MVP (business)
Etymology
An initialism for "minimum viable product," attributed to Frank Robinson around 2001 and popularized by Eric Ries and Steve Blank in the lean-startup movement. "Viable" is the load-bearing word — it must actually work enough to test a real hypothesis, not merely exist. The term reframed launching as an experiment.
noun · /em-vee-PEE/
A "minimum viable product" — the simplest version of a product that can be released to learn whether people actually want it.
What it names
It licenses you to ship something rough and real instead of polishing something perfect nobody may need.
Example
Their MVP was a single landing page and a signup form — enough to prove demand before writing any code.
Related idea
An MVP is meant for real customers to test demand; a proof of concept only shows something is technically possible, often internally. A proof of concept answers "can we build it?"; an MVP answers "will anyone want it?"
noun · /em-vee-PEE/
“Most Valuable Player” — the standout performer of a team or contest.
What it names
the athlete (or, loosely, the colleague) judged the best contributor.
Example
She was named MVP of the championship game.
Related idea
A wholly separate initialism from the product sense, and far older in everyday speech.