How to Prioritize Features in Your First MVP

Launching a startup? Then you’ve probably wrestled with this one brutal truth: you can’t build everything at once. That’s where mastering how to prioritize MVP features becomes a founder’s secret weapon. Whether you’re building the next SaaS platform or a disruptive mobile app, focusing on what actually matters to users can mean the difference between a successful launch and a costly flop.

So, how do you decide what makes the cut in your Minimum Viable Product (MVP) without second-guessing every feature? Let’s break it down.

Why Prioritizing MVP Features is Non-Negotiable

Think of your MVP as a first date—it’s your chance to make an impression, validate your idea, and decide whether the relationship (with your users) is worth continuing.

Launching with too many features? You risk confusion, technical debt, and wasted capital. Too few? You might fail to prove your product’s value.

At its core, MVP feature prioritization isn’t about building faster—it’s about learning faster. That learning will fuel your iterations, investor pitches, and user growth.

Start With Your Core Problem and Audience

Before choosing features, revisit your core problem. What’s the pain point your product exists to solve?

Ask:

What specific problem am I solving?
Who am I solving it for?
What is the simplest version of this solution?

Define your primary user persona. For example, if you’re building a productivity tool for freelancers, do your features address their real day-to-day headaches?

A focused audience + specific problem = clear feature priorities.

Use a Prioritization Framework (Don’t Wing It)

Let’s talk frameworks. You don’t have to be a product manager to use these:

1. MoSCoW Method

Must-Have: Features essential to solving the core problem
Should-Have: Nice additions that support the core value
Could-Have: Bonus features, if time and budget allow
Won’t-Have (for now): Save for post-MVP releases

2. RICE Scoring

Reach: How many users will this feature impact?
Impact: How much will it improve the experience?
Confidence: How sure are you about its effect?
Effort: How long will it take to build?

These systems inject objectivity into an otherwise emotional process. Bonus: they also help keep your team aligned when everyone has a “brilliant” idea.

Map Your User Journey and Build for Just That

Your first MVP should follow the path of one user persona completing one core task.

Let’s say your product helps users find local events. What does their journey look like?

Land on the homepage
Search for events by location
View event details
RSVP or save the event

That’s it. You don’t need chat features, AI-powered recommendations, or an event organizer dashboard—yet. Build only the features that support that initial loop.

Get Real-World Feedback (Before Writing a Single Line of Code)

Before building, create a clickable prototype using tools like Figma or InVision. Then get it in front of potential users.

Ask:

“Would you use this today?”
“What’s missing?”
“What don’t you understand?”

Feedback isn’t just validation—it’s prioritization data. Let your users’ reactions inform what stays and what goes in the MVP.

Want help validating your idea faster? The team at Foundersmax specializes in idea validation and MVP planning through their venture studio model. They co-found with you, not just invest.

Avoid the Feature Creep Trap

One of the sneakiest threats to startups? Feature creep.

It’s when new “must-haves” keep popping up mid-build. Suddenly, your MVP takes six months instead of six weeks.

Here’s how to stay disciplined:

Lock your MVP scope before development starts
Set “feature freezing” points
Use backlog tools to track ideas—but don’t act on them yet

Remember: you’re not building the final product—you’re building the version that teaches you the most with the least effort.

Tech Stack Choices Affect Prioritization Too

Your tech stack can either accelerate or restrict your MVP. For instance, using no-code tools like Bubble or Webflow can help validate ideas faster. But for more custom functionality, you might need to invest in a real dev team.

Don’t let shiny tech dictate your features. Prioritize what proves your idea, then choose the tech that supports it quickly.

Common Mistakes When Prioritizing MVP Features

Let’s flag a few traps:

Designing for edge cases: Focus on the majority use-case
Copying competitors blindly: Their features solve their problems
Trying to impress investors with bells & whistles: Investors care about traction, not fluff

Test, Learn, Then Expand

Once your MVP is live, the real work begins. Track usage, run surveys, measure drop-off points.

Use tools like:

Google Analytics or Mixpanel for user behavior
Hotjar for session recordings
Intercom for real-time feedback

Let data, not gut instinct, drive the next round of features.

If your MVP is bloated, unvalidated, or driven by ego rather than data, it won’t just delay launch—it could doom your entire product. Focus on what solves one pain point for one type of user. That’s the sweet spot where early traction lives.

FAQs

1. What is the best framework to prioritize MVP features?
The MoSCoW method and RICE scoring are two of the most effective and simple frameworks for startups prioritizing MVP features.

2. How many features should an MVP have?
Typically, 1-3 core features that allow users to complete the primary task the product is built for. Less is more.

3. Should I build for all user types in the MVP?
No. Focus on your primary persona. Add features for secondary personas post-MVP.

4. Can I include “nice to have” features if there’s time?
Yes, but only after the “must-have” features are built and tested. Keep them on a backlog.

5. What’s the biggest risk of building too many features?
You risk delaying launch, increasing costs, and confusing early users. More features don’t mean more value.