Every startup begins with a spark — a bold idea that feels too good to ignore. But moving from idea to execution is where the real journey begins. In a world of limited resources, uncertain markets, and fast-moving competitors, there’s one concept every founder should master early: the Minimum Viable Product (MVP).
What is an MVP, really?
A Minimum Viable Product is not a prototype, and it’s definitely not your final product. It’s the leanest, simplest version of your product that can still deliver value to early users — and more importantly, teach you something.
An MVP is not about cutting corners. It’s about cutting distractions.
It helps you answer the most critical question every founder faces: Will anyone actually use (or pay for) this?
MVPs are:
- Focused: One core feature solving one core problem
- Testable: Designed to generate real feedback
- Fast: Built in days or weeks, not months
MVPs are not:
- Fully featured
- Beautifully designed
- Meant to scale (yet)
Why Start With an MVP?
- Speed to Learning: In the early days, your job is to learn — not to perfect. An MVP gets your idea into the hands of real users, fast.
- Risk Reduction: Why build a fully-featured product no one wants? MVPs let you fail small so you can grow smarter.
- Traction & Trust: Investors trust momentum. A well-executed MVP tells a better story than a pitch deck ever could.
MVPs in the Nordic & Baltic Startup Scene
In Northern Europe — from the accelerators of Helsinki to the digital hubs of Tallinn and Stockholm — MVP thinking isn’t just encouraged. It’s expected.
Many regional startup visa programs and early-stage funds look for tangible traction before committing. An MVP not only proves your concept — it demonstrates your ability to execute, adapt, and learn. That makes you investable.
For immigrant founders or solo entrepreneurs navigating new ecosystems, an MVP is your best leverage. It gives you a foothold in unfamiliar territory and opens doors — sometimes literally. In Estonia, for example, a functioning MVP can be enough to qualify for a startup residence permit.
How to Build Your MVP
Ask yourself:
- What’s the one problem I’m solving — and for whom?
- What is the absolute simplest way to demonstrate that solution?
- What do I need to measure to validate my assumptions?
Start small. Think landing page, explainer video, Google Form, Notion prototype — whatever gets the idea across with the least effort and the clearest impact.
Real MVP Stories:
- Dropbox began with a short demo video that looked like a real product — it wasn’t.
- Airbnb started by renting out their own living room during a conference.
- Superhuman on-boarded their first 100 users manually — learning everything before writing a single line of scalable code.
Start Before You’re Ready
An MVP isn’t a shortcut. It’s a mindset. It reminds us that the goal is not to build — it’s to solve.
So if you’re dreaming of launching something in Helsinki, Vilnius, Reykjavík or anywhere across the New Nordics, don’t wait for perfection. Ship the version that teaches you something — and build from there.
Because when someone one day asks, “How did you get started?”
The most powerful answer will always be:
“With an MVP.”
Curious for more startuplingo?
Read the orginal article: https://arcticstartup.com/why-every-startup-needs-an-mvp/
