What Does an MVP Actually Look Like? (With Real Examples)

Early-stage founders hear it all the time: "Just build an MVP."

But what is an MVP really? It’s not a half-built product or a stripped-down app. It’s the simplest version of your idea that lets you test the most important assumption, whether someone will use or pay for it.

In real life, MVPs come in all shapes and sizes. Here’s how smart founders built real MVPs, fast, lean, and focused.

1. DoorDash – The PDF MVP

The founders of DoorDash started with a simple landing page listing a few Palo Alto restaurants. When someone placed an order, they manually called the restaurant and delivered the food themselves.

• Why it worked: It let them test real user demand without building tech or logistics infrastructure.

• Tools used: Static site + phone + Google Sheets

2. Airbnb – The Photos + Hosting MVP

Airbnb’s first test? Three air mattresses on the founders’ apartment floor during a local conference. They created a basic website, listed the “AirBed & Breakfast,” and hosted guests themselves.

• Why it worked: They validated that strangers were willing to pay to stay in someone’s home.

• Tools used: Simple HTML site + photography + hustle

3. Instacart – Manual Fulfillment MVP

Instacart launched with a simple app interface, but all the grocery shopping and delivery were done by the founders. They would receive orders, shop for the items themselves, and hand-deliver them.

• Why it worked: It validated the demand for grocery delivery before building logistics infrastructure.

• Tools used: Basic app front-end + Google Sheets + manual delivery

4. Robinhood – Waitlist Landing Page MVP

Robinhood started with a sleek landing page promising zero-commission trading. Visitors could join a waitlist, and that list grew to hundreds of thousands before the product even existed.

• Why it worked: It proved massive interest and helped shape the product roadmap.

• Tools used: Landing page + email capture + referral mechanics

Closing Thought

An MVP isn’t just a product. It’s a learning engine. The best MVPs aren’t built to scale. They’re built to learn fast. The sooner you can test, talk to users, and get real reactions, the closer you get to product-market fit.

So don’t wait for a dev. Don’t overthink design. Don’t build until you know what matters. Build something real enough to learn, and ship it.