The best advice for building a minimum viable product (MVP) is to launch something quickly, get it into the hands of customers, and iterate based on their feedback.

You only start learning about your users when you put a product in front of them; the goal is to get a product out quickly and talk to initial customers to make it useful for them.

It's a misconception that starting with a small, imperfect product is a bad idea; many successful products evolved through multiple iterations based on user feedback.

Early adopters are typically open to using new software, even if it doesn't work perfectly at first, because they have real problems that need solving.

Many founders fear that if they give their product to users and it doesn't work, their company will fail, but in reality, the company doesn't die immediately; you can always improve the product based on feedback.

Founders should avoid the mindset of needing to create a perfect product before launching; instead, they should focus on getting something out quickly and iterating based on user input.

Steve Jobs' products, like the iPhone and iPod, went through many iterations before reaching their well-known versions, demonstrating the importance of refining a product over time.

The first version of Airbnb lacked essential features like payment processing and a map view, highlighting that early products can be very basic yet still serve a purpose for a small user base. It operated only during conferences, where they would rent out rooms and shut down the service when the event ended, which was their minimum viable product (MVP).

Twitch began as Justin TV, where my co-founder Justin streamed 24/7 with just one camera. The initial version had no video games and was very basic, but it was a starting point for the platform.

The first version of Stripe was called 'slash depth payments' and lacked many features. It was so basic that even Twitch couldn't use it initially, but it was sufficient for early-stage startups to accept credit card payments.

You should target customers who are desperate for a solution, as they are more likely to use a non-perfect MVP to alleviate their pain. This approach simplifies your initial customer acquisition.

Surveys can help you understand customer pain points, but they won't provide solutions. The real insights come when you present a product, even a basic MVP, to customers and gather feedback.

Building a startup is about learning and iterating. Most successful products evolve after launch based on user feedback, so starting with a minimum viable product is crucial for this process.

To build an MVP quickly, set a specific deadline, write down required features, prioritize desperate customer needs, and avoid falling in love with your initial product. Focus on your users instead.

As a founder, you need to be prepared to iterate on your MVP based on user feedback, as the product will change significantly over time. Focus on learning from your users to improve your offering.

It's better to have a small group of passionate users who love your product than a large number who are indifferent. When launching your MVP, it's okay to do things that don't scale to build relationships with initial customers.