The single biggest mistake a new founder makes is overbuilding their Minimum Viable Product (MVP). You don't need every feature. You need the minimum set of features that delivers your core value proposition and validates your market.

Step 1: Define the One Problem and One Solution

Start by answering a single, specific question: What is the one thing my product must do better than anyone else? This clarity eliminates scope creep before it even begins. If a feature doesn't directly solve this single problem, cut it.

Step 2: The Core Loop User Story

Map out the essential user journey. As we discuss in A Founder's Guide to User Stories, your MVP only needs to support the one path that leads to value. Everything else is out of scope for now.