I know my MVP is flawed but I'm itching to improve it.

1. Feedback is a tool to help you discard ideas, not generate them.
2. Feedback helps you graft the right subset of ideas onto reality so they can grow faster.
3. Ask users one-by-one about their problems to get feedback.
4. Don't fall in love with your MVP.
5. Hold the problem you're solving tightly, hold the customer tightly, hold the solution you're building loosely.

MVP III: Iterate

I have a big idea and I need to plan a lean(er) MVP.

1. The best way to launch an MVP is to start with the leanest version possible.
2. If you have a moonshot startup, you can still launch with a landing page and some phone calls.
3. The goal is to just get something out there quickly.
4. The more you're solving hair-on-fire problems, the worse your MVP can be.
5. The shittiest possible way to solve a problem is often the best MVP.

MVP I: Narrow

I'm busy perfecting our MVP and I'm afraid to launch.

1. The MVP is the simplest version of your idea, built for a tiny set of users. You want to launch quickly and iterate.
2. Fear, overconfidence, and attachment can all thwart your plans to launch quickly.
3. To overcome fear, write down in detail what you think would go wrong if you launched.
4. To overcome overconfidence, write down a skeptical take on your own ideas.
5. To overcome attachment, remember that MVPs are disposable.
6. Launching means getting customers. You don't need a big press launch or marketing campaign.

Launch Already

Seibel is a managing director at Y Combinator and co-founder of two startups – Justin.tv/Twitch and Socialcam.

Michael Seibel

Lessons