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MVP vs prototype vs pilot — what to actually build first
5 min read · August 12, 2026
Founders confuse MVP, prototype, and pilot — and ship the wrong one. Here's the clean 2026 distinction with examples.
Prototype: clickable Figma or no-code, hours to days, validates UX and desirability with 5–10 users.
MVP: real codebase, payments, single happy path, weeks to ship, validates willingness to pay with real users.
Pilot: production system, used by paying customers under SLA, validates retention and unit economics.
Most founders build an MVP when a prototype would have answered the question. Cheapest learning wins.
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