Glossary
How Long Does It Take to Build an MVP?
A focused MVP with a senior developer takes 6–12 weeks. An agency takes 4–6 months for the same scope.
Realistic timelines by approach:
| Approach | Time to Launch |
|---|---|
| No-code (Bubble, Webflow) | 2–6 weeks |
| Senior solo developer | 6–12 weeks |
| Boutique agency | 4–6 months |
| In-house first hire | 6–12 months |
What a 6-week MVP includes:
- User auth (email/password, OAuth)
- Core feature (the one thing users are paying for)
- Stripe payments
- Basic admin dashboard
- Deployed and accessible
What delays MVPs:
- Scope creep — adding features mid-build
- Unclear requirements at kickoff
- Approval chains (agency model)
- Retroactive multi-tenancy
Why AI-augmented development is faster: Boilerplate — auth scaffolding, CRUD, type generation — gets automated. Senior judgment goes into the business logic that differentiates your product. Roughly 2× faster delivery at the same quality bar.
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