Most MVPs fail for one reason: they work, but no one cares.
That’s why top product teams don’t ship Minimum Viable Products anymore — they ship Minimum Lovable Products (MLPs).
Slack Is the Perfect Case
When Slack was launched in 2013, dozens of team-chat tools already existed.
But Slack wasn’t trying to be viable — it was trying to be loved.
- The interface felt friendly, not corporate.
- The loading messages said things like “You look nice today.”
- The sound design made notifications feel like tiny dopamine hits.
None of that was necessary for viability.
But it was essential for delight.
Within six months, Slack hit 15,000 daily users — entirely through word of mouth.
That’s the power of an MLP:
You don’t need marketing when your product makes people talk.
How to Think Like an MLP Builder
Start with emotion.
Ask: What should users feel after using this?
- Cut the clever — keep the joy.
- Drop features that don’t add delight.
- Prototype for love, not just function.
- Test how people react, not just what they do.
- Measure affection, not only adoption.
- Track NPS, sentiment, and share rate.
Bottom Line
A viable product earns usage.
A lovable product earns advocacy.
So if you’re planning your next launch, don’t ask:
“What’s the least we can build?”
Ask:
“What’s the smallest thing people will love?”
