Over the past 5 years, I've built 30+ MVPs for startups using Next.js. Some succeeded, some failed, but the process has been refined to a science. In this article, I'm sharing the exact 30-day framework I use to take a startup idea from concept to launched MVP.
The 30-day MVP framework
Week 1: Discovery & Foundation (Days 1-7)
Day 1-2: Deep dive discovery
Before writing a single line of code, I need to understand:
- Who is the target user?
- What pain point does this solve?
- What is the core value proposition?
- What are the must-have features vs nice-to-have?
- What does success look like in 3 months?
Deliverable: Technical specification document (2-3 pages)
Day 3-4: Architecture decisions
Choose the tech stack based on project needs:
- Next.js 15 (App Router): For SEO, performance, and full-stack capabilities
- TypeScript: Non-negotiable for maintainability
- Supabase: PostgreSQL + Auth + Real-time (replaces Firebase)
- Tailwind CSS: Rapid UI development
- Vercel: Hosting + CI/CD + Analytics
- Stripe: Payments (if needed)
Deliverable: Architecture diagram + tech stack document
Day 5-7: Database schema & API design
Design the data model before touching UI:
- User entities and relationships
- Core business entities
- API endpoints needed
- Authentication flows
Deliverable: Database schema + API specification
Week 2: Design & Core Development (Days 8-14)
Day 8-10: UI/UX Design in Figma
Not pixel-perfect, but good enough:
- Landing page design
- Core user flows (auth, dashboard, main feature)
- Mobile responsive versions
- Component library setup
Day 11-14: Core feature development
Build the "hero feature" first:
- Authentication (Supabase Auth)
- Database setup and migrations
- Core API endpoints
- Main user flow implementation
Week 3: Feature completion & Testing (Days 15-21)
Day 15-17: Secondary features — Add supporting functionality
Day 18-19: Integration & polish — Connect everything (payments, APIs, file uploads)
Day 20-21: Internal testing — Manual testing, mobile responsiveness, performance optimization
Week 4: Launch preparation & Deployment (Days 22-30)
Day 22-24: User acceptance testing
Day 25-27: Production deployment (environment setup, domain, SSL, monitoring)
Day 28-29: Documentation & handoff (README, API docs, Loom walkthrough)
Day 30: Launch — Deploy to production, smoke tests, post-launch monitoring
Pricing for 30-day MVPs
- Standard MVP (20-25 days): $5,000 - $8,000 USD
- Complex MVP (30-35 days): $8,000 - $15,000 USD
Have an MVP idea? Let's talk. I offer a free 15-minute consultation.
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This article was originally published on omarhernandezrey.com