7 Critical Steps to Launch Your SaaS MVP in 90 Days

Launching a SaaS MVP in 90 days is achievable if you follow a focused, step-by-step plan. Here's how you can do it:

1. Validate Your Idea: Ensure your product solves a real problem by conducting user interviews, surveys, and market research.
2. Prioritize Core Features: Focus on 3-5 essential features using the MoSCoW method to keep development lean.
3. Pick the Right Tech Stack: Use tools like Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS) and serverless architecture to save time and cut costs.
4. Run Agile Sprints: Organize your development into two-week cycles with clear goals and deliverables.
5. Test Thoroughly: Gather feedback from beta users and analyze performance metrics like load times and error rates.
6. Plan a Staged Launch: Roll out the product in phases - private beta, public beta, and full launch.
7. Iterate Post-Launch: Use user feedback and analytics to refine features and improve retention.

Key Metrics to Track:

• Retention: Aim for 40%+ after 3 months.
• Core Features: Stick to 3-5 essentials.
• Development Time: Complete in 90 days.

How To Build A Successful SaaS MVP in 2024

Step 1: Test Your Business Idea

Before diving headfirst into development, make sure your SaaS idea addresses a real need in the market. Taking the time to validate your concept can significantly boost your chances of success.

Research Your Target Market

Start by connecting with potential customers to understand their biggest challenges. According to research, 72% of startups tweak their products based on feedback gathered during early iterations. Use a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods to get a clear picture of their pain points and the effectiveness of existing solutions.

Research Method	Purpose	Timeline
Customer Interviews	Identify pain points and workflows	Days 1–5
Online Surveys	Collect measurable insights	Days 6–10
Market Analysis	Study competitors and market size	Days 11–15

"Validation is figuring out if there's a real problem that's painful enough that people will pay you to solve it." - Jorge Lewis

Set Clear Goals

Define specific, measurable goals to track your progress during the validation process. Focus on three key areas:

• Desirability: For example, track landing page sign-ups to gauge interest.
• Feasibility: Ensure your timeline for core features is realistic.
• Viability: Assess whether you can acquire customers cost-effectively.

A great example of this approach is Buffer. They validated their social media scheduling tool by creating a simple landing page that described the product. By tracking sign-ups, they confirmed demand before diving into full development.

"Money is the best validation for a SaaS solution. If users are willing to give you money in exchange for the earliest version of your product, that could be the earliest form of validation."

Here are some key ways to validate your idea:

• Talk to users directly: Conduct in-depth interviews to learn about their needs and frustrations.
• Confirm the problem exists: Check if users are actively seeking solutions and spending money on alternatives.
• Analyze market size: Use industry data to estimate your serviceable obtainable market (SOM).

You can also monitor online forums, social media, and tools like Google Trends to see how much buzz your target problem generates.

Once you've validated your idea, you'll be ready to refine your product's core features in the next step. These insights will guide your decisions as you shape your MVP.

Step 2: Select Core MVP Features

Leverage the insights from your market validation to zero in on the features that truly matter. Aim to focus on 3-5 core features - this keeps development efficient and ensures your MVP directly addresses user needs.

Use the MoSCoW Method

The MoSCoW method is a practical way to sort features by their importance to your MVP’s success. It helps ensure your efforts are concentrated on the most essential functionalities.

Category	Description	Example Features
Must-have	Essential for the product to function	User authentication, basic data storage
Should-have	Adds meaningful value but isn’t critical	Basic reporting, email notifications
Could-have	Nice to include but not urgent	Advanced analytics, customization options
Won't-have	Out of scope for the MVP	AI-powered predictions, third-party integrations

For example, a risk management startup applied the MoSCoW method to streamline their MVP. By sticking to just the must-haves, they launched their product in 120 days and secured five paying B2B customers within the first month. Once your core features are prioritized, the next step is to visualize how users will interact with them.

Map User Journeys

Mapping user journeys helps you pinpoint the key touchpoints where your product needs to shine. This process highlights which features are most critical for user success and which ones can wait for later development.

Here’s how to create effective user journeys:

• Define user personas and their goals
• Map out the steps users will take
• Identify potential pain points
• Prioritize solutions to address those pain points

For instance, a SaaS platform found that users needed immediate access to core functionalities, while more advanced features could be postponed. This focus on essentials streamlined their development process and ensured a smoother launch.

Step 3: Pick Your Technology Stack

Selecting the right technology stack is crucial for speeding up development and ensuring scalability. According to market analysis, organizations use an average of 177 apps to manage their operations. With so many tools in play, choosing the right technologies can make or break your project.

Choose BaaS Solutions

Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS) platforms are game-changers for backend development. They provide ready-to-use services like authentication, databases, APIs, and storage. This means you can focus your energy on building standout features instead of reinventing the wheel with basic functionalities.

"The technology stack you select dictates the abilities and limitations your SaaS project will have, as well as its versatility and customizability. Some companies and clients like to pick unique stacks for their projects, but this will only make maintenance and product support harder and more expensive down the road." - Oleksii Glib, Founder of Acropolium

After setting up your BaaS, consider adopting serverless architecture to further streamline your infrastructure.

Set Up Serverless Infrastructure

Serverless architecture is all about simplicity and cost efficiency. It eliminates the need for server management, which can significantly cut down on operational expenses. Gartner reports that startups can reduce infrastructure costs by as much as 80% by going serverless. A great example is Heavywater, a startup that slashed its backend maintenance costs from $4,000 to just $30 by switching to a serverless model.

To set up a serverless infrastructure, start by choosing a major cloud provider with robust serverless offerings. Pair this with a scalable database and pre-built authentication to save precious development time while keeping your system flexible and efficient.

Step 4: Run Development Sprints

Once your technology stack is in place, it’s time to organize your development process. Agile methodologies are a great fit for MVP projects, as they emphasize iterative cycles, regular feedback, and flexibility.

Plan 2-Week Sprints

Two-week sprints strike a good balance between steady progress and adaptability. Each sprint should aim to achieve clear, measurable goals that bring you closer to launching your MVP.

"Agile development methodology is a tried and tested approach that emphasizes iterative development, frequent feedback, and adaptability. It aligns perfectly with the goal of speeding up web app development." - Urjashee Shaw, Web app developer at Simpalm

Here’s a simple structure to guide your sprint cycles:

Sprint Phase	Duration	Key Activities	Deliverables
Planning	Day 1	Define priorities, break down tasks	Sprint backlog, story points
Development	Days 2-8	Write code, perform unit testing	Working features
Testing	Days 9-12	Conduct QA, fix bugs	Test reports
Review	Days 13-14	Hold demos, gather feedback	Sprint retrospective

Keep everyone on the same page by documenting progress and fostering open communication. This helps avoid silos and minimizes technical debt.

To sustain momentum during sprints, automation is your best friend.

Set Up Automated Deployment

Using Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines can speed up your development workflow. Automation in testing, integration, and deployment helps catch issues early while maintaining consistent code quality.

• Automated Testing: Set up unit and integration tests that trigger automatically with each code commit.
• Code Quality Checks: Use automated tools to analyze your code and ensure it meets consistent standards.
• Deployment Automation: Configure automatic deployments to staging environments for immediate testing.

sbb-itb-2511131

Step 5: Test MVP Performance

Now that automated tests have been deployed in earlier sprints, it’s time to assess your MVP’s performance. During days 75-85, focus on gathering user feedback and analyzing key metrics to confirm your product is ready for launch.

Get Beta User Feedback

Recruit a group of 20-50 beta users who closely resemble your target audience. Use a combination of feedback methods to gain a well-rounded understanding of their experience. For deeper insights, conduct 15-30 minute interviews with 5-10 of these users.

Here’s a breakdown of feedback methods and their goals:

Feedback Method	Timeline	Purpose	Key Metrics
User Interviews	Days 75-80	Gather qualitative insights	Task completion rate
In-app Surveys	Days 75-85	Measure feature satisfaction	User satisfaction score
Usage Analytics	Continuous	Track behavior patterns	Session duration
Support Tickets	Days 80-85	Identify pain points	Issue frequency

When conducting moderated testing sessions, focus on evaluating key user journeys such as:

• Account creation and onboarding
• Using core features
• Configuring settings
• Managing subscriptions

Combine the feedback you gather with performance metrics to finalize your testing process. This dual approach ensures you address both user experience and technical functionality.

Track Performance Stats

Keep a close eye on technical performance and user engagement to confirm your MVP is ready for prime time. Set up a robust monitoring system during days 80-85 to track critical metrics like:

• Page load time: Aim for under 3 seconds.
• Server response time: Ensure quick and reliable responses.
• API response times: Monitor for consistency.
• System uptime: Target 99.9% availability.
• Error rates: Keep these below 1%.

For load testing, simulate 2-3 times your expected user base. A typical SaaS MVP should handle 200-500 concurrent users without issues. Use cloud-based tools to test performance under different conditions. Here are a few approaches you can use:

• Gradual scaling: Slowly increase user numbers and watch for stable response times.
• Peak load testing: Simulate heavy usage periods to check error rates.
• Stress testing: Push the system to its limits to understand resource utilization.
• Recovery testing: Test how well the system auto-scales and recovers after traffic spikes.

Pay attention to both the numbers and how the system behaves under pressure. Implement caching solutions, like Redis or Memcached, and configure auto-scaling to handle traffic surges effectively. This ensures your MVP can perform reliably, even under demanding conditions.

Step 6: Create Launch Strategy

Now that performance testing is done, it's time to turn those insights into a well-defined launch strategy.

Plan a controlled launch during Days 86–90 to gather user feedback while minimizing risks.

Roll Out in Stages

Break your launch into three clear phases:

Phase	Timeline	Target Users	Key Activities
Private Beta	Days 86–87	50–100 users	Invite key users with personalized support
Public Beta	Days 88–89	500–1,000 users	Controlled access through a waitlist
Full Launch	Day 90	Open access	Launch full-scale marketing efforts

For the private beta, onboard users via short calls and set up a dedicated Slack channel to collect quick feedback. This hands-on approach helped a financial platform land five B2B customers in their first month.

During the public beta, focus on:

• Using a waitlist with automated onboarding emails
• Gradually rolling out features with feature flags
• Setting up a system for bug reporting
• Configuring automated scaling triggers to handle increased traffic

Once the staged rollout begins, rely on analytics to validate your strategy and guide adjustments as needed.

Monitor User Analytics

Make sure analytics are ready before launch to track key metrics effectively:

• Activation Metrics
  Follow the user journey from signup to their first meaningful interaction. Keep an eye on how users adopt core features and progress through onboarding.
• Engagement Data
  Measure daily and weekly active users, session lengths, and how often key features are used. Pay special attention to retention rates, especially in the first week.
• Technical Performance
  Keep a close watch on API response times, error rates, and overall system uptime to ensure smooth functionality.

Set up your analytics dashboard to highlight critical conversion points like signup completions, feature activations, payment conversions, and support ticket resolution times. Automate daily reports to quickly address issues and steer post-launch decisions in the right direction.

Step 7: Plan Post-Launch Updates

After launching your MVP, it’s crucial to have systems in place to refine and improve the product using real-world data and user feedback.

Collect Feature Requests

To improve your product effectively, you need a clear understanding of what users want. Integrated tracking tools can help you gather actionable insights. In fact, 87% of successful SaaS companies use third-party analytics tools during the MVP phase to guide their decisions.

In-App Feedback Collection
Add feedback forms directly within your app to capture user insights about how features are being used, pain points they’re experiencing, and ideas for improvements. Gathering both quantitative data (like feature usage stats) and qualitative feedback (like user suggestions) will help you prioritize updates.

Usage Analytics Dashboard
Track and analyze key metrics to understand how your product is performing. Here are some important areas to monitor:

Metric Type	Key Indicators
Acquisition	Sign-up rates, traffic sources
Activation	Feature adoption, first actions
Retention	Usage patterns, churn rate
Revenue	MRR, ARPU, CLV

Feature Flag System
Feature flags allow you to roll out updates to specific user groups gradually. This approach not only minimizes risk but also provides valuable feedback from targeted users. For example, Intercom reduced their churn rate by 19% in March 2023 by using feature flags to focus improvements on at-risk customers.

Use this feedback and data as the foundation for regular product reviews to keep your development efforts aligned with user needs.

Hold Product Reviews

Schedule bi-weekly product review meetings to dive into metrics and prioritize updates. Research shows that companies leveraging analytics make decisions five times faster than those that don’t.

Key areas to focus on during these reviews include:

• Performance and Feature Analysis
  Evaluate trends that could affect retention and revenue. Use core metrics to identify issues and prioritize feature enhancements based on user demand, complexity, and potential revenue impact. Even a small improvement, like reducing churn by 1%, can boost revenue by 12%.
• Implementation Planning
  Translate the prioritized updates into actionable tasks, ideally broken into two-week development sprints. Clear documentation of decisions and plans ensures the entire team stays on the same page.
• Monitoring and Adjustment
  Automate daily metric reports to quickly spot and address any emerging issues. This ensures your team can react swiftly to keep the product running smoothly.

Conclusion: Launch Your MVP

Summary of Steps

Bringing a SaaS MVP to life in just 90 days requires careful planning and execution. With research showing that 42% of startups fail due to a lack of market need, having a well-thought-out strategy is crucial. According to a 2024 report by SaaS Insider, the most effective MVPs concentrate on delivering only the essential features at launch.

Here are some key metrics to guide your efforts:

Metric	Benchmark
3-Month Retention	40%+
CLTV/CAC Ratio	3:1
Core Features	3–5
Development Time	90 days

By keeping these benchmarks in mind, you'll be better positioned to execute a successful MVP launch.

Start Your MVP Project

To launch your MVP effectively, begin by validating your idea and setting clear, realistic goals. Take inspiration from Dropbox: they tested their concept with a simple demo video, which generated thousands of sign-ups almost instantly, proving there was demand before they even built the product.

Propelius Technologies offers a streamlined 90-day MVP sprint that incorporates full-stack development, UI/UX design, quality assurance testing, and a post-launch warranty. Their approach also includes a progressive development roadmap and a flexible payment plan (50% upfront and 50% upon delivery), ensuring a smooth process from start to finish.

"62% of SaaS startups underestimated the time and resources required for legal compliance, leading to launch delays and increased costs." - TechCrunch 2025 Survey

To stay on track, follow the example of successful companies like Slack, which focused on delivering core functionality first. By prioritizing what truly matters, you can achieve rapid deployment without compromising on quality - all within your 90-day timeline.

FAQs

How can I make sure my SaaS idea solves a real problem and meets market demand?

To make sure your SaaS idea tackles a real problem, start with market research and customer interviews. Talk directly to potential users to uncover their challenges and see if your solution aligns with their needs. This kind of direct feedback is invaluable for fine-tuning your idea and ensuring it’s relevant.

After that, develop a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) or even just a simple landing page to test the waters. These tools let you measure interest, gather data, and assess demand. Watch for indicators like sign-ups, pre-orders, or survey results that show people are not only interested but willing to pay for what you’re offering.

Blending thorough research with hands-on testing helps you validate your idea faster and minimizes the risk of creating something that doesn’t solve real problems.

What are the advantages of using Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS) and serverless architecture for developing my SaaS MVP?

Using Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS) and serverless architecture can be a game-changer when developing a SaaS MVP. Here’s why:

• Quick setup and launch: These tools remove the hassle of building and maintaining complex backend systems, helping you get your MVP out the door faster.
• Budget-friendly: The pay-as-you-go pricing means you only pay for what you use, keeping upfront costs low and expenses manageable.
• Effortless scaling: Serverless platforms automatically adjust to your growing user base, so you don’t have to worry about scaling infrastructure as demand increases.
• Focus on the product: With backend management off your plate, your team can zero in on improving core features and responding to user feedback.

For startups looking to launch quickly while staying flexible for future growth, BaaS and serverless architecture offer a practical and efficient solution.

How can I use the MoSCoW method to prioritize features and keep my MVP development focused?

To use the MoSCoW method for prioritizing features, begin by listing every potential feature you’re considering for your MVP. Next, sort these into four clear categories:

• Must have: Features that are absolutely essential for the core functionality.
• Should have: Important features that add value but aren’t critical for the initial version.
• Could have: Nice-to-have features that can be included if there’s extra time.
• Won’t have: Features that are not in scope for now.

The priority should always be on completing the Must have features first. These ensure your MVP is functional and achieves its main objectives. Features from the Should have and Could have lists can be tackled in future updates. This structured approach keeps the process focused, reduces unnecessary complications, and helps you launch faster.