Which way to go? MVP vs SLC

The debate between the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and the Simple, Lovable, Complete (SLC) model has been ongoing, with strong arguments made for both. However, it's essential to understand that these two concepts serve different purposes and shouldn’t be confused. In fact, I believe the MVP approach remains crucial for early-stage product development, and here’s why.

The Purpose of an MVP: Validating Assumptions, Not Features

At its core, the MVP is about validating two fundamental assumptions: Does the problem you're trying to solve actually exist? and Is your proposed solution the right way to address that problem?

When you start with an MVP, the goal isn’t to develop a feature-rich product right out of the gate. Instead, it's to validate whether there’s a market for your idea and whether your solution is hitting the mark. The MVP is a tool for testing the waters, allowing you to gather real-world feedback quickly. It's not about perfecting a feature list. That only comes later—after you’ve validated that the problem is real and that your solution is one people are willing to use.

Most people discussing MVPs aren’t addressing a fully validated product concept. They're speaking to those still figuring out whether the problem exists or whether their proposed solution is on target. This is where the MVP mindset shines—it enables rapid iteration based on customer feedback. Once you've confirmed that both the problem and solution are solid, then and only then should you focus on expanding the product with a clear feature set.

Why SLC Works for Some, but Not All

SLC advocates argue for building something simple, lovable, and complete from the start. The idea is to release a polished, engaging product that users can immediately fall in love with. This approach works well when you’re certain that users are dissatisfied with existing solutions because they lack simplicity or emotional engagement. Take Figma, for example. The problem with Photoshop was that it was too complex for non-experts, and lacked collaboration features. Figma needed to be complete right from the beginning, or users would simply move on to other solutions.

But the problem with SLC is that it assumes your product's core issue is related to complexity or emotional connection with users. What if you’re trying to solve a different problem? If you’re testing an idea where the problem is still uncertain—like connecting professionals in a new way—the MVP is more effective. You don’t need a fully formed product to test this idea; a simple MVP like a Google form or even a Slack channel could suffice to validate interest in the concept.

MVP: The Fast, Low-Risk Option

The MVP approach is about getting real user data fast, without overcommitting to any one solution. In the case of a product like a social network for experts, it might not be necessary to develop a fully-fledged platform at the start. Instead, the MVP could be a simple way to test whether users are interested in such a service. You can start small, validate your assumptions, and then expand based on user feedback. This is where the MVP mindset comes in, helping you avoid wasting resources on features that users don’t care about.

The Bottom Line

MVPs and SLCs are both valid product development strategies, but they address different stages of the development process. If you're unsure about the problem and the solution, the MVP is the right tool to help you learn quickly and with minimal risk. On the other hand, if you're addressing a well-known problem, and you believe that users need a product that’s simple, lovable, and complete, the SLC model may be more appropriate.

The key takeaway is that the MVP isn’t inherently “selfish” or “buggy”; it’s a way to learn fast and fail fast without committing too many resources. The SLC model has its place, but it’s not the go-to solution for every product. Understanding the distinction between these two approaches can help founders and product teams make better decisions at each stage of their product journey.

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