We at co-found.xyz spend enough time around startup founders, indie makers and first-time entrepreneurs, one question comes up again and again: “What should actually be included in an MVP?”. We see most people either try to build too much too early or cut so many corners that the product no longer solves a real problem. This way MVP Scope oftern defines overall success and becomes startup fundation stone. That is why we believe having a clearly defined MVP scope matters so much.
To make the idea more practical, our team came up with draft of how, for this example, food delivery app MVP could be scoped. It focuses only on the core functionality needed to validate demand, attract early users, and collect meaningful feedback without spending months building unnecessary features.
MVP scope basics
Defining an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) scope involves identifying the absolute minimum set of features needed to launch a product, solve a core problem for early adopters, and gather user feedback. It filters “must-haves” from “nice-to-haves” to reduce development time (aiming for 4-8 weeks) and costs, while validating business hypotheses.
Food delivery App MVP scope sample
- Goal: Validate if users in a specific neighborhood will order local food via an app.
- User Persona: Busy professionals aged 25–40.
- User Journey: User browses restaurants, selects items, pays, and receives food.
- Must-Have Features (In Scope):
- User registration/login (Email).
- Basic restaurant listing (3-5 local restaurants).
- Simple menu display with prices.
- Shopping cart.
- Secure payment gateway (e.g., Stripe).
- Order confirmation screen.
- Nice-to-Have Features (Out of Scope – Future Iteration):
- Real-time rider tracking.
- User reviews/ratings.
- In-app chat with drivers.
- AI-based personalized recommendations.
Steps to Define MVP Scope
- Define the Core Value Proposition: What is the one problem you are solving?.
- Map User Journey: List the steps a user takes to solve their problem.
- Prioritize Features: Use the MoSCoW method to outline:
- Must have
- Should have
- Could have
- Won’t have
- Cut the Scope in Half: If you think your scope is minimal, reduce it again to ensure it is actually an MVP.
Key Characteristics of a Well-Defined Scope
- Viable: It allows users to complete their primary task.
- Focused: It fixes only one core problem.
- Fast to Market: It can be built within 4-12 weeks
Startup foundation stone
At co-found.xyz we always ask early stage founders to remember that some of the most successful MVPs in history took less than a week to create. Correct scope definition is a key for actual MVP. Which drafts a whole project success. As you know, only 10% of startups surrvive to cashflow or venture investment. Our hornest advise – take time to define a good, correct MVP scope, as this is the foundation stone of the startup.