My co-founder and I are developing a SaaS tool for freelance designers, and we're trying to define the scope of our Minimum Viable Product to launch for initial user testing. We have a long list of features we think are essential, but we know we need to strip it down to the absolute core functionality that solves the primary pain point. For other startup founders, how did you decide what made the cut for your MVP versus what went on the roadmap? What was your process for validating that your core features were truly valuable to early adopters, and how did you manage expectations with beta testers who inevitably asked for more?
You're not alone. Pick one painful job freelancers face (e.g., sending proposals and tracking revisions) and build the smallest thing that solves that end-to-end. If users can complete the core flow in a few minutes, you're onto something—everything else goes on the roadmap.
Here's a practical process: interview 6–8 potential users to articulate their jobs to be done, craft a clear value hypothesis, and define 'must-have' features that enable the core flow. Build a landing page or clickable prototype to test demand (smoke test). Run a small beta with a closed group, gate features with toggles, and measure activation and retention. If demand is there, you validate problem-solution fit before building more.
Concierge MVP and Wizard of Oz: deliver the core capability with humans in the loop first (e.g., manually generate invoices, proposals) to gather data and feedback. Then automate the repeatable parts. A 'Wizard of Oz' demo can surface UX and value without full backend until you know it's worth it. Track time saved, error rate, and satisfaction.
Roadmap discipline: set a beta charter and a 2-3 week learning sprint. Define 'in-scope' features and a success metric (e.g., 80% of testers complete a task without assistance). Use a simple triage process to decide what goes on the roadmap vs. back-burned. Communicate clearly with beta testers about scope and updates.
Quick check-in: who are your initial users (solo designers, agencies, etc.), and what problem are you solving for them today? Are you planning to tie into tools like Figma or Adobe, and do you want a self-serve onboarding or guided onboarding?