MVP development
MVP development for founders who need real users, fast
We help founders turn an idea into a working product in weeks, not quarters: scoped to the one thing that matters, measured from day one and built on a codebase you can keep growing.
- Launch in roughly 6–10 weeks
- Analytics wired in from day one
- No rewrite when you find traction
An MVP is a question, not a smaller app
Most first products fail because they take too long to reach real users: months go into features nobody asked for, and the core assumption is still untested at launch. A good MVP is the smallest product that can answer your riskiest question, such as "will people pay for this?" or "will they come back next week?", with real data instead of opinions.
Our MVP development work starts with scoping, not code. We sit down with you, list every feature you imagine, and cut until only the core loop remains: the path a user takes to get the value you promise. Everything else goes on a written "later" list.
Then we build that core properly. Small does not mean throwaway: we use the production stack we run our own products on, so your startup MVP becomes the foundation of version two, not something to rebuild once investors or customers say yes.
Why founders build an MVP with us
Ruthless, honest scoping
We will tell you which features can wait, and why. A tight scope is the single biggest lever on cost, speed and how clearly you can read the results.
Validation built in
Product analytics, key events and a simple feedback channel are part of the build, so after launch you know where users drop off and what they actually use.
Built so it scales
TypeScript, a real backend and clean structure from the first commit. When traction arrives you keep building on what you have instead of starting over.
Ready for the investor meeting
A live product with real sign-ups beats a slide deck. We make sure the demo path is polished, fast and works on the device you will hand across the table.
Made for non-technical founders
You work directly with the engineer who builds your app, with no account-manager layer. Decisions are explained in plain language, and you own the code and IP.
What you get from an MVP engagement
Everything you need to launch, learn and keep building, whether you continue with us or hire your own team later.
Scope and feature map
A written definition of the core loop, the must-have features, and a prioritized later list so you can plan what comes after launch.
Working product
A web app, a cross-platform mobile app, or both, depending on where your users are. Real accounts, real data, real deploys.
Backend and admin basics
Authentication, database, the APIs your app needs, and a simple way for you to manage users and content without asking a developer.
Analytics and feedback loop
Event tracking on the actions that prove or disprove your idea, plus a lightweight way for early users to tell you what is missing.
Launch and store submission
Production deploy for the web, and App Store and Google Play submission for mobile, including the listing details reviewers ask about.
Source code in your repo
Clean, documented TypeScript in a repository you control from day one. On full payment you own the code and IP outright.
How we build an MVP, step by step
A short, predictable path from idea to launch, with a working demo every week along the way.
Step 1: Free app plan
Timeline: 1–3 days
You answer a short questionnaire about your idea. We send back a plan with suggested scope, stack and a typical estimate, free and with no obligation.
Step 2: Scoping workshop
Timeline: 1 week
We define the core loop, cut the rest to the later list, agree on success metrics and fix the scope and price in writing.
Step 3: Flows and design
Timeline: 1–2 weeks
Key screens and user flows, reviewed with you and, ideally, a few target users before development starts.
Step 4: Build with weekly demos
Timeline: 4–6 weeks
We build in small increments and demo working software every week. You can click through progress and change priorities early.
Step 5: Launch
Timeline: 1 week
Production deploy, store submission if mobile, analytics checks and a short handover so you know how everything runs.
Step 6: Measure and iterate
Timeline: Ongoing
We review the data with you, decide what to build, fix or drop next, and ship improvements in short cycles.
Who our MVP development is for
Non-technical founders
You know the problem and the customer, and you need a technical partner who builds and explains without jargon.
Pre-seed and seed startups
You need a live product and early traction to raise, and every week of runway counts.
Founders with a no-code prototype
Your no-code version proved interest but now limits you. We rebuild the core on a stack that can grow.
Teams inside established companies
You want to test a new product line with real users before committing a full department budget to it.
A startup MVP stack that will not need replacing
We pick tools that let us move fast now and still hold up when usage grows. The same stack runs our own products.
- React and TypeScript
- Fast to build, easy to hire for later, and type safety that keeps a growing codebase from turning fragile.
- React Native with Expo
- One codebase for iOS and Android, so a mobile MVP reaches both stores without doubling the budget. Native Swift or Kotlin modules only when a feature truly needs them.
- Convex realtime backend
- Database, server functions and live updates in one place, which removes weeks of plumbing from an MVP timeline.
- Cloudflare Workers
- Edge hosting that is fast worldwide, inexpensive at low volume and scales without a re-architecture.
- AI features via OpenAI or Anthropic
- If AI is part of your value, we add retrieval, structured output or agents in a way you can swap models later.
Find out what your MVP really needs
Answer a few questions about your idea and get a free plan with a suggested scope, stack and estimate.
What does MVP development cost?
Typical ranges for the three stages most founders go through. Your free app plan narrows this to a specific estimate.
Prototype
- Typical cost
- $5,000–$12,000
- Timeline
- 2–4 weeks
- What's included
- Clickable prototype or proof of concept to test the idea with users or show investors, before full development.
MVP
- Typical cost
- $15,000–$40,000
- Timeline
- 6–10 weeks
- What's included
- Launch-ready product on web or cross-platform mobile: core features, backend, authentication, analytics and deploy or store submission.
Post-MVP iteration
- Typical cost
- $1,500–$6,000/month
- Timeline
- Ongoing
- What's included
- Improvements driven by user data, new features from the later list, fixes, updates and hosting support as you grow.
These are typical ranges and estimates, not quotes. Every project gets a fixed-scope estimate before work starts, and the free app plan gives you a specific estimate for your idea.
MVP first vs full build upfront
Both paths can work. For most new products, launching a focused MVP first is cheaper, faster and less risky.
Swipe sideways to see the full table.
| What matters | MVP first | Full build upfront |
|---|---|---|
| Time to first users | About 6–10 weeks | Typically 3–6 months or more |
| Typical upfront cost | $15,000–$40,000 | $40,000–$120,000+ |
| What guides the roadmap | Real usage data and user feedback | Assumptions made before launch |
| Risk if the idea needs to change | Low: a small surface to adjust | High: many features to rework or discard |
| Fundraising story | Live product with early traction | Polished product, but often no data yet |
| Budget spent on unused features | Minimal: only the core loop is built | Often significant, discovered after launch |
We build and run our own products
We do not just ship MVPs for others. These are products Loha.dev LLC built, launched and keeps improving.
Star
A setlist and presentation app for worship teams, musicians and speakers. Build setlists and run slides on the big screen from a tablet, with realtime sync between devices and a web app alongside the mobile one.
Visit Star (opens in a new tab)SentIt
Email for teams: a shared inbox style product that lets a group handle incoming mail together.
Visit SentIt (opens in a new tab)
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to build an MVP?
A typical MVP costs $15,000–$40,000 for core features, a backend, analytics and launch on one platform or cross-platform. A clickable prototype is usually $5,000–$12,000. Scope drives the final number, which is why we scope tightly before quoting. The free app plan gives you a specific estimate.
How long does MVP development take?
Most MVPs launch in about 6–10 weeks from the start of scoping. A prototype for user testing or investor conversations can take 2–4 weeks. You see working software every week, so timing never comes as a surprise.
What should be included in an MVP?
Only the core loop: the shortest path for a user to get the value you promise, plus sign-up, the minimum admin you need and analytics to measure it. Payments are included if willingness to pay is the question you need answered. Everything else goes on a later list.
Is an MVP the same as a prototype?
No. A prototype shows how the product could work and is used to test ideas or pitch. An MVP is a real, live product that people sign up for and use, so you can measure behavior. Many founders do a short prototype first, then build the MVP.
Will I need to rebuild my MVP later?
Not if it is built right. We use a production stack, TypeScript, a real backend and clean structure from the first commit, so the MVP becomes version one of your product. Growth means adding features, not starting over.
Should my MVP be a web app or a mobile app?
Go where your users already are. A web app is often the fastest way to validate, especially for business tools. If your product depends on the phone, such as notifications, the camera or on-the-go use, a cross-platform React Native app covers iOS and Android from one codebase.
Who owns the code and IP?
You do. The source lives in your own repository from day one, and on full payment you own the code and intellectual property outright. You can keep working with us, hire your own team or both.
Can you help a non-technical founder?
Yes, this service is built for them. You talk directly with the engineer building your app, decisions are explained in plain language, and weekly demos let you steer the product without needing to read code.
Ready to put your idea in front of real users?
Start with a free app plan: a clear scope, a suggested stack and a typical estimate for your MVP, usually within a few days.
or email matt@loha.devCall (732) 340-8396
Free, no obligation. We reply within one business day.