Let me be honest: when we started building Shiftwell, I thought we'd have an MVP in 90 days. Reality check? It took several months, and that was working weekends and whenever we could sync up with our developer while all of us were working full-time jobs.
But here's what I learned: the timeline isn't the problem. The approach is.
After helping dozens of founders and refining this process, I've created a framework that actually works. Not because it's faster, but because it forces you to build the right thing from day one.
The Reality Check: Why Most MVPs Fail
Most founders approach MVPs like this: "Let's build everything we think users need, but simpler."
Wrong.
An MVP isn't a smaller version of your full product. It's the smallest thing that proves your core hypothesis and gets you real user feedback.
Our Shiftwell Reality Check
We originally scoped what we thought was the "bare minimum" for Shiftwell. Even after working with our developer to strip it down, we had to cut more: shift warnings, admin panels, start day customization, CSV exports, view toggles, total hour calculations. The list went on.
Cutting those features wasn't a compromise. It was clarity.
The 90-Day Framework: Phase by Phase
Days 1-30: Validation & Core Definition
Week 1-2: Problem Validation
- Talk to 10+ potential users about their current pain points
- Identify the ONE core problem your MVP will solve
- Write a one-sentence value proposition
Week 3-4: Feature Ruthlessness
- List every feature you think you need
- Cut 80% of them (seriously)
- Focus on the core workflow that solves the main problem
Days 31-60: Build & Test
Week 5-6: Development Sprint Planning
- Break remaining features into small, testable pieces
- Set up your tech stack (keep it simple)
- Build the core user flow first
Week 7-8: Core Feature Development
- Build only what's needed for the primary use case
- Test each piece as you build it
- Don't worry about edge cases yet
Days 61-90: Polish & Launch Prep
Week 9-10: User Testing & Refinement
- Get 5-10 users to actually use your MVP
- Fix only the bugs that break the core experience
- Ignore everything else
Week 11-12: Launch Preparation
- Set up basic analytics
- Create simple onboarding
- Prepare your feedback collection system
The Tools That Actually Matter
You don't need a complex tech stack. You need tools that let you move fast and change direction quickly.
For Non-Technical Founders:
- No-code platforms: Bubble, Webflow, or Airtable for simple workflows
- AI assistance: ChatGPT and Claude for planning and problem-solving
- Design: Figma for wireframes, keep it simple
For Technical Teams:
- Quick development: Next.js, SvelteKit, or Rails for rapid prototyping
- Database: PostgreSQL or Firebase for simplicity
- AI tools: Cursor and Claude for code acceleration
The Biggest Lesson: Functionality Over Perfection
Here's the aha moment that changed everything for us: it's better to get functionality right rather than being pixel perfect.
Your users don't care if your buttons are the perfect shade of blue. They care if your product solves their problem without making them think too hard.
For Shiftwell, this meant:
- Focusing on making shift assignment dead simple
- Ensuring the core scheduling workflow was bulletproof
- Leaving visual polish for after we proved the concept worked
How to Stay on Track
The biggest challenge isn't technical. It's psychological. Here's how to avoid the common traps:
Set Weekly Check-ins
Every Friday, ask yourself: "What did I learn about my users this week?" If the answer is "nothing," you're building in a vacuum.
Use the "Embarrassment Test"
If you're not slightly embarrassed by your MVP when you launch it, you waited too long. Ship when it works, not when it's perfect.
Track Leading Indicators
Don't just measure downloads or signups. Measure engagement with your core feature. For us, it was "How many shifts did users actually schedule?"
When You're Working Full-Time
Most founders don't have the luxury of going full-time on their startup immediately. We didn't either. Here's what worked:
- Protect your weekend focused time: 4-6 hour blocks are more valuable than scattered 30-minute sessions
- Use async tools: Document everything so team members can contribute when they have time
- Outsource the non-core stuff: Hire a developer for the foundation, then accelerate with AI tools
The Launch Moment
Your 90-day goal isn't to build a complete product. It's to build something that proves your core hypothesis and gets you real user feedback.
Launch when you can answer these questions:
- Does this solve the main problem for at least some users?
- Can users complete the core workflow without getting confused?
- Do you have a way to collect and act on feedback?
If you can say yes to all three, ship it. Everything else can be improved based on real user input.
Beyond the MVP
The 90 days don't end with launch. They end with learning. Your MVP is a learning machine, not a product.
Use the feedback to build your actual product. Some of those features you cut? You might never build them. Some problems you didn't anticipate? Those become your roadmap.
The founders who succeed aren't the ones who build the perfect MVP. They're the ones who ship fast, learn faster, and iterate until they find product-market fit.
Now stop planning and start building.