MVP Development Process: Week-by-Week Breakdown
MVP Development Process: Week-by-Week Breakdown
Building an MVP shouldn't feel like a black box. Here's exactly what happens each week during the 6-week development cycle.
Discovery Call Process
15-minute technical discussion after brief submission. Review requirements and validate technical feasibility. Clarify scope boundaries and integration needs. Confirm 6-week timeline realistic for core feature. No sales pressure. Technical questions only. Clear go/no-go decision for both parties.
Week 0: Foundation Setup (Free)
Technical discovery of your requirements. Architecture planning and database design. Development environment configuration. Repository setup with documentation structure. Specific deliverables: Technical roadmap document. Database schema design. Development environment ready. Project repository with initial structure. By Friday: Project foundation ready, development roadmap confirmed, first week priorities clear.
Week 1: Core Infrastructure
User authentication system implementation. Database schema creation. Basic routing and navigation setup. Initial UI framework and styling. Micro-training: Screencast showing login flow and basic navigation. By Friday: Users can register, login, and navigate basic interface.
Week 2: Primary Feature Development
Main business logic implementation. Core user workflows built. Database operations for primary feature. Error handling and validation. Scope change handling: If requirements change significantly, adapt scope within 6-week timeline or pause/cancel project. Timeline stays fixed. Micro-training: Demo of core feature functionality and user workflow. By Friday: Primary feature works end-to-end for testing.
Week 3: Integration & Polish
Payment processing integration. Email notification system. File upload and storage. Form validation and user feedback. Micro-training: Payment flow demonstration and admin features overview. By Friday: All core integrations functional and tested.
Week 4: User Experience Refinement
Interface improvements based on testing. Performance optimization. Mobile responsiveness final adjustments. User flow simplification. Team collaboration: Orchestra board allows unlimited team members to provide feedback during this phase. Micro-training: Mobile experience walkthrough and user interface improvements. By Friday: Smooth user experience across all devices.
Week 5: Production Preparation
Hosting setup and domain configuration. SSL certificates and security measures. Database backup systems. Error monitoring implementation. Performance considerations: Infrastructure configured for designed load requirements. Scaling within spec covered under warranty. Micro-training: Admin dashboard overview and production environment tour. By Friday: Production environment ready for launch.
Week 6: Launch & Documentation
Final testing and bug fixes. User documentation creation. Admin access setup. Launch preparation and deployment. Handoff preparation: Ad-hoc training sessions based on client needs. No standardized process - adapts to requirements. By Friday: MVP live and accessible to users.
Post-Launch: Warranty Period
Three-month warranty begins immediately. Warranty coverage: Anything that should work as designed but doesn't, especially if blocking core purpose. Performance scaling covered if within original design requirements. Major feature additions excluded.
Continuous Communication
Daily progress updates via Orchestra board. Weekly demo videos showing current state. Direct communication for questions and feedback. Transparent task tracking throughout. Emergency policy: Solo operation means project pauses during genuine emergencies. Full documentation and access provided to prevent single point of failure.
Scope Management Throughout
Core feature remains fixed. Additional requests evaluated against MVP purpose - test business viability. New features mean removing something else to maintain timeline. Principle: Each addition must deserve its place within 6-week constraint.
Transition to Ongoing Development
MVP package is subscription-based underneath. Continue past 6 weeks by keeping subscription active. Switch to ongoing development mode for post-launch scaling and features. No separate onboarding needed - seamless transition from MVP to ongoing work.
Flexible Scope Management
Core feature remains fixed. Additional requests become future enhancements. Technical discoveries addressed immediately. Scope adjustments communicated clearly. Competitive analysis: Research business models and analyze competitors when relevant. Focus on user needs since early-stage targeting differs from established competitors.
Post-Launch Support
Three-month warranty period begins. Bug fixes and small improvements included. Performance monitoring continues. Technical support for hosting issues. Success guarantee scope: Product functionality guaranteed. Business metrics (adoption, conversion) depend on client's marketing and positioning.
Pricing
Fixed 6-week MVP development with weekly installments — continue or stop after launch.
Varstatt is run by Jurij Tokarski, product engineer since 2011
jurij@varstatt.com / X / LI / Book a call
Sole proprietorship headquarted in Rzeszów, Poland. VAT ID: PL8133854722.