Why Most Startups Overbuild Their First Product (And What to Do Instead)

It’s a common trap for startups to think the first product must do everything.

Teams load features, polish every corner, and anticipate every edge case. It feels safe, but the reality is different. Overbuilding delays learning, inflates costs, and creates unnecessary complexity.

At 21 Sierra, we believe in precision over bloat. The goal is not to build a product that is perfect from day one. The goal is to build a product that people love enough to use and give feedback.

The problem with overbuilding

When teams over-engineer their first product, several things happen:

• Development slows and budgets stretch.
  
• Users get overwhelmed with features they don’t need.
  
• Teams invest energy in solving problems that might not exist.
  
• Learning about real user needs is delayed.
  

The result is a product that is heavier, slower, and harder to adapt.

The Minimum Lovable Experience

Instead of the traditional MVP, we advocate for the Minimum Lovable Experience. The difference is subtle but powerful.

• MVP focuses on what is minimally viable. It may function but rarely delights.
  
• Minimum Lovable Experience focuses on what users will genuinely enjoy and remember. It identifies the smallest set of features that create real value and connection.
  

This approach ensures that the first product is not just usable but memorable. It prioritises quality over quantity and clarity over complexity.

How to define a Minimum Lovable Experience

1. Identify the core user problem.
   
2. Determine the fewest features that genuinely solve it.
   
3. Design interactions that delight and feel effortless.
   
4. Test early and iterate based on real feedback.
   
5. Remove anything that doesn’t contribute directly to value.
   

The payoff

By building a Minimum Lovable Experience, startups move faster, learn sooner, and create a product that users actually want. It reduces unnecessary work, prevents feature bloat, and positions the product for sustainable growth.

At 21 Sierra, we focus on clarity and precision from the very first line of code. The best products don’t do everything. They do what matters brilliantly, and leave the rest for later.