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July 1, 2025
9
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Proof of Concept vs Prototype vs MVP: What's the Difference for Your Startup?

Building a new product is risky. You're more likely to fail than to succeed. So anything that turns the odds in your favor is a friend. In fact, you've got quite a few friends: MVPs, POCs and prototypes.

When building a new digital product, teams often face a critical early question: should we start with a proof of concept (PoC), a prototype, or jump straight into developing an MVP? Each stage — whether it's creating a PoC, designing a prototype, or launching a minimum viable product — serves a distinct purpose in the product development process. Understanding the difference between proof of concept, prototype, and MVP is key to making the right call for your product idea.

In this guide, we’ll take a deep dive into PoC, prototype vs MVP, and everything in between. Whether you're a startup validating the feasibility of your idea or a product team aiming to gather early feedback from potential users, this article will help you decide which path to take — and when to move from one stage to the next.

Building a new product is risky. You're more likely to fail than to succeed. So anything that turns the odds in your favor is a friend. In fact, you've got quite a few friends: MVPs, POCs and prototypes.

When building a new digital product, teams often face a critical early question: should we start with a proof of concept (PoC), a prototype, or jump straight into developing an MVP? Each stage — whether it's creating a PoC, designing a prototype, or launching a minimum viable product — serves a distinct purpose in the product development process. Understanding the difference between proof of concept, prototype, and MVP is key to making the right call for your product idea.

In this guide, we’ll take a deep dive into PoC, prototype vs MVP, and everything in between. Whether you're a startup validating the feasibility of your idea or a product team aiming to gather early feedback from potential users, this article will help you decide which path to take — and when to move from one stage to the next.

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