MVP Launch Checklist
The essential guide to launching your MVP successfully
From the team at Xilema — This checklist has saved founders $200K+ in wasted development.
Before You Build
Most founders skip validation and jump straight to building. These 7 essentials ensure you're building something people actually want — before you invest $7K–$10K.
Real talk: We've seen founders waste $30K building features nobody asked for. One client came to us after 6 months of development — zero paying users. We rebuilt their core feature in 3 weeks, launched, and got their first 50 customers in 30 days. The difference? They validated first.
💎 Why This Checklist Exists:
We created this because 80% of founders who come to us haven't validated their idea. They've spent months (sometimes years) building something nobody wants. This checklist is our way of helping you avoid that mistake — completely free. No email required. No upsell. Just real, actionable advice from founders who've been there.
The 7 Essentials
1. Validate the Problem First
Talk to 10+ potential users. Ask: 'How do you solve this today?' and 'How much does this cost you?' If they don't feel the pain, they won't pay. Don't build until you confirm the problem exists.
Pro tip: If they're not currently paying for a solution (even a janky one), the problem isn't painful enough. We learned this the hard way — built an 'urgent' feature for a SaaS client. Turns out their users were fine with Excel. $12K wasted.
2. Validate the Solution
Show them a mockup (Figma) or prototype. Do they say 'I'd pay for this'? If not, iterate. Don't build until 5+ people say they'd pay. This saves you months of wasted development.
Pro tip: We always ask 'Would you pay $X for this TODAY?' If they hesitate, it's not validated. One founder showed 20 people a mockup — all said 'nice idea.' But when asked to prepay $50, zero said yes. Saved him 3 months of building the wrong thing.
3. Define Your Core Value Proposition
Can you explain what your product does in one sentence? Your MVP must solve ONE clear problem. Example: 'We help beauty salons manage bookings and accept payments online.' Not: 'We're like Uber but for everything.'
Pro tip: If you can't explain it in one sentence, you don't understand it yet. A client came with a 5-minute pitch. We forced him to one sentence. Took 3 hours of painful cuts. But that clarity? It got him his first $8K contract the next week.
4. Know Your First 10 Users
How will you get your first 10 users? Cold outreach? Content? Paid ads? If you don't know, you're not ready. The best product dies without distribution.
Pro tip: We see founders launch with 'build it and they'll come.' They don't. One client built a perfect tool for coaches. Launch day? Crickets. We helped him join 3 Facebook groups, answer questions for 2 weeks. First user signed up. Then 20 more in 30 days. Distribution beats perfection.
5. Validate Pricing
Show 3 price points to potential users. Is it enough to cover costs? Most founders underprice — charge 2x what you think is fair. If they won't pay, you don't have a business.
Pro tip: A client wanted to charge $29/month. We tested $49, $99, $149. Most picked $99. Why? At $29, buyers questioned quality. At $99, it felt premium. First month: $4K MRR instead of the projected $1.2K. Price signals value.
6. Avoid Building Too Much
The #1 killer of MVPs. Focus on ONE core problem. Resist feature creep. Your MVP is for learning, not perfection. If it takes more than 60 days, it's not an MVP.
Pro tip: Every feature you add delays launch by 1-2 weeks. We had a client who wanted 8 features. We convinced them to launch with 2. They got their first paying customer in week 3. The other 6 features? They never built them — customers didn't ask for them.
7. Create a Landing Page Now
Use Carrd, Webflow, or Framer. Collect emails. If you can't get 50 signups, the idea might not be strong enough. This is free validation before you spend $7K–$10K.
Pro tip: Landing page + $100 in Facebook ads = instant validation. One client got 12 signups in 48 hours. Another got zero after $150 spent. First one we built. Second one we didn't. Saved them $7K and 8 weeks. Test demand before building anything.
Ready to Build?
If you've checked most of these boxes, you're ready. But here's the thing — validation is only half the battle. The other half? Building fast, building right, and launching before your competitors.
"We used this checklist before our call. Xilema built our MVP in 29 days. We launched with 200 pre-orders. Best $7K we ever spent."
Ann K.
Co-founder of Hang10
Book a free strategy call and we'll help you turn your validated idea into a real MVP in 60 days — guaranteed.
🎯What Happens Next:
Book a free 15-minute strategy call
No pitch. No pressure. Just real talk about your idea.
We review your checklist together
We'll see what you've validated and what might be missing.
If it's a fit, we send a proposal
Fixed price. Fixed timeline. No surprises.
Your MVP launches in 60 days or less
Or you don't pay for the remaining work. That's our guarantee.
⚠️ Limited Availability
We only take 2–3 clients per month. Why? Because quality beats quantity. Every client gets our full attention. Next available slot: February 2026.
Xilema — Launch Your MVP in 60 Days. Guaranteed.
xilema.co • info@xilema.co
Save This Checklist
Download as PDF to reference while building your MVP. Print it, check off items as you complete them, and bring it to your strategy call.
Click to open print dialogSelect "Save as PDF"Done!