Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur Prove Your MVP: The Founder Playbook for a Strong First Launch (with Angelo Zanetti)
If you're building a new app or software product, your biggest risk usually isn't "bad code." It's building the wrong thing, shipping it with a shaky first impression, and then wondering why growth never shows up. In this episode of Building Better Developers, Angelo Zanetti breaks it down into a simple founder goal: prove your MVP—prove the problem is real, prove the solution is worth paying for, and prove you can deliver value without burning your runway.
About Angelo ZanettiAngelo Zanetti is the co-founder and CEO of Elemental, a South African-based software development agency helping startups and scaleups worldwide bring digital products to life. Since 2005, his team has specialized in building scalable, high-performance web apps and software platforms. Angelo blends deep technical knowledge with strategic thinking, helping founders launch bespoke products that are lean, user-focused, and built for long-term value. He's also served on several boards (including BISA and Entrepreneurs' Organisation Cape Town) and is a proud member of the global founder community OPUS.
Prove your MVP by solving a real problemAngelo's first checkpoint is direct: product-market fit is about whether you're solving a real pain—or building for a problem that "doesn't really exist."
That's the trap founders fall into when the plan is "we'll launch, and the floodgates will open." In reality, traction comes from specificity: a specific user, a specific workflow, and a specific outcome that's better than the alternatives.
If you can't describe your user's pain in one sentence, you're not ready to build features—you're ready to refine the problem.
Keeping it simpleTo prove your MVP, you need a version you can ship and learn from. Angelo's advice: keep it MVP—keep it simple—make launch as easy as possible.
This is where founders accidentally turn "minimal" into "massive." They stack features, add edge cases, and delay learning. A better approach is to ship the smallest version that delivers one clear win.
A practical filter:
- Does this feature directly help the user get the promised result?
- Will we learn something important by shipping it now?
- If we cut it, can the product still succeed?
One of Angelo's strongest warnings: don't treat users like beta testers. He's not a fan of launching "full of bugs" and fixing things live, because you only get one chance at a strong first impression.
That matters even more early on, when your users are deciding whether to trust you with their time, money, or data.
Bugs don't just hurt quality—they kill momentum. A messy first experience can "blow your chances" to wow users.
Market before developmentThis is the founder's lesson that never feels "technical," but decides everything: marketing starts before you build. Angelo calls out the pattern he's seen repeatedly—founders who plan customer acquisition do well, and those who assume "launch to the world" will magically work usually don't.
Marketing early doesn't mean ads on day one. It means clarity:
- Who is this for?
- Where do they hang out?
- What promise makes them lean in?
- What proof would make them try it?
AI tools can help you move faster—but they can also help you move faster into danger. Angelo raises a big concern: "vibe-coded" apps can become a playground for hackers, where API keys get exposed, and security gaps get exploited—especially when a non-technical founder doesn't know what to look for.
He also frames planning with a great metaphor: building software is like building a house—you start with an architect. Scoping, specifications, and user journeys are often undervalued because they're not "tangible," but they're key to long-term success and scaling.
Speed is great. But speed without planning and security is how you "prove" the wrong thing—painfully.
Closing thoughtsIf you want to prove your MVP, don't chase perfection—and don't chase feature bloat either. Solve a real problem, keep it minimal, launch with quality, and start marketing earlier than feels comfortable. That's how you get real traction, real feedback, and a real foundation to scale.
Stay Connected: Join the Developreneur CommunityWe invite you to join our community and share your coding journey with us. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting, there's always room to learn and grow together. Contact us at info@develpreneur.com with your questions, feedback, or suggestions for future episodes. Together, let's continue exploring the exciting world of software development.
Additional Resources