Should Your MVP Be Mobile-First? The Framework I Use
Most founders default to web. Sometimes that's wrong. Here's how to make the platform decision before you commit resources.
One of the most expensive mistakes I see early-stage teams make is building on the wrong platform. Not wrong technology, wrong surface. Web vs mobile is a fundamental architectural decision that affects cost, timeline, and user acquisition.
The decision framework
Ask three questions: Where does your user complete the core workflow? Where does your user discover similar products today? What retention mechanism does your product need? If the answers point to mobile (location-based, habit-forming, notification-driven), go mobile-first. If they point to desktop (data-heavy, workflow tools, B2B), go web.
What this means for founders
There's no universal right answer. But there is a right answer for your specific product. Make this decision with your engineer in week one, not week six.
Every insight on this page comes from building real products with real founders. If something here resonates with a challenge you're facing, it's probably worth a 30-minute conversation.
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