Rapid MVP
The MVP Trap
Most MVPs fail for the same reason: they're either overbuilt (burning time and money on features nobody needs) or underbuilt (too broken to actually test your hypothesis).
We've launched MVPs that raised funding, acquired paying customers, and scaled to millions of users. We've also killed MVPs that needed killing—fast, before they wasted more resources.
The goal isn't to build something perfect. It's to learn something real. Our Rapid MVP process is designed to get you from idea to validated learning as fast as possible.
ClearSummit understood what we needed for launch versus what could wait. We were live in 8 weeks and had paying customers by week 10.
How We Build MVPs
Discovery & Ruthless Scoping
We spend the first week understanding your hypothesis, your users, and your constraints. Then we cut scope ruthlessly. The goal is the smallest thing that tests your biggest assumption.
Scope creep is the MVP killer. Every "quick addition" delays launch and muddies your learning. We're here to say no—to features, complexity, and premature optimization.
- Core hypothesis documentation
- User journey maps (stripped to essentials)
- Feature prioritization matrix
- Technical feasibility assessment
Design Sprint
One week of focused design. We move from wireframes to testable prototypes to final UI. You see progress daily and provide feedback in real-time. No 6-week design phases.
Unexpressed assumptions. If you assume the app should work offline, we need to know now. Design is where we surface the requirements that will make or break engineering.
- Interactive prototype
- Core screen designs
- Design system foundation
- User testing results
Build Sprint
Four to six weeks of focused development. We use our Starter Kit to eliminate boilerplate and get to your unique functionality immediately. Weekly builds so you can see and test progress.
Third-party dependencies. If we're integrating with your existing systems or external APIs, delays on their end ripple through. We identify these risks early and build contingencies.
- Weekly deployable builds
- Progress scorecards
- Technical documentation
- Version 1.0 release 🚀
Launch & Learn
Launch is the beginning, not the end. We set up analytics to capture what matters, help you interpret the data, and plan what comes next based on real user behavior.
- Analytics dashboard
- User feedback collection
- Post-launch iteration plan
- Scaling roadmap (when ready)
Why We're Fast
Speed without shortcuts.
Our Starter Kit includes authentication, user management, payment processing, admin tools, and deployment infrastructure—all production-ready from day one. We're not cutting corners; we're not rebuilding solved problems.
This means your development time goes toward what makes your product unique, not infrastructure you could have bought.
How We Stay On Track
Fixed scope, not fixed features.
We scope MVPs aggressively. The goal is validated learning, not a feature list. When something threatens the timeline, we cut scope—not quality, not testing, not the things that matter.
You'll ship something real, tested, and usable. It just might not have every bell and whistle you imagined at the start.
They pushed back on features I thought were essential and were absolutely right. The MVP we launched was half the size I originally wanted—and twice as effective.
Is This Right for You?
Rapid MVP is right if: You have a hypothesis to test. You have budget for 6-10 weeks of development. You're willing to launch something imperfect to learn something real.
Rapid MVP isn't right if: You need a fully-featured product (check out our full development services). You're not ready to launch and learn—you just want to build.
Let's Scope Your MVP
Tell us your hypothesis. We'll tell you the fastest path to testing it with real users.