How to build an MVP in six weeks
Product and process · TechDesk · · 7 min read
The short answer
Pick the one workflow customers will pay for, write it down as a short scope, and build it in weekly releases you can click. Six weeks is realistic for a focused MVP: one week to scope and design, four weeks to build and test, one week to launch. Everything that is not needed to prove that one workflow waits for version two.
Week 1: choose the one workflow
Write one sentence: who the user is, what they do in the product and why they would pay for it. Then list the screens that workflow needs and nothing else. A clickable prototype at the end of the week lets you test the idea with a few real users before a line of production code.
Weeks 2 to 5: build in weekly releases
- Every week ends with a working build you can use, not a status report.
- Use proven building blocks for sign-in, payments and email.
- Keep one list of what is in and out of scope, and move ideas to version two freely.
- Test on real phones and slow networks, not only a fast laptop.
Week 6: launch
- Analytics on the steps of the core workflow, so you see where people drop off.
- Error monitoring, so you hear about problems before customers tell you.
- A simple way for early users to reach you directly.
- Backups and access to all accounts in your name.
What to measure after launch
Measure whether people complete the core workflow and come back to do it again. Those two numbers tell you more than sign-ups. Talk to the first users every week and let what they do, not what they say, decide version two.
Have an MVP in mind? See an indicative range in INR or USD.
Estimate my MVPFrequently asked questions
Can an MVP really be built in six weeks?
A focused MVP with one core workflow, yes. Products with several user types or complex integrations take longer.
Should my MVP be a web app or a mobile app?
Usually a responsive web app first. It is faster to build, works on every phone and is easy to update daily.
What does an MVP cost?
A focused SaaS MVP typically costs an indicative ₹1.5L to ₹4L in India or $3k to $8k worldwide.