Introduction
You’ve built an MVP and you’re ready to show it to investors. But a flashy product isn’t enough. Aspirational demos won’t convince unless you can prove there’s real demand, a repeatable path to customers, and a credible plan to scale. Historically, startups stumble not because of bad ideas alone, but because they fail to demonstrate problem validation, traction signals, and a practical roadmap. For context, estimates from industry analyses suggest that a large share of startups fail due to a lack of market need or poor product-market fit. Your job is to convert that risk into measurable signals that investors can reasonably assess.
Below are seven pragmatic checks you can apply to your MVP to make it more compelling, without blowing up scope or delays.
Check 1: Problem-solution fit and target market
What to verify
The problem is clearly articulated and painful enough to justify action today. You’ve defined specific user personas and scenarios where your solution is the obvious choice. You conducted qualitative interviews (and some quant data) with enough potential users to hear consistent pain points. You can summarize the problem in a one-sentence statement and pair it with a concise solution claim.Action steps
Conduct 15-20 user interviews or usability sessions within 2–4 weeks and log top 5–7 recurring pain points.Build a problem-solution map: for each persona, show how your MVP reduces friction or cost by a measurable percent.Create a one-liner and a landing-page hypothesis to test with real traffic.Check 2: Value proposition and early product-market fit signals
What to verify
A clear, defensible value proposition that differentiates your MVP from existing options. Early engagement signs: repeat usage, feature activation, or time-to-complete core tasks. Initial feedback loops show you’re iterating toward a product people want to use and pay for.Action steps
Draft a crisp value proposition statement and test it with 3 different messaging variants.Track activation rates: what percentage of users complete the MVP’s core task in the first session? Aim for improvement over time.Collect 5–8 user quotes that illustrate the problem, the relief your MVP provides, and any remaining friction.Check 3: Metrics that matter to investors
What to verify
A lean set of core metrics that align with your business model (retention, engagement, CAC, LTV, etc.). A clear growth trajectory supported by data, not assumptions. A simple dashboard that you can share in under a minute.Action steps
Define 4–5 KPIs: activation rate, daily/weekly active users, one-month retention, CAC, and LTV if monetized.Set short-term targets (next 90 days) and a 6–12 month forecast. Build a lightweight analytics plan: what you measure, how often you review it, and who is responsible.Check 4: Scope, roadmap, and technical readiness
What to verify
The MVP scope focuses on the core pain and avoids feature creep. The architecture supports growth: modularity, testability, and data integrity. Clear non-functional requirements and a plan for performance, security, and data privacy.Action steps
Create a 3-month MVP roadmap with rock-solid milestones and one measurable outcome per milestone.Produce a simple system diagram showing how components scale and where data sits.Define performance targets (e.g., 95th percentile response time, offline capability) and security basics (encryption, access controls).Check 5: Financials and unit economics
What to verify
A viable pricing approach and a reasonable revenue model for the MVP stage. Unit economics that show profitability potential or a credible path to it (CAC, LTV, gross margin). A burn rate and runway aligned with your fundraising timeline.Action steps
Build a 12–18 month P&L focusing on the MVP’s cost structure and revenue assumptions.Run 2–3 pricing scenarios (e.g., freemium, subscription tiers, or per-use) and compare impact on CAC and LTV.Calculate break-even point and maintain a simple cash-flow projection.Check 6: Go-to-market plan and early traction
What to verify
A realistic plan for acquiring first users and converting them into advocates. Early partnerships, pilots, or case studies that demonstrate real-world value. A repeatable onboarding flow with a quick path to value.Action steps
Outline 2–3 primary channels (organic search, content, partnerships, paid ads) and a two-week test for each.Prepare 1–2 case studies or pilot summaries with quantified outcomes.Refine onboarding by A/B testing micro-copy, tutorials, and trigger-based nudges to boost activation.Check 7: Risk, compliance, and governance
What to verify
A risk register that identifies the top 5 risks with mitigations (privacy, security, IP, regulatory). Basic compliance measures appropriate to your data and market (privacy notices, terms, consent, data handling). A credible roadmap with milestones that reassure investors you can execute.Action steps
List risks, assign owners, and set mitigation actions with due dates.Conduct a quick privacy-by-design review and confirm data handling practices.Build a lightweight roadmap that ties product milestones to risk mitigations and investor milestones.Conclusion
Putting these checks into practice helps you present a credible, evidence-driven case to investors rather than a hope-filled pitch. Focus on translating every feature into measurable impact: problem clarity, validated demand, traction signals, a scalable technical plan, solid unit economics, and a realistic go-to-market path. When you can demonstrate that your MVP reduces risk and accelerates time to value, you’ll stand a better chance of securing the support you need.
If you’d like hands-on help turning these checks into a polished MVP, Fokus App Studio offers cross-platform