What Early Users *Really* Want from Your MVP

Originally published in SeedStage Digest (July 2023)

Founders spend so much time obsessing over product polish that they often forget why early users show up in the first place: **to see if this solves their problem** — not whether the buttons are rounded or the landing page scrolls perfectly.

We’ve reviewed hundreds of MVP launches in the last year, and here’s what actually made the difference:

**1. Clear Copy That Explains the Core Value — Fast**
If your headline needs decoding, you’ve lost. The best MVPs get to the point in one sentence: “Track your freelance income in one place.” “Send newsletters from Notion.” No jargon. Just outcomes.

**2. Screens, Not Promises**
Skip the "we're building" pitch. Show something — even if it’s a Figma mock or an Airtable setup. Users trust you when they can click around, not when you describe what’s coming “soon.”

**3. A Frictionless Onboarding Flow**
The bar for signup UX is low — and that's a good thing. If someone can get into your tool and try it within 30 seconds, they’ll forgive everything else. Don't ask for credit cards. Don't make them schedule a call. Let them in.

**4. Fast Feedback Loops**
The MVPs that gain traction are the ones where users feel like co-founders. “We had a Slack channel just for early users,” said Kate Hua, founder of a subscription inventory tracker. “People felt like they were shaping it — and they were.”

**5. A Founder Who’s Listening**
This might be the most important feature of all. If users know they’re being heard, they’ll stick around. If they feel ignored, they’ll churn — no matter how slick your UI is.

Your MVP isn’t your product. It’s your proof of urgency. Early users don’t expect it to be perfect — they just need to know you’re solving something that matters.