Should you build a first version first

A first version is not a toy. It is the smallest thing that proves the job. If you cannot name the job, building small still will not save you.

Build a first version when you need users to teach you. Skip it when the workflow is already proven and the risk is reliability, not demand.

We avoid throwaway prototypes. The first version should be the start of the real product, just thinner. That is how weeks, not months, stays honest.

Prove the job

One user, one outcome, a way to see if it worked.

A slide deck is cheaper than a fake app. Build when you are ready to learn from use.

Is a first version always cheaper?

It is cheaper than building everything. It is not cheaper than doing nothing. Spend it to learn or to replace a painful process.

A 5 minute brief. We reply within one business day. No pressure to hire.