Defined in 2001 by Frank Robinson, a Minimum Viable Product, or MVP, is a product or service that is in an early, yet usable stage of development. The product will be polished enough to attract customers and users. In some cases, the released MVP will not have any level of automation and the service functions will be carried out manually. A MVP can take the form of a simple piece of software with limited features to a landing page describing the idea to a simple video explaining the concept.

Creating a MVP allows you to test functionality, user popularity and user demand without having to invest in the full development of a product, as well as allowing you to get vital feedback that will shape the development and direction of the product. 

The MVP model has been used by countless companies and startups in a wide variety of industries. One of the biggest examples of a startup using the MVP model is Facebook. The Facebook we know today began as a simple web platform for students at Harvard University to communicate and interact with one another.