Speed is power in the startup world. The faster you get a product into the hands of users, the faster you learn what works, and what doesn’t.

At 9stack, we’ve helped founders go from raw idea to working MVPs in as little as 30 days. This isn’t about cutting corners , it’s about focus, clarity, and disciplined execution.

In this guide, we’ll show you how we approach rapid MVP development so you can do the same.

Step 1: Define What MVP Actually Means for You

Too many founders think an MVP means “bare minimum.”
In reality, it means “just enough to validate the core idea.”

Ask yourself:

• What’s the main pain point I’m solving?
• What’s the smallest version of my product that proves that
• What would make someone say, “Yes, I’d use (or pay for) this”?

Your MVP isn’t a demo. It’s a testable, functional product, however small.

Step 2: Write a One-Page Product Brief

Before design, before development, clarity.

Your product brief should answer:

• Who is the user?
• What problem are they facing?
• What key features solve it?
• What’s the success metric after 30 days?

Pro tip: Limit yourself to 1 page. Simplicity wins.

Step 3: Build Clickable Wireframes in 3 Days

Good design isn’t optional. It guides development.

We create low-fidelity wireframes that show:

• Core flows (onboarding, main action, etc.)
• Minimal UI for each screen
• Logical UX flow without styling

Tools we love: Figma, Whimsical, Pen & Paper (yes, really)

Step 4: Pick the Right Stack, and Stick to It

Your goal isn’t to impress engineers.
It’s to ship fast and validate.

We recommend:

• Frontend: Next.js or React
• Backend: Node.js or Python (Supabase or Firebase for speed)
• Auth: Clerk or Auth0
• Hosting: Vercel, Railway, Render or AWS
• Database: PostgreSQL (unless NoSQL is clearly better)

Avoid over-engineering. Use what’s fast, stable, and battle-tested.

Step 5: Build in Weekly Sprints (Not a Giant List)

Break down development into 3 sprints:

• Week 1: Setup, auth, navigation, UI scaffolding
• Week 2: Core feature(s), data handling, error states
• Week 3: Polish, testing, edge cases, deploy to production

Focus on launching something usable every 7 days.

Step 6: Launch Early, and Talk to Users

When it works, ship it. Don’t wait for “perfect.”

Post your MVP to:

• A private group of test users
• Slack/Discord communities
• LinkedIn or Twitter (for founders)
• Product Hunt (if you’re ready)

Then ask:

“What confused you?”
“What was missing?”
“Would you use it again?”

This feedback is gold. Use it to guide your next version.

Bonus Tip: Plan for Version 2 on Day 31

Your MVP isn’t the end, it’s the beginning.

You’ll either:

• Pivot (based on what users did or didn’t do)
• Polish (and prepare to raise/invest further)
• Partner (now that you have a proof of concept)

Either way, the speed of execution gives you leverage.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need a 6-month dev cycle to get started.
You need:

• Focus
• Fast feedback
• A clear problem worth solving

That’s what an MVP in 30 days looks like.

If you’re building your own product and want to move fast, reach out to us at hello@9stack.co.
We do this every day.

Either way, the speed of execution gives you leverage.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need a 6-month dev cycle to get started.
You need:

• Focus
• Fast feedback
• A clear problem worth solving

That’s what an MVP in 30 days looks like.