1. The Mindset Shift: The MVP is a Process, Not a Product

Many founders think an MVP is a "lite" version of their software. It’s not. An MVP is the smallest experiment you can run to test a business hypothesis.

• Traditional Path: Idea > Build for 6 months > Launch> Silence.
• The Lean Path: Idea > Hypothesize > Test > Iterate > Build.

2. Stage One: Problem Validation (The "Smoke Test")

Before you write a single line of code, you must prove the problem exists.

• The Landing Page Test: Create a simple page (using Carrd or Webflow) explaining your solution. Add a "Join the Waitlist" or "Pre-order" button.
• The "Fake Door" Technique: Run $50 worth of targeted ads (LinkedIn or Google) to that page.
• The Metric: If 10% or more of visitors leave their email, you have a "pull" from the market. If not, your messaging—or your idea—needs to change.

3. Stage Two: The "Concierge" or "Wizard of Oz" MVP

This is where you provide the solution manually while the customer thinks they are using software.

• The Concierge MVP: You perform the service by hand. If you're building an AI-powered tax tool, you do the taxes yourself for the first five clients.
• The Wizard of Oz MVP: The front end looks like software, but a human is doing the work in the background.
• • Example: DoorDash started as a website with PDF menus. When an order came in, the founders personally drove to the restaurant to pick up the food. No automated logistics, just hustle.

4. Stage Three: Building the "Single Feature" Product

Once you've proven people will pay for the result, build the smallest possible digital version.

• The 80/20 Rule: Identify the one feature that provides 80% of the value.
• Example: If you're building a complex project management tool, perhaps your MVP is just a "highly efficient shared To-Do list."
• Constraint: If it takes more than 4 weeks to build, it’s likely too big for an MVP.

5. Identifying "False Positives"

Be careful of what people say. Friends and family will tell you your idea is "great" because they like you.

• The Mom Test: Instead of asking "Is this a good idea?", ask "Tell me about the last time you encountered this problem?"
• The Gold Standard: The only true validation is currency. A "signed letter of intent" or a "pre-payment" is worth 1,000 "likes" on social media.

Conclusion: Don't Fall in Love with Your Solution

The "Lean Way" is about falling in love with the problem, not your specific software features. By validating early, you save your most precious resource: Time.

When you finally sit down to write code, you won't be guessing. You'll be building exactly what your first 10 paying customers are begging for.