# Rethinking the startup MVP: Building a competitive product

DevFeed: [Rethinking the startup MVP: Building a competitive product](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/rethinking-the-startup-mvp-building-a-competitive-product-83574.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://linear.app/now/rethinking-the-startup-mvp-building-a-competitive-product>)

Published: 2024-02-28T20:26:00Z

Content type: article

Language: en

Sources: [Linear](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/linear.md>)

Topics: [product-experimentation](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/product-experimentation.md>), [product analytics](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/product-analytics.md>), [API as a Product](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/api-as-a-product.md>)

Tags: [alternatives](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/alternatives.md>), [building](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/building.md>), [feedback](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/feedback.md>), [mvp](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/mvp.md>), [product-market-fit](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/product-market-fit.md>), [validating](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/validating.md>)

## AI overview

The article argues that a startup MVP in a crowded market should be a compelling early version of a product that improves on existing alternatives, rather than only a quick test of a novel idea. It recommends narrowing the initial audience, gathering feedback through a targeted waitlist, iterating on the product, and assessing user sentiment and willingness to pay before a public launch.

## Source excerpt

Today's startup MVP is about iterating early to build the highest quality competitor to an existing idea, not validating a novel one. This journey involves refining early ideas to compete in an existing market, narrowing the target audience, strategically using a waitlist for feedback, and recognizing indicators of early product-market fit.