After helping launch over 50 MVPs, we’ve seen patterns in what works and what doesn’t. Here are the most common mistakes that derail MVP projects—and how to avoid them.
1. Building Too Much
The Mistake: Trying to build every feature you can imagine into your MVP.
Why It Happens: Fear that users won’t see value without “complete” functionality.
The Reality: Users need one core feature that solves their problem well, not 20 features that work poorly.
How to Avoid It:
- List all desired features
- Identify the ONE that validates your core assumption
- Save everything else for v2
- Remember: Instagram launched with just photo filters
2. Skipping User Validation
The Mistake: Building in isolation without talking to potential users.
Why It Happens: “I know what users want” or “Talking to users will slow us down.”
The Reality: You’ll waste weeks building features nobody wants.
How to Avoid It:
- Interview 10-15 potential users before coding
- Show mockups early and often
- Launch with a small beta group
- Iterate based on real feedback
3. Over-Engineering the Tech Stack
The Mistake: Using microservices, Kubernetes, and complex architectures for 100 users.
Why It Happens: Preparing for “scale” before proving the concept.
The Reality: You’re optimizing for problems you don’t have yet.
How to Avoid It:
- Start with a monolith
- Use boring, proven technology
- Host on simple platforms (Heroku, Vercel)
- Scale when you have scale problems
4. Perfectionism Paralysis
The Mistake: Endless polishing before launching.
Why It Happens: Fear of criticism or “it’s not ready yet” syndrome.
The Reality: Your MVP will never feel ready. Ship it anyway.
How to Avoid It:
- Set a hard deadline (3 weeks works well)
- Define “good enough” criteria upfront
- Remember: Reid Hoffman said “If you’re not embarrassed by v1, you launched too late”
- Polish after you validate demand
5. Ignoring the Business Model
The Mistake: Building without knowing how you’ll make money.
Why It Happens: “We’ll figure out monetization later.”
The Reality: Some ideas can’t be monetized effectively. Find out early.
How to Avoid It:
- Price your product before building
- Include payment in your MVP
- Test willingness to pay with pre-orders
- Calculate unit economics early
6. Building for Everyone
The Mistake: Trying to serve every possible user segment.
Why It Happens: Fear of missing opportunities.
The Reality: Products for everyone serve no one well.
How to Avoid It:
- Define your ideal customer precisely
- Build for that ONE segment
- Say no to feature requests outside your focus
- Expand only after dominating your niche
7. Going Solo Too Long
The Mistake: Trying to do everything yourself.
Why It Happens: “I can’t afford help” or “It’s faster if I do it.”
The Reality: You’ll burn out, move slowly, and miss blind spots.
How to Avoid It:
- Find a co-founder or advisor
- Hire freelancers for specific skills
- Join a community of builders
- Get external perspective regularly
The Meta-Mistake: Not Launching
The biggest mistake of all is not launching. An imperfect MVP in users’ hands beats a perfect product in your head every time.
Signs you’re making this mistake:
- “Just one more feature…”
- “Let me fix this bug first…”
- “The design isn’t quite right…”
- “What if users don’t like it?”
The cure: Set a launch date and stick to it. No exceptions.
Our MVP Success Formula
Based on 50+ launches, here’s what works:
- Week 1: Define one core feature and target user
- Week 2: Build the simplest version that could work
- Week 3: Launch to 10-20 beta users
- Week 4+: Iterate based on feedback
The Bottom Line
MVP mistakes are expensive. The average failed startup spends $150,000 and 18 months before shutting down. Most could have learned the same lessons with a $15,000 MVP in 3 weeks.
Don’t let perfectionism, fear, or complexity kill your startup. Build something simple, launch it fast, and let real users guide your path forward.
Ready to avoid these mistakes and launch your MVP the right way? Let’s talk about your project.