MVPs in Agile — everything you need to know

In Agile, an MVP is a cornerstone of modern development practices, enabling teams to deliver value quickly and iteratively. By focusing on building a simplified version of a product, Agile teams can validate ideas, gather user feedback, and refine their offerings without overcommitting resources.

In this guide, we’ll explore what is MVP in Agile development, its importance, and how to successfully create one using Agile principles.

What is an MVP in Agile development?

In Agile, a minimum viable product is developed to test a concept with minimal features that still deliver value to users. Unlike traditional approaches, Agile emphasizes building and delivering an MVP iteratively and incrementally, allowing teams to adapt to user feedback and market demands as they go.

The primary goal of an MVP in Agile methodology is to encourage learning. By launching an MVP early, teams can validate assumptions and determine whether a product idea is worth pursuing.

Why MVPs are important in Agile

In Agile, the MVP plays a crucial role in reducing risks and validating product ideas before scaling.

Test ideas early

Building a minimum viable product in Agile allows teams to test assumptions with real users. This approach ensures that time and resources are spent on ideas that resonate with the target audience.

Lower risks

By delivering a simplified product, teams can identify flaws, usability issues, or market misalignment early. This minimizes the risk of building a product that doesn’t meet user needs.

Deliver faster

Agile prioritizes speed and adaptability. With an MVP, teams can launch a product quickly, gather feedback, and iteratively improve it, reducing time-to-market and maintaining a competitive edge.

The role of MVPs in Scrum

In Scrum, the MVP fits naturally into the iterative process. It helps teams focus on solving the right problem while aligning sprint goals with user needs.

Plan MVP features in sprints

During sprint planning, teams figure out the key features needed to create the MVP. They break these features into smaller tasks, keeping the sprint manageable and focused on delivering value. This way, teams can build the MVP’s core functionality without getting bogged down by unnecessary details.

Validate MVP progress with reviews

Sprint reviews are a chance to show stakeholders what’s been done so far and get feedback on the MVP. Teams can showcase the progress, discuss what’s working, and identify what needs tweaking. This helps ensure the MVP stays aligned with user needs and expectations.

Learn and adapt through retrospectives

Sprint retrospectives let teams look back on the process and find ways to improve. It’s about figuring out what went well, what didn’t, and how to make things run smoother next time. This cycle of learning and adapting is what makes Scrum so effective for MVP development.

Why MVPs fit in Scrum

By including MVPs, Scrum teams can prioritize the most valuable features, ensuring every sprint contributes directly to validating the product’s core value proposition.

How to build an MVP in Agile teams

Developing an MVP requires a clear plan. Follow these steps to build an effective minimum viable product in Agile:

1. Define the problem

Identify the problem your product solves. Without a clear understanding of the user’s pain points, your MVP risks missing the mark.

2. Focus on your audience

Pinpoint who your early adopters are. These are the users most likely to provide valuable feedback and validate your idea.

3. Choose essential features

List potential features and prioritize the ones that deliver your product’s core value. Use Agile tools like user stories or MoSCoW prioritization to stay focused.

4. Create and test

Develop the MVP with usability and functionality in mind. Test it with a small group of users to identify immediate issues.

5. Get user feedback

Collect real-world feedback from users to understand their experience, identify pain points, and learn what resonates.

6. Iterate and refine

Use feedback to improve your product. This iterative process ensures your MVP evolves to meet user needs effectively.

Real-world examples of Agile MVPs

Here are two agile MVP examples that show how real teams have succeeded with focused MVPs:

Dropbox

Dropbox launched with a simple demo video as its MVP. The video showcased the product’s core value—seamless file synchronization—without requiring a functional prototype. This validated demand and helped secure funding.

Airbnb

Airbnb’s MVP involved renting out the founders’ apartment. This low-tech solution allowed them to test the concept, gather feedback, and refine their platform before scaling.

These examples show how simplicity and focus can lead to significant results.

Common challenges with MVPs in Agile

While MVPs are powerful, teams often face challenges during development. Here’s how to address them:

Avoid feature creep

Adding too many features dilutes the purpose of an MVP. Keep it simple by focusing on the core functionality that delivers value.

Listen to users

Feedback is the foundation of an MVP. Failing to act on user insights can result in a product that doesn’t align with market needs.

Set clear expectations

Stakeholders may expect the MVP to be a full product. Clear communication about the MVP’s purpose and scope helps manage these expectations.

Best practices for developing MVPs in Agile

Follow these best practices to build effective MVPs with Agile:

Get stakeholders involved early

Involve stakeholders from the beginning. Their input ensures alignment between business goals and the MVP’s scope.

Plan in small steps

Break the MVP into manageable increments. Agile’s iterative approach ensures continuous improvement and adaptability.

Test your ideas

Regular testing helps you identify issues early and improve your product based on real user behavior.

Use the right tools

Tools like Miro simplify planning and collaboration. A clear visual workspace helps teams prioritize features, align goals, and track progress.

Build better MVPs with Miro

Creating an MVP in Agile requires collaboration, clarity, and adaptability. Miro’s innovation workspace comes with an AI-powered visual canvas that helps teams map ideas, prioritize features, and streamline workflows. With customizable templates tailored for Agile, Miro makes MVP Agile development simple and efficient.

Sign up for Miro to get started.