Idea to launch
From first idea to first users
Six stages, each with what to do, why it matters, a worksheet that saves as you type and prompts for your AI assistant. Scoping your MVP sits in the middle: the stages before it test the idea, and the stages after it build, launch and grow the product.
The six stages
Work through them in order, or start where you are. Your progress is saved in this browser.
- IdeaSharpen the ideaThe problem, the people who have it, your answer and a one-line pitch, in one place.Feeds: Summary, Problem, Value0 of 5 worksheet answers
- ValidateTest it before you buildTest the riskiest assumptions, map the alternatives and collect evidence before you spend on code.Feeds: Competitors, Validation0 of 5 worksheet answers
- ScopeMVP builderScope your MVPThe MVP builder: guided sections, a prioritised feature list, a budget and runway, and a brief a developer can price.Brings every stage together0% of your brief written
- BuildBuild the first versionDesign, build and test the MVP in short sprints, with the brief as the contract.Feeds: Build, Journeys0 of 5 worksheet answers
- LaunchLaunch to real usersCompany set-up, legal pages, a private beta, the go-live checklist and your first users.Feeds: Launch, Roadmap0 of 5 worksheet answers
- GrowLearn, improve and growRead the numbers, talk to users, decide what to build next and when to raise.Feeds: Metrics, Funding0 of 5 worksheet answers
Why scoping sits in the middle
A written scope is what makes a build affordable and on time. Writing it forces every assumption into the open: who the first users are, which features the first version really needs, what it will cost and how long your money lasts.
So the stages before it gather the evidence for the scope, and the stages after it put the scope to work: building the first version, launching it to real users and deciding what to build next.
How the MVP builder works- Idea MVP summary, Problem and users, Value proposition
- Validate Competitors and alternatives, Validation plan
- Build Build approach, User journeys and screens
- Launch Launch plan, Roadmap
- Grow Success metrics, Funding
Free support in the UK
Good, free help exists. Use it alongside Startup With Me. We are not affiliated with any of these organisations.
- Set up a business (GOV.UK) (opens in a new tab)
The government’s step-by-step guide to choosing a structure and registering.
- Start Up Loans (opens in a new tab)
Government-backed personal loans of up to £25,000 for new businesses, with free mentoring.
- Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (GOV.UK) (opens in a new tab)
How early-stage companies use SEIS to give investors tax relief, and how to apply for advance assurance.
- Innovate UK funding (opens in a new tab)
The government’s innovation agency: open competitions for grants and loans.
- ICO: advice for small organisations (opens in a new tab)
Plain guidance on data protection, privacy notices and whether you need to pay the data protection fee.
Questions about the stages
Do I have to do the stages in order?
No. Most founders start at Idea or Scope. The stages are in the order that usually saves money, but jump to whichever one you need. Every worksheet saves as you type.
Where is my work saved?
In this browser on this device, and nowhere else. Nothing is sent to us. Download a backup from the builder to keep a copy or move to another device.
How do the stages connect to my MVP brief?
Each stage feeds sections of the brief. What you write in Idea and Validate appears in the builder beside the summary, problem, value, competitor and validation sections, so you never start from a blank page.
Is it really free?
Yes. The worksheets, the MVP builder, the calculators and the downloads are free with no sign-up. If you want us to design and build your MVP, that is a separate service, quoted at a fixed price after a free scoping call.