This week, you will be focused on building and testing your website and MVP.

Announcement

• Homework due Sunday @ 11pm EST
• Tuesday
  • Speaker - Albert Putra Purnama, co-founder of Typedream (YC '20)
    • He works out of Silicon Valley with his four best friends, and they turned their ideas into a successful startup that was recently acquired and earned a spot on Forbes' 30 Under 30 list.
    • As always, please come prepared with questions and be engaged 😊
• Thursday
  • Lecture on building + testing products, website, and getting users

MVP (Minimal Viable Product)

This is the simplest and cheapest version of your product that you can build to start your business. It includes only the most important features.

Why Build an MVP?

<aside> 💚 You have limited resources, so you need to focus on features that solve your users' problems and help them achieve their goals.

</aside>

Example - Define Your User Persona

User Persona: A detailed description of your ideal user, including their age, goals, challenges, and needs. This helps you focus on creating a product that meets their specific requirements.

Template:

• Name: Alex
• Age: 17
• Goals: Get into an Ivy League college.
• Challenges: Scored poorly on the PSAT, needs to improve SAT scores.
• Needs: Effective study materials, personalized study plans, essay writing guidance, strong recommendation letters.

Steps to Build Your MVP

1. Identify Your User's Needs
   • Talk to your users, think about what problems your user has, and how you can help solve them.
   • Example Needs:
     • I need to get a high score on my SATs.
     • I need to write a good essay for my college application.
     • I need strong recommendations for college applications.
2. List Must-Have Features
   • These are features that directly help solve your user's needs.
   • Example Must-Have Features:
     • SAT Practice Tests: Provides realistic practice exams to help students prepare for the SAT.
     • Personalized Study Plan: Customizes a study schedule based on the student’s strengths and weaknesses.
     • Essay Writing Guide: Offers step-by-step guidance on writing a strong college application essay.
     • Recommendation Letter Templates: Provides templates and tips for securing strong recommendation letters.