Concierge MVP
It is a product development approach where startups manually deliver the product or service to early users without building any underlying automation or software
What is Concierge MVP?
A Concierge MVP (Minimum Viable Product) is a product development approach where startups manually deliver the product or service to early users without building any underlying automation or software. Rather than building a scalable solution right away, the founders or team members act as the "concierge," personally guiding users through the product experience. This allows startups to validate their core value proposition before investing in full-scale development.
The Concierge MVP method focuses on learning rather than scaling. It helps teams understand user behaviour, preferences, and pain points by being directly involved in the customer journey. Notably used by startups like Food on the Table, which manually curated meal plans for users before building tech infrastructure, the approach is commonly referenced in Eric Ries' The Lean Startup as a way to test assumptions with minimal resources.
Why use Concierge MVP?
Using a Concierge MVP enables startups to gain deep insights into customer needs without investing heavily in software or automation. This approach is especially valuable during the early validation stage, when teams are still testing core hypotheses. Because the experience is high-touch and personalized, it often results in richer feedback than traditional MVPs.
This strategy is particularly useful for:
- Validating demand before scaling
- Identifying key user pain points
- Testing different solutions quickly
- Building trust and loyalty early on
By avoiding the trap of building unnecessary features, startups can stay lean and pivot more easily.
When to use Concierge MVP?
A Concierge MVP is ideal when your product concept is still in flux and you need direct user interaction to clarify the problem you're solving. If your business idea involves complex workflows or customer behavioir that isn’t well understood, manually delivering the experience allows for valuable real-time adjustments and observations.
Consider using a Concierge MVP in the following situations:
- When testing a new business model or niche
- When targeting a small, specific customer segment
- When product-market fit is unproven
- When you're pre-funding or bootstrapping and need to stay resource-efficient
Ultimately, a Concierge MVP is about learning. If your main goal is to gain insights quickly without wasting time or budget, this approach can act as a springboard toward a more scalable MVP later.
Pros and Cons of Concierge MVP
While not suited for every product or team, the Concierge MVP remains a powerful technique for founders who prioritize learning over building in the early days. Used wisely, it can lay the groundwork for a product people truly want.
Concierge MVP on My Startup Studio
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Frequently Asked Questions
No, a Concierge MVP involves manually delivering the actual product or service to users, while a prototype is typically a simulation or mock-up that isn't fully functional. The Concierge MVP aims to validate real user behaviour, not just design or concept.
It depends on your goals. Most teams use it until they’ve validated their key assumptions, which is typically a few weeks to a few months. Once clear patterns emerge and you've learned enough, it's time to build a more scalable version.
Concierge MVPs work well for service-based startups, SaaS platforms, marketplaces, and products that involve complex workflows. They're especially useful when customer behaviour is unpredictable or hard to quantify early on.
Yes, you can run as many as you want
Related tools
a single-page website that presents your product concept
It iss a decision-making tool designed to help startups and product teams choose the most suitable type of Minimum Viable Product (MVP) for their business idea.
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