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From “Does it Work?” to “Does it Matter?”
Parag Natekar | August 14, 2025
Over the past few months, we’ve been running multiple workshops with startup founders and mid-sized business owners & leaders preparing for their next big leap.
In almost every session, one term keeps surfacing: MVP Minimum Viable Product - get something out quickly, test it fast, iterate, and learn.
I completely understand its appeal. Agility and validation are critical in the early stages of product building.
But here’s the thing: I’ve never been entirely comfortable with the term.
Why?.....Because viable is not the same as valuable.
MVP encourages us to ask, “Does it work?”, but misses a far more important design thinking question we should be asking right from the start: “Does it matter?”
After years of building, testing, and refining products, I’ve come to believe it’s time to upgrade - From MVP to MMP — Minimum Meaningful Product
What is MMP? (Minimum Meaningful Product)
MINIMUM – The simplest version you can launch quickly to test your core idea.
Functionality, utility, and essential features—nothing more, nothing less.
MEANINGFUL – A product that matters:
Well-being: Improves lives and solves real pain points.
Cultural Rootedness: Respects local values, practices, and aesthetics.
Sustainability: Builds with environmental & social responsibility.
Ethics: Transparent, inclusive, and respectful of user trust.
Every product team can decide on the most relevant metrics that define “meaning” in their specific context.
How Founders Can Apply the MMP Mindset
Ask early: “Is this just viable, or deeply valuable? Does it reflect our ethics, culture, and purpose?”
Test for meaning: Alongside usability, ask users: “How does this improve your life?” or “Does this feel relevant to your needs and context?”
Balance speed with depth: Ship lean, but reserve space to think about who you are impacting and the long-term ripple effects.
Share your intent: When you launch, talk not just about features—but about the meaning, purpose, and thought behind them.
Bottom line - MVP will get you to market. MMP will earn you trust, relevance, and lasting impact.
But do we really need another jargon term?
Not necessarily. Terminology isn’t the point—mindset is.
We must focus on building meaningful products from the very beginning, not just functional ones.
That said, guiding frameworks do have value. And if we create one, it should be born out of genuine need. If a framework helps clarify thinking, inspires action, and challenges teams to go beyond the bare minimum—it deserves a place.
What do you think? Is it time to move from “Does it work?” to “Does it matter?”
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