The Minimum Loveable Product
4 min 
One of the key aspects of an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) and also one of the biggest advantages for entrepreneurs is the fact that it is an actual product. Not a prototype or anything like that, but a real product that you can take to market. Despite the fact that the definition of an MVP is sometimes used loosely, its meaning remains crystal clear.
KEY LEARNINGS
- What is an MVP?
- What is the difference between an MLP and an MVP?
The concept of a minimum viable product (MVP) is best understood by exploring the three underlying ideas:
- The adjective “minimum” refers to limiting the investment required to develop the product in question, as well as the limited number of features that are implemented.
- “Viable” implies that your product is ready to enter the market. Ready to attract your first customers to your business and to process their feedback.
- Product naturally refers to the product or service that you are developing for your customers/users.
The concept was introduced by Eric Ries, who defines the Minimum Viable Product as a version of your product that allows you to gather maximum validation and information about your users and customers, and which costs you the least effort to realize. It quickly became the standard for software development in Silicon Valley. Developing an MVP is about selecting “must-have features” considering both functionality and user experience. Features that satisfy and engage your first customers.
The Minimum Loveable Product
One of the reasons why building an MVP is challenging for many entrepreneurs lies in the fact that we like to have something to be proud of. Or rather, to be immediately proud of something. We want to create something we can love, something others can love. An MLP is essentially nothing more or less than an MVP with a strong focus on UX. And yes, the investment in an MLP is greater than in an MVP.
Instead of seeing an investment in great UX as wasted effort or funds, you can view every interaction with your potential customers as an opportunity to impress them. An opportunity to turn users into ambassadors.
We can best describe the MLP as an MVP that, as the only exception to the strict rules of MVP development, allows for an indulgence in UX to create not only essential functionality but also an essential experience.
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