact with your product from start to finish?
Example: A Freelance Marketplace MVP
To illustrate this, let’s take an example of a freelance job platform. The basic user flow might look like this:
1️. A freelancer creates a profile with skills, experience, and portfolio.
2️. A client posts a job with budget and project requirements.
3️. The freelancer applies for the job by submitting a proposal.
4️. The client reviews applications and selects a freelancer.
5️. The job is completed, and payment is processed securely.
Each step in this process reveals essential features:
- A freelancer profile creation tool
- A job posting system
- An application submission feature
- A secure payment mechanism
By focusing on what’s required to complete the core user journey, you avoid getting distracted by extra features that aren’t critical at this stage.
3. Categorise Features: Must-Have vs. Nice-to-Have
Once you've got a proper handle on how your users will get about using your product, the next key step is sorting your potential features based on how important they are. Think of it in three piles, really. First up, you've got your "Must-Haves" – these are the absolute essentials that'll make your product actually work and give users the core value they're after, like user sign-up and being able to create and edit tasks in our example.
Then you've got your "Nice-to-Haves" – things like file attachments and team collaboration. These would definitely make the user experience a bit better, but they aren't strictly necessary to get the initial version out the door. Lastly, there are the "Future Additions", such as fancy AI-powered automation. These are good ideas for down the line, once you've proven your core offering. This way of sorting things out helps you put your energy into what really matters for your initial launch.
4. Use the MoSCoW Method for Prioritisation
If you need a more structured approach, the MoSCoW method is another excellent way to categorise features. It divides them into four clear groups:
- Must-Have – Absolutely necessary for the product to function.
- Should-Have – Important but not immediately required.
- Could-Have – Useful but not essential for launch.
- Won’t-Have – Planned for later but not for the MVP.
Here’s how this method might look for a task management app:
Create tasks – Must-Have
Assign deadlines – Must-Have
Team collaboration – Should-Have
Google Calendar Sync – Could-Have
AI task automation – Won’t-Have Yet
Using this approach ensures that every feature is carefully considered and prioritised, preventing unnecessary delays and wasted resources.
5. Validate Features Before Development
Once you’ve identified and prioritised features, it’s time to test your assumptions before investing in development.
There are several ways to validate your MVP’s core features:
Conduct User Interviews – Speak with potential customers to understand their pain points.
Launch a Landing Page – Test demand by seeing how many users sign up for early access.
Prototype & Test – Create a clickable prototype using Figma or other tools to gather feedback.
Analyse Competitors – See what features are most valued in similar products.
Example: Before developing a full SaaS product, some companies start by offering a free downloadable spreadsheet template. This lets them test demand and collect user feedback before committing to a full-fledged product.
6. Keep It Lean Without Losing Impact
It’s easy to fall into the trap of adding more and more features to your MVP. But remember: the goal is to launch fast, test, and iterate—not build a perfect product from the start.
If a feature doesn’t directly solve the core problem, it’s not needed.
If a feature requires major resources but adds little user value, cut it.
If a feature can be tested manually before automating, start small.
Example: A Ride-Sharing App MVP
A fully developed ride-sharing app might include:
- Advanced route optimisation
- Surge pricing
- In-app driver ratings
But an MVP could start with a simple ride-booking system, where drivers confirm rides via text messages. The automation can be introduced later.
Key Takeaways
Define the problem first. If your product doesn’t solve a real problem, no feature will save it.
Map the user journey. Identify the essential steps users take to complete an action.
Prioritise features wisely. Use frameworks like MoSCoW or a Must-Have vs. Nice-to-Have list.
Validate before building. Test your assumptions with prototypes and market research.
Keep your MVP lean. Focus only on what’s necessary for solving the problem.
Conclusion
Defining your MVP’s core features isn’t just about cutting features—it’s about focusing on what truly matters.
By solving a specific problem, prioritising essential functionality, and testing before building, you set your product up for success while saving time and resources.
Whether you're building a SaaS platform, mobile app, or marketplace, a well-defined MVP ensures you launch fast, gather feedback early, and iterate with confidence.
