Building Your First AI MVP in 30 Days: A Realistic Timeline

Can you really build an AI MVP in 30 days? Yes—if you're realistic about scope.

Week 1: Validation & Planning

• Define ONE core feature that AI solves
• Manual test with 5-10 potential users
• Choose your tech stack (OpenAI? Claude? RAG?)
• Sketch basic UI/UX

Week 2: Core AI Integration

• Set up API connections
• Build prompt templates
• Test accuracy with real examples
• Handle errors gracefully

Week 3: User Interface & Flow

• Build minimal UI (no fancy animations yet)
• User authentication (if needed)
• Connect frontend to AI backend
• Add loading states

Week 4: Testing & Launch

• Beta test with 10-20 users
• Fix critical bugs
• Add basic analytics
• Deploy and share

What to Skip in V1

• Complex user management
• Fine-tuning (use base models first)
• Advanced features
• Perfect UI