What should I include in my MVP app? How do I choose the right features without derailing the product’s purpose?
If you’re asking yourself these questions, you’re in the right place.
Prioritizing features for your MVP (Minimum Viable Product) can feel overwhelming, especially when every idea feels critical and time is tight. In this guide, we’ll walk you through a practical, strategic approach to MVP development that keeps your product vision intact while helping you get to market faster.
Whether you’re working with a MVP development company, building in-house, or somewhere in between, these principles will help you focus on what matters most.
Why Prioritization Matters in MVP Development
t’s tempting to think more features = more value. But in startup MVP development, clarity beats complexity. Your MVP isn’t your final product; it’s a version designed to validate assumptions, gather feedback, and reduce time to market.
According to CB Insights, 35% of startups fail due to lack of market need. Building too much too soon increases risk. Focusing only on essential features gives your team space to test, learn, and grow without overinvesting in the wrong direction.
A Framework to Prioritize Features Without Losing Sight of Vision
At VANX, we’ve helped dozens of startups and scaleups go from idea to validated MVP software development. Here’s the 5-step approach we recommend.
1. Start with Your Core Problem Statement
Define the primary pain point your product solves. Everything else should orbit around this.
Ask:
- What core outcome should the user achieve?
- What problem must be solved to prove product-market fit?
If your MVP app doesn’t solve this, it’s not viable; no matter how many features it includes.
2. Define Your MVP Success Criteria
Use this to filter ideas. Your success criteria might include:
- User activation or engagement metrics
- Validation from real usage (not just opinions)
- Time-to-launch goals (e.g., under 90 days)
Success ≠ completeness. Success = clarity + direction.
3. Categorize Features with the MoSCoW Method
This classic method helps you rank features into:
- Must-haves: Essential to core functionality and validation
- Should-haves: Important, but not critical for day one
- Could-haves: Nice to include, but optional
- Won’t-haves (for now): Ideas to revisit post-validation
Use stakeholder workshops or customer interviews to guide this process.
4. Consider Development Complexity vs. User Value
Plot features on a 2×2 matrix:
- High value, low effort → Prioritize
- Low value, high effort → Postpone or cut
This balances innovation with feasibility—a must for lean MVP development.
5. Validate with a Clickable Prototype First
Before coding, create a low-fidelity or clickable prototype. Tools like Figma or InVision let you test flows and feature logic with users in days—not weeks.
Early testing reduces rework, saves budget, and confirms your assumptions without burning dev hours.
4. Consider Development Complexity vs. User Value
Plot features on a 2×2 matrix:
- High value, low effort → Prioritize
- Low value, high effort → Postpone or cut
This balances innovation with feasibility—a must for lean MVP development.
5. Validate with a Clickable Prototype First
Before coding, create a low-fidelity or clickable prototype. Tools like Figma or InVision let you test flows and feature logic with users in days—not weeks.
Early testing reduces rework, saves budget, and confirms your assumptions without burning dev hours.
FAQ: Common MVP Prioritization Questions
Q: Should I include user authentication in my MVP?
A: Yes, if it’s required for your core user flow. But keep it simple—use existing services like Clerk or Auth0.
Q: Can I skip analytics for MVP?
A: For internal insight, yes. But use lightweight tools like PostHog or Mixpanel to track critical actions.
Q: What if stakeholders disagree on priorities?
A: Revisit your success criteria. Focus the conversation on user outcomes, not opinions.
Let’s Build Your MVP, With Purpose
If you’re unsure what belongs in your MVP, or how to build it right the first time; you don’t have to figure it out alone.
At VANX Software Solutions, we help companies build MVPs that are fast, scalable, and aligned with long-term vision. Whether you’re pre-seed, funded, or spinning up a new initiative inside your organization, we’ll guide your team through every step of MVP app development from feature prioritization to post-launch feedback loops.
Schedule a discovery call with our team today. No pressure, no hard pitch; just practical advice and next steps if it makes sense for you.
