MVP, POC, or Prototype: Which One Should You Choose for Your Next Product?

7 min readSep 4, 2024

You’ve got an exciting new idea, but should you create a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), develop a Proof of Concept (POC), or start with a Prototype? Each option serves a unique purpose, but how do you decide which one best aligns with your current product stage and goals?

In this article, we’ll explore the key differences between MVP, POC, and Prototype, providing real-life examples and practical insights. By the end, you’ll have a clear roadmap for choosing the right approach to bring your product vision to life. Let’s dive in!

What are MVP, POC, and Prototype?

Before diving into the details, let’s define each of these terms:

MVP (Minimum Viable Product): The simplest, working version of a product, focusing on core features needed to solve user problems and gather user feedback in the market.
POC (Proof of Concept): A small project or prototype to demonstrate whether a concept, feature, or idea is technically feasible.
Prototype: A visual model or simulation of a product to test and validate design assumptions, often used to refine user experience and interface before moving into full-scale development.

Key Differences: A Comparative Breakdown

The differences between MVP, POC, and Prototype can be broken down across multiple dimensions, as seen in the image above. Here’s a deeper exploration of those aspects:

1. Purpose

MVP: To validate market fit by releasing a product that solves a core problem for users, gathering feedback for improvement.
POC: Focuses on proving that an idea is technically feasible before investing further.
Prototype: Visualizes and tests design elements to refine the product’s user interface and experience.

Example :

MVP: Dropbox’s MVP was a simple explainer video showcasing how their product would work. The video gathered feedback and tested market interest before building the full product.
POC: Before launching Uber (then UberCab), the founders built a simple POC to see if a ride-hailing app could work in San Francisco.
Prototype: When designing the Tesla Cybertruck, prototypes were heavily showcased in public to refine the futuristic design, gather opinions, and iterate based on user feedback.

2. Focus

MVP: Prioritizes functionality and usability.
POC: Centers on the feasibility of the concept with a focus on overcoming technical challenges.
Prototype: Emphasizes design and user interaction before addressing full functionality.

Example :

In the case of Facebook, the early MVP focused on allowing students to connect on a basic social platform. However, for the prototype of Facebook’s “Timeline” feature, internal design iterations and limited user testing occurred before the full release.

3. Development

MVP: Involves developing only essential features to solve core problems.
POC: A quick and basic implementation of a single idea or feature to test technical feasibility.
Prototype: An early design model, often not functional, aimed at demonstrating layout and interaction flow.

Example :

MVP: Airbnb’s MVP was a simple website that allowed people to rent out their homes during conferences in San Francisco.
POC: For Spotify, a POC was likely used to test the idea of streaming music instantly from servers to users without downloading.
Prototype: Design-heavy companies like Apple spend considerable time prototyping products like the iPhone to refine its design and user interface before full-scale development.

4. Development Time

MVP: Typically takes a moderate amount of time, as it requires core functionality.
POC: Completed quickly since it tests a narrow aspect.
Prototype: Development time can range from short to moderate, depending on design complexity.

5. Audience

MVP: Released to real users to gather actionable feedback.
POC: Internal testing by developers and stakeholders, typically not seen by external users.
Prototype: May involve limited testing by selected users, primarily targeting internal teams and design feedback.

User Involvement & Feedback Loop

6. User Involvement

MVP: User feedback is crucial, and the product is continuously refined based on real-time market data.
POC: Users rarely interact, as this is more about technical validation.
Prototype: Involves limited user testing, usually focused on usability and design refinement.

7. Iteration

MVP: Continuous iteration based on user feedback.
POC: Generally a one-time test to determine if the concept works.
Prototype: Iterative by nature, focusing on design tweaks and refinements.

Example :

MVP: Amazon’s early MVP only sold books but allowed real user feedback to shape future expansions.
POC: A POC for autonomous cars might involve testing a single capability, like automatic braking, in isolation before moving to more complex features.
Prototype: Google’s early smart glasses (Google Glass) went through several prototype phases, involving iterative design feedback from developers before broader testing.

Cost, Risk, and Success Metrics

8. Cost

MVP: Higher cost because it involves core functionality and infrastructure for real users.
POC: Lower cost since it’s just testing feasibility, often with minimal investment.
Prototype: Moderately costly depending on design complexity and iteration needs.

9. Risk

MVP: Medium to high, as the product is exposed to real users and the market.
POC: Low risk since it’s not exposed to users; the goal is to validate ideas early on.
Prototype: Medium risk as the focus is on design validation and early-stage refinement.

10. Success Metric

MVP: Success is determined by user adoption and feedback.
POC: Success is measured by whether the idea is technically feasible (Go/No-Go decision).
Prototype: Success is determined by usability and design effectiveness.

Example Expansion:

MVP: Slack’s MVP focused on team communication, which eventually led to rapid user adoption and feedback that shaped its growth.
POC: A blockchain startup might create a POC to test whether decentralized ledgers can handle high transaction volumes.
Prototype: Before launching Microsoft Surface, the prototype was tested heavily for its unique design (tablet-laptop hybrid) before entering mass production.

Outcome

11. Outcome

MVP: The early version of the product is available in the market, where it can be refined based on user feedback.
POC: It results in a Go/No-Go decision regarding the technical feasibility of the product.
Prototype: Provides insights into design and functionality but is not yet a finished product.

Real-World Application: How Do Companies Use MVPs, POCs, and Prototypes?

To better understand how these approaches work in the real world, let’s look at some company examples:

MVP (Minimum Viable Product):

Dropbox famously created an MVP by developing an explainer video instead of building the full product. This video clearly showed how the file-sharing concept would work. The positive feedback from users validated the market fit, helping the founders secure funding to build out the full platform.
Amazon started with a basic MVP focusing solely on selling books online. As users provided feedback and as the company gained traction, they iterated and expanded the platform to sell a variety of products.

2. POC (Proof of Concept):

Uber started with a POC in San Francisco to test if their ride-hailing concept was feasible. By launching in one city with a small feature set, Uber was able to determine whether there was demand for such a service and whether it was technically viable.
Spotify likely built a POC to test the concept of streaming music instantly from the cloud before investing in the development of a full-fledged platform.

3. Prototype:

Tesla’s Cybertruck was revealed as a prototype, offering a radical new design. Through public demos and user reactions, Tesla gathered feedback and iterated on the design to fine-tune it before entering production.
Apple frequently uses prototypes internally before launching major products like the iPhone. Their focus is on testing the design and interaction flow before moving into the development of full functionality.

Choosing the Right Approach: When to Use MVP, POC, or Prototype?

So, how do you decide which approach to use for your next product? Here are a few key considerations:

When to use an MVP: If you have a solid understanding of the product idea and need to test product-market fit with real users, an MVP is the way to go. It provides core functionality and allows for continuous iteration based on user feedback. For example, a startup looking to enter a competitive market can launch an MVP to get user feedback and adapt quickly.
When to use a POC: If there’s uncertainty around the technical feasibility of an idea, start with a POC. This approach is great for internal validation and is especially useful when working with new, untested technologies. An AI-driven company might use a POC to see if their algorithm can handle large datasets efficiently before scaling.
When to use a Prototype: If the focus is on refining design and user experience, build a prototype. This approach is especially valuable when the visual and interactive elements are crucial to product success. Use it when you’re exploring different design possibilities or want to test the usability of a new feature.

Thanks for reading! If you’ve got ideas to contribute to this conversation please comment. If you like what you read and want to see more, clap me some love! Follow me here, or connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter.

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