PoC vs Prototype vs MVP: What Startups Need to Know

We understand the challenges startups face because we’ve worked with entrepreneurs like you for over 12 years, helping them establish successful businesses. One key area we emphasize is understanding the differences between PoC vs. Prototype vs. MVP to make the right decisions during product development.

Choosing the appropriate approach can save time, money, and effort while validating your concept and avoiding costly mistakes. In this blog, we’ll break down PoC, Prototype, and MVP, exploring their unique roles, values, and outcomes. Get to know their core differences, similarities, and specific use cases. All of this will help you decide which one of the three is the most suitable for your business needs.

What are PoC, MVP, & Prototype: What’s The Difference?

• Proof of Concept (PoC): A Proof of Concept (PoC) is an initial model or demo built to verify that a particular idea or concept is ready to go or not. In simple terms, with the help of PoC, we can demonstrate that the core functionality of a product or idea will work in real-world conditions.
• Prototype: A Prototype is a working model of the product that shows how the final product might function and appear. It often has limited features but provides a tangible representation of the product, allowing for testing, feedback, and iteration.
• Minimum Viable Product (MVP): A Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is a simplified product version with only essential features. An MVP aims to launch quickly, collect user feedback, and iteratively improve the product based on real-world data.

PoC vs MVP vs Prototype: Comparison Chart

PoC vs Prototype vs MVP: Features, Examples, & Best Practices

1. Proof of Concept (PoC): The Feasibility Check

A Proof of Concept is often the first step in the product development process. Entrepreneurs can identify whether an idea, technology, or concept can be developed or solved. Simply, it majorly focused on workability rather than user experience. For more clarity, let’s see the possible questions involved in PoC.

Questions That Can Be Asked For PoC

• Is the underlying idea or technology practical to build?
• Is my product idea “good to have” or “must-have” for the customer?
• Will this technology or technologies be a good fit for our needs?
• What is the minimum level of functionality required to finalize the idea is feasible?
• Will this idea prove the business case?
• How will we measure the success or failure of the PoC?
• Can we get enough ROI with this product?

Key Features of PoC

By learning features, you can also understand the difference between Proof of Concept, Prototype, and MVP. Check here:

• Technical Validation: As the term justifies, PoCs are meant to validate the technical concept or idea, making sure it’s practically possible to build before proceeding.
• No User Interface (UI): PoCs are all about ensuring the reality of ideas, so they are mostly basic models. Sometimes with no interface at all.
• Small Scale: The scale of a PoC is usually small and doesn’t involve complete product development.

Example

If you are interested in grocery delivery app development, before proceeding, you must validate key technology components such as ordering, payment, and delivery during the PoC phase. Once the PoC gives a green signal on core concepts, you can move on to more complex stages, like Prototype and, eventually, MVP development.

When Should You Use a PoC?

• Exploring the feasibility of a new technology.
• Proving the technical viability of your concept.
• Convincing stakeholders or investors of the potential.

PoC Best Practices for Startups

Keep the following points in mind to successfully work on PoC:

• Have proper clarity on purpose.
• Set defined parameters.
• Gather the right team of experts.
• Document everything.
• Gather feedback from stakeholders.

Tool Bonus: MATLAB, Simulink, and Postman (all three have free plans) can help you validate the feasibility of an idea or concept, ensuring technical viability before full development.

2. Prototype: The Early Model

A prototype is a more refined version of a product. While a PoC is primarily concerned with feasibility, a prototype is developed to present a visible representation of the product.

It focuses on creating how the product looks, feels, and behaves with respect to user interactions. Prototypes mostly contain some functional features, but they are not fully optimized as market-ready.

Questions That Can Be Asked For Prototype

• What specific aspects of the product design and user interface do we need to test?
• Who will be the target audience for feedback on the prototype (internal team, users, testers)?
• What key features or functions should be included in the prototype to test user flows?
• How will we gather and analyze feedback from users interacting with the prototype?
• What parts of the product are still undecided, and how can the prototype help resolve them?
• How much functionality should the prototype have to test its viability effectively?
• What is the timeline for creating and testing the prototype?
• Should we focus more on aesthetics or functionality during the prototype stage?

Key Features of Prototype

• User Interaction Testing: Prototypes allow businesses to test user flows and interaction design.
• Visual Representation: Unlike PoCs, prototypes show a visual layout and sometimes include early user interfaces (UI) to get clarity on product design.
• Iterative Feedback: Prototypes are generally used to collect user feedback and update the product before final development.

Example

Consider creating a prototype under the fitness tracker mobile app development process. The prototype might include basic functionalities like setting fitness goals or viewing daily steps. However, it may not yet include advanced features such as detailed analytics or multi-device syncing.

When Should You Use a Prototype?

• Testing product design and functionality.
• Gathering feedback on user experience (UX).
• Exploring market reaction to a visual concept.

Prototype Best Practices for Startups

With the following best practices, as a business owner, you can avoid the pitfalls of failing prototypes.

• Focus on core functionality & user experience.
• Try to build an interactive model.
• Only create the essential functions.
• Get the right users for testing.
• Get feedback from all team members.
• Test on real devices.
• Refine the model as per the feedback.

There are many industry experts who help startups with prototype development, simplifying their business models from the beginning. As an experienced IT consultant, aPurple has guided numerous businesses to success with their innovative ideas. You can also elevate your business by leveraging insights and iterations from expert teams like aPurple.

Tool Bonus: Figma, Adobe XD, and InVision (free version available for all three) allow UI/UX designers to create interactive models of the product to test user experience and functionality before final product development.

3. Minimum Viable Product (MVP): The Launchable Product

A Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is a product with just essential features to satisfy early users and collect meaningful feedback. The main purpose of MVP development is to test the product’s market fit. With the help of MVP, entrepreneurs can collect real-world data and refine the product based on actual user interactions.

Questions That Can Be Asked For MVP

• What are the core features that address the main user problem?
• How can we build a product that is simple but solves the most important problem effectively?
• What expertise should we prioritize when we hire developers to build the MVP?
• Who are our early users, and how can we engage them with the MVP?
• What key metrics will we use to validate the success of the MVP?
• How will we collect and analyze user feedback from the MVP?
• What’s the minimum set of features required for the product to be considered usable?
• How quickly can we launch the MVP while ensuring it remains functional?
• How will we handle scaling the product after validating the MVP with early users?

Key Features of MVP

• Core Functionality: The MVP includes only the essential features that solve the core problem for users.
• User Feedback Loop: The main goal of MVP is to gather data from early users to improve the product.
• Ready for Launch: Unlike prototypes or PoCs and prototypes, MVPs are fully functional and ready to be released to early adopters.

Example

A startup might launch an MVP in mobile app development industry by creating a basic version of their app with important features, such as user registration, account login, and basic functionality. This allows them to test the core concept with real users and gather valuable feedback before adding more complex features.

When Should You Use an MVP?

• Testing market demand for your product.
• Collecting feedback for future product iterations.
• Validating your business idea before scaling.

MVP Best Practices for Startups

• Focus on core feature development.
• Define the scope.
• Emphasize on usability.
• Utilize agile app development methodology.
• Manage early user expectations.
• Engage users early.
• Define success metrics.
• Iterate based on feedback.
• Take help from MVP experts like aPurple.

Tool Bonus: Bubble, and Firebase(you can access a free version of both) help create a functional product with core features for early market testing and user feedback.

You may now understand all the aspects that differentiate the PoC vs. Prototype vs. MVP. However, despite the distinctions, there are some similarities between them.

Let’s decode similarities too.

Similarities Between PoC, Prototype, and MVP

Goal of Validation

The ultimate goal of all three approaches is to validate an aspect of the product.

It can be about:

• Technical feasibility (PoC)
• Design or usability (Prototype)
• Product-market fit (MVP)

Iterative Development

All methods are meant to get feedback. The reviews and feedback from testing inform future development stages.

Risk Reduction

Whether it’s PoC, Prototype, or MVP, each of these approaches helps reduce risk by uncovering potential issues early in the product development process. Making sure that businesses don’t invest too much time or money into untested concepts.

Conclusion

The decision of choosing the best approach between PoC, Prototype, or MVP largely depends on the stage of your product development cycle. Where you reach in your cycle and what you hope to achieve.

• PoC is ideal if you’re still in the concept validation phase and need to prove the feasibility of your idea or technology.
• Prototype is best suited for when you need to test user interface design and user interaction before building out the full product.
• MVP is perfect for startups looking to test the market with a ready-to-launch product that solves real user problems.

For most startups, beginning with a PoC to validate the core concept, followed by a prototype for design testing, and finally, an MVP to test real-world market fit is the most logical sequence. However, the approach depends on the stage of product development and the specific goals you aim to achieve.

If you are looking for a reliable business & tech consultant who can guide you through the concept to the reality of your business idea. Then undoubtedly, aPurple is the perfect mentor for you. Whether you’re just starting with an idea, refining your user experience, or ready to launch your product to the market, our expert team is here to support you. We don’t work just as consultants; our experts put efforts as partners. Let’s bring your vision to life efficiently and effectively together.

Author

Paresh Sagar

Paresh Sagar, the innovative CEO of aPurple, is renowned for his passion for experimenting with new business models, technological aspects, and software solutions. His knowledge and insights are a must-read for entrepreneurs, tech experts, and avid readers alike, offering valuable perspectives on the ever-evolving landscape of business and technology. With a keen eye for innovation and a dedication to sharing his expertise on business digitalization, Paresh continues to inspire and inform professionals across the globe.