How can you stay innovative in today's digitized economy without taking unnecessary risks? This question concerns many companies of all sizes. There is a fine line between the desire for innovation and the fear of misinvestment, which must be navigated.
The answer to this dilemma? The Minimum Viable Product, or MVP for short. It combines the best of both worlds – innovation with calculable risk. As an essential tool for modern software development and agile methodologies, the MVP approach has firmly established itself as a formula for success in our coding DNA in recent years.
We'll show you how our experienced developers can advance your Minimum Viable Product to develop digital game-changers – without the usual risks and delays.
The Minimum Viable Product is an early version of a product with minimal but sufficient features, that allows you to quickly gather customer feedback and minimize development risks.
The MVP approach follows a cyclical process of "Build-Measure-Learn," allowing us to proceed iteratively and gradually adapt your product development to both your wishes and your customers' needs.
By using MVPs, companies can save up to 60% on development costs and reduce time-to-market by an average of 40%, while significantly increasing the probability of success for new products.
A Minimum Viable Product is much more than a prototype or a beta version.
According to Eric Ries, one of the founders of the Lean Startup movement, an MVP is "that version of a new product which allows a team to collect the maximum amount of validated learning about customers with the least effort."
Minimum does not mean inferior or half-finished! An MVP is not a half-finished or poorly functioning product. The "Viable" aspect is just as crucial – your MVP version must already offer real value and be functional. The main difference from the finished product lies in the scope of features: A Minimum Viable Product focuses on the absolute core of your idea and initially leaves out everything secondary.
Tim Geisendörfer
Founder & CEO
Let's take an e-commerce platform as an example: The core function is that customers can find, select, and order products. A functioning payment system and simple product management are also essential. Secondary – at least for the MVP – would be features like personalized recommendations, wish lists, complex filter options, or a sophisticated rating system.
These can be added in later iterations after the basic functionality has been validated. Even a lean design without elaborate animations is perfectly sufficient for the initial launch – the main thing is that users can complete their primary task.
The integration into the Lean Startup methodology shows that the Minimum Viable Product does not exist in a vacuum. It is part of a broader philosophy that focuses on rapid, iterative experimentation, customer feedback, and continuous adaptation. This mindset contrasts with the traditional product development process, where development often takes place for months in isolation, without knowing the actual customer reactions. We bring light into these dark dungeons!
The MVP approach follows a clear, cyclical process divided into three phases: Build, Measure, Learn. This cycle is the core of the method and explains why MVPs are so effective.
Build: Quickly and Focused to the First Release
In the Build phase, the goal is to create a functional product with minimal effort. At InnoGE, we rely on lean development processes and focus uncompromisingly on core functions. Instead of incorporating every conceivable feature, we work with you to identify the "must-haves" – those functions that best represent your business idea and solve your target group's main problem.
By using modern development environments, reusable components, and agile methods, we significantly accelerate this process. Our goal is to deliver a testable version within a few weeks, not months.
Measure: The Art of Correct Data Collection
After the launch, the most exciting phase begins: measuring. This is about much more than user numbers or sales. At InnoGE, we establish a comprehensive feedback system that captures both quantitative data (usage behavior, conversion rates, etc.) and qualitative insights (user satisfaction, pain points, feature requests). Direct conversations with early adopters, which provide deep insights into actual usage, are particularly valuable. We help you ask the right questions and interpret the answers correctly.
Learn: From Data Collection to Gaining Insights
The collected data and feedback are systematically evaluated in the Learn phase. Now it's time for critical debugging and data analysis:
Which assumptions were confirmed?
Which were refuted?
What new insights have we gained?
At InnoGE, we rely on fact-based analysis that prevents emotional decisions. We help you accept even uncomfortable truths and draw the right conclusions from them. Sometimes this means minor adjustments to the product, sometimes a complete reorientation (pivot) – depending on what the data suggests.
After each Learn phase, a new Build cycle begins in which the acquired insights are directly implemented. With each iteration, your product becomes better, more relevant, and more valuable to your target group. This continuous improvement, based on real market feedback instead of assumptions, is why we can develop your product so effectively.
The MVP approach offers numerous advantages in software development that go far beyond mere cost savings. At InnoGE, we have perfected these advantages through our agile development model.
Traditional software projects are known for their high failure rate, and often not all developed features are actually needed. With a Minimum Viable Product, you can drastically reduce this waste by testing your ideas against actual market demand early on.
At InnoGE, we use short, weekly sprints instead of the usual two-week cycles. This allows for even earlier feedback and faster adjustments. After each sprint, you receive a working increment of your product – not just concepts or mockups, but actually usable functionalities. Our automated tests and continuous integration ensure a stable development process that remains reliable even with rapid changes and further minimizes the risk of misdevelopment.
The financial side of the MVP approach is impressive. By concentrating on the essentials and early market validation, companies can achieve massive savings. Typically, average development costs are reduced by 60–80% compared to traditional approaches.
Our InnoGE model enhances this advantage through data-driven decision-making. We implement tracking mechanisms even in early MVP versions to collect not only qualitative feedback but also quantitative data. These savings arise not only from lower initial development effort but also from avoiding expensive rework and modifications. If you know from the start what your customers really want, you won't have to restructure expensively later.
In today's fast-paced business world, the time factor can be decisive. A Minimum Viable Product enables a significantly faster market entry (marketable product) – often in a fraction of the time a full development would require.
This acceleration has several advantages: You can secure market share faster, generate revenue sooner, and gain time on your competition.
A Minimum Viable Product forces you to truly think from your customers' perspective. What do they actually need? What problem does your product solve for them? Instead of developing features because they are technically interesting or because competitors have them, you consistently focus on real needs. This consistent customer orientation leads to products that are better received and achieve higher user satisfaction in the long run. The direct involvement of customers in the development process also creates a closer bond and can generate early brand ambassadors.
Markets change faster today than ever before. What was considered innovative yesterday can be outdated tomorrow. The MVP approach gives you the necessary agility to react to such changes promptly. Through iterative development, we can continuously adapt and update your Minimum Viable Product. New trends, changing customer needs, or competitive developments flow directly into the next iteration and later become part of the final product.
Last but not least, the MVP approach leads to more efficient use of your resources. You invest your time, money, and personnel exactly where it brings the greatest benefit – in features, that are actually important to your customers. This focused resource allocation increases the overall efficiency of your company and allows you to achieve more with less. Instead of developing broad but superficial functionality, you can concentrate on deep, valuable features that make the difference.
At InnoGE, we have made the MVP approach a central element of our working method. Our experience shows: Having the right partners by your side can make the difference between a successful MVP and a missed opportunity. Here's what makes us the ideal partner for your Minimum Viable Product development:
We practice a lean, flexible development approach that perfectly fits the Lean Startup methodology and the MVP concept. Fast sprints, regular check-ins, and an uncompromising focus on real added value are firmly anchored in our DNA.
Our development process is optimized to deliver functional products in a short amount of time. We use state-of-the-art tools and frameworks that enable rapid iterations without sacrificing quality or scalability.
MVPs require special technical know-how. It's about finding the right balance between rapid development and future-proof code. Our team combines in-depth technical knowledge with a pragmatic approach – we know exactly where we can take shortcuts and where not. Nevertheless, we also consider a justifiable Design Thinking process that covers the essentials for a Minimum Viable Product.
We bring extensive experience in numerous technologies, including modern frameworks like Laravel, Vue.js, React, and TailwindCSS. This drive also led to us winning the German Web Awards 2023:
One of the biggest challenges in software projects is a lack of transparency. At InnoGE, we insist on complete openness: You have 24/7 access to your infrastructure and can track development progress in real-time. No surprises, no hidden delays – with us, you get full transparency from day one.
Are you familiar with the transition to the finished end product? Without proper planning, this step can lead to technical debt and a complete reprogramming. At InnoGE, we plan the future of your software into the development from the beginning to reduce later effort. We develop MVPs on a solid technical foundation that effortlessly supports later expansions. Our architectural decisions consider scalability, extensibility, and long-term maintainability from the outset – so your product and your company can grow organically.
InnoGE impresses with absolute reliability and adherence to deadlines, as well as with innovative development processes, complemented by excellent process consulting. Their approach, based on transparency and customer-oriented solutions, sets new standards in software development.
Grit Westermann
Board Spokesperson at PSD Bank Berlin-Brandenburg eG
InnoGE impressed us from the very beginning with their commitment and expertise; thanks to their exceptionally talented team and efficient processes, deadlines were not only met but even surpassed, which, in combination with proactive consulting during the conception phase, led to a remarkable optimization of our workflows.
Jan Tillmann
Co-Founder & CGO NAWIDA GmbH
When developing an MVP, a central question arises: Vertical or horizontal slicing? InnoGE helps you find the optimal strategy.
Vertical slicing implements one core function completely. E-commerce example: One product category with a complete ordering and payment process. This allows for deep feedback on an end-to-end workflow. Horizontal slicing, on the other hand, covers multiple functions with less depth. In e-commerce: All categories visible, but a simplified ordering process. Ideal for finding out which product areas are most interesting to users.
At InnoGE, we choose the appropriate approach for you before development to reduce effort:
Vertical slicing: If your core concept needs to be validated and the complete user experience is crucial.
Horizontal slicing: If you first need to determine which features offer the greatest value.
The InnoGE Guarantee: The user flow – the path users take through your product – is always crucial for us. We identify the critical paths and, based on these, develop the right strategy for your Minimum Viable Product to maximize learning and minimize risk.
Tim Geisendörfer
Founder & CEO
The Minimum Viable Product is more than just a development approach – it is a strategic mindset that can fundamentally improve your product development. With an MVP, you:
Significantly minimize development risks
Save valuable time and resources
Consistently focus on actual customer needs
Create a solid foundation for continuous growth
At InnoGE, we specialize in realizing these benefits for our customers. Our dynamic team combines technical expertise with an agile mindset and practical experience in Minimum Viable Product development.
A prototype primarily serves internal testing purposes and does not need to be fully usable. It visualizes concepts and serves as a basis for discussion within the development team, without being intended for the end customer.
An MVP, on the other hand, is a functional product that already offers real value and is tested on the market. It contains only the essential core functions sufficient to fulfill the value proposition and gather valuable customer feedback for your minimum viable product.
The Marketable Product (MP) or Minimum Marketable Product (MMP) represents the next stage of development. While a Minimum Viable Product is focused on learning and validation, the MP is already designed for full market entry. It includes an expanded feature set developed based on MVP feedback and meets the quality and performance requirements for a broad market launch.
The typical development path leads from prototype to Minimum Viable Product (MVP) to Marketable Product: First, you internally test your idea (prototype), then you validate your concept on the market (MVP), and finally, you develop a full-fledged market product (MP) based on proven customer needs. At InnoGE, we seamlessly support you through all these development phases and ensure an efficient transition between stages.
Costs vary depending on requirements. Smaller MVPs can be realized starting from €10,000. We are happy to create a customized offer for your specific Minimum Viable Product project.
The MVP approach is particularly suitable for innovative software solutions where you want to fully tap into new markets with a product or test unproven concepts. It is especially effective for industries with rapid changes and high competitive pressure when developing your minimum viable product.
After an initial consultation, we jointly define the scope of your MVP. Then, we dive directly into agile development with regular updates and close involvement of your team. You have full transparency over the project progress at all times and always remain in a position to make decisions regarding your minimum viable product.
