Crafting Celi: From MVP to MMP in Just Three Months
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Introduction to Celi's Journey
In the span of three months, I successfully validated and beta-tested my product, Celi, with a modest budget of only $846. Throughout this process, I represented the technology and benefited from the generosity of various startup programs that supported our tech stack.
We are excited to unveil the official Celi website, where you can explore, share, and secure your unique username. As of now, there are over 8 billion usernames still available. With the MVP phase of Celi concluded, we are gearing up for the Minimum Marketable Product (MMP).
Celi's MVP Overview
During the MVP phase, I was the face of the technology. Whether our 163 users were aware of this or not is uncertain. User accounts were set up through Typeform, connections were established manually, and notifications were dispatched via an SMS service, all crafted by me.
In the upcoming MMP, the technology will take over this role. Users from anywhere can create an account, input important dates, and connect with friends, family, and colleagues. They'll receive reminders via text, WhatsApp, and email.
Reflecting on the MVP
Before we move forward, it's essential to take a moment to reflect on the MVP's achievements and the insights gained.
How It All Began
The inception of Celi's MVP was rooted in a survey aimed at validating a significant problem. We sought to determine whether people had experienced the issue of forgetting important dates and if they had attempted to address it.
The survey included over 385 participants, yielding the following insights:
- 92% had forgotten a birthday
- 76% had missed an important date for a friend
- 75% had tried and failed to resolve the issue
- 89% expressed a desire for a solution
The survey also aimed to identify potential beta testers and investors. According to Rob Fitzpatrick's "The Mom Test," there are three types of commitments: financial, time, and reputation.
The survey revealed that:
- 275 individuals expressed interest in being beta testers.
- 265 reserved usernames after committing to beta test Celi.
- 97 showed interest in potential pre-seed investments.
This strong interest resulted in a double commitment: users opted for a username and indicated their willingness to participate in the beta test, showing both time and reputation commitment.
How to set up A/B Testing with Post-Purchase | Rebuy Help Center - YouTube
In this video, you can learn about A/B testing strategies that can further enhance your product development, similar to how we approached Celi's MVP phase.
MVP Performance Evaluation
The MVP's objective was to affirm Celi's proof of concept, which could lead to three possible outcomes:
- Celi works and delivers real value to users.
- Celi works but fails to provide value.
- Celi does not function as intended, resulting in no value for users.
The MVP ran for 20 weeks and yielded the following metrics:
- 163 monthly active users
- 10% week-over-week growth
- Viral coefficient of 2.52
- 91% activation rate
- 76% engagement rate
On an individual level, profiles revealed:
- 3.7 dates per user
- 15.3 connections per user
Insights from User Behavior
From the data collected, we found that:
- 91% of users expressed they would be disappointed if Celi ceased to exist.
- 37% considered it a must-have tool.
We received testimonials from 14 users that captured the essence of Celi's value.
Key Takeaways
Building Celi gradually has been a rewarding experience. Each phase has provided the necessary insights to progress to the next step:
- The MVP's results authorized the development of the MMP.
- We learned that Celi needs to address two core issues: remembering important dates and providing timely reminders.
Celi's approach is unique. Traditional calendars and social media platforms often fall short, requiring extensive manual input and management, which leads to missed dates.
Instead, Celi's notification system directly alerts users via text, email, and WhatsApp, addressing the issue of forgotten dates more efficiently.
The Gifting Experiment
During the MVP, we conducted a gifting experiment where users received their preferred gifts. For instance, one user was sent a $75 Doordash gift card, resulting in an average value of $3.94 per connection.
Financial Overview of the MVP
Despite inquiries for investment, Celi has chosen to remain bootstrapped. The total cost of the MVP was $846.73, while the MMP will demand significantly more resources, primarily for developer and designer salaries.
Celi aims to maintain its free status while working towards a monetization strategy that aligns with user needs.
Conclusion: Welcome to TimeToCeli.com
Thank you for joining us on this journey. We are thrilled to present the Celi website. Feel free to explore, share, and reserve your username.
Never miss an important date again! Celi keeps you informed of your friends' significant birthdays and events through convenient reminders.
Visit us at timetoceli.com to connect and celebrate life’s moments.
Celi is unstoppable, and we’re excited to keep building!