12 Common MVP Mistakes That Kill Startups

The same MVP mistakes appear again and again—and they're almost always avoidable.

Mistake #1: Building Before Validating

42% of startups fail because there's no market need. Talk to 20+ potential users before building.

Mistake #2: Too Many Features

An MVP with 15 features when 3 would suffice. Every extra feature dilutes focus and delays learning.

Mistake #3: Perfectionism Paralysis

Perfect products that never launch fail 100% of the time. Done is better than perfect.

Mistake #4: Ignoring the Business Model

A product people use but won't pay for isn't a business—it's a hobby.

Mistake #5: Building for Everyone

When you build for everyone, you delight no one. Start hyper-focused on a specific user.

Mistake #6: Choosing the Wrong Tech Stack

Use boring technology that your team knows well. Speed to learning beats technical elegance.

Mistake #7: No Feedback Loops

An MVP without feedback mechanisms isn't an MVP—it's just a small product.

Mistake #8: Underestimating Time and Budget

Software always takes longer than expected. Add 50% buffer to all timelines.

Mistake #9: Hiring Too Early

Pre-PMF, speed and flexibility matter most. Small teams move faster.

Mistake #10: Copying Competitors

You can't out-feature an established player. You need to be different, not better at the same thing.

Mistake #11: Ignoring Distribution

The best product with no distribution loses to a mediocre product with great distribution.

Mistake #12: Not Knowing When to Pivot

Most successful startups pivoted at least once. The goal isn't to prove your first idea right—it's to find something that works.

The Meta-Mistake

Treating "MVP" as a checkbox rather than a mindset. The MVP approach should guide everything you build.