Real Problem vs. Nice-to-Have Solution

In this episode of The Missing Kei, host Edie Woelfle explores the crucial step of prioritizing features when building apps, emphasizing the clear differentiation between 'must-haves' and 'nice-to-haves'. She likens these concepts to a sandwich, where must-haves are the essential bread and fillings that define the sandwich, while the nice-to-haves are like the condiments, adding flavor and variety but not necessary for the basic function of the sandwich. Edie further advises on focusing and investing primarily in the must-haves (core features) during the initial stages of app development, creating an MVP, testing the functionality, and then gradually incorporating the nice-to-haves based on user feedback and actual needs. The episode also discusses the importance of a well-planned roadmap and includes strategies to prevent distraction by 'shiny objects' or features that may seem attractive but do not directly contribute to the core function of the app. Edie successfully provides a framework to help startups turn tech chaos into a structured product development process, ensuring financial solvency and eventuality of product launch.

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• Must-Have vs. Nice-to-Have: How to Build Your Tech Product Without Wasting Money | Keiboarder
• Real Problem vs. Nice-to-Have Solution

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome to The Missing Key, the podcast where I Edi
Wellflee Fractional CTO, founder of Keyborder, and self proclaimed tech janitor,
turns startup tech chaos into scale ready clarity. In today's episode,
we're diving into the world of building apps and how
to prioritize your features to ensure you don't run out
of money before you even launch. Let's kick this off

(00:26):
with the basics. What's the difference between must haves and
nice to haves? Picture your app as a sandwich. The
must haves are your bread and fillings, the stuff that
actually makes it a sandwich. Without them, you've just got
I don't know, plate decorations. These are the features your
product absolutely needs to work and solve your user's main problem.
For the nice to haves, think of them as the

(00:47):
fancy condiments that make your sandwich more fun or easier
to eat, but aren't necessary for solving your hunger. All right,
now that we've got that sorted, how do you figure
out your must haves? First up, what big problem does
your app actually fix? Write this down in one simple sentence.
This is called your core problem statement. For example, my
app helps dog owners find last minute pet sitters in

(01:08):
their neighborhood. Every must have feature should directly help solve
this core problem. Then and only then, create your MVP,
your minimum viable product. This should only include must have features.
It's the simplest version of your product that actually works.
And finally, test with real trusted users and your QA team.
Me mom may or may not count. Once you've built

(01:29):
only the must haves, get it into the hands of
real and paying people. Include analytics from day one so
you can see how people actually use your app. Now,
let's talk about those nice to haveves that seem so
enticing but can really wait until after your first launch.
One founder spent a ridiculous eighty thousand dollars building a
super cool AI chat sign up process, and they didn't
even start on their core features yet. A simple form

(01:52):
works fine for version one. Another one is advanced search filters.
Just start with basic search, add fancy filters later when
you know which one's users actually want. And finally, multiple
payment options. Start with one reliable payment method, add more
when you're actually making some dough. Literally, Sometimes those nice
to haveves can actually turn into must havelbs. If your

(02:13):
app is for doctors, strong privacy features aren't just nice,
they're legally required, and if your users are older adults,
easer onboarding might be a must have. So keep this
in mind when prioritizing features. Here's a real pitfall getting
distracted by shiny objects. Every time you think of adding
a feature, ask yourself these three questions. Does this directly

(02:34):
solve our core problem? Can we launch successfully without it?
Will adding this delay our launch by more than two weeks.
If it doesn't solve your core problem and will delay
your launch, it can wait. Simple as that your secret
weapon in all of this, a proper roadmap. Create a
clear roadmap that separates features into must haves for initial launch,
nice to haves for version two, and future ideas for

(02:56):
later versions. Pro tip use a tool like canny to
create a public roadmap that lets users vote on which
features they want most. This takes the guesswork out of
what to build next. Building a tech product is like
making a sandwich. You need the bread and fillings first
before worrying about fancy condiments. Start simple, get real feedback,
then add the extras that users actually want. Stay tuned

(03:18):
for next week's episode, where we'll dive into defining your
core problem. Statement the single sentence that should guide all
your product decisions. Trust me, you won't want to miss it.
Thanks for tuning in to the Missing Key. I'm Edie
well Flee, and I hope today's episode has given you
some clarity on building the essentials for your app. Don't
forget to check the show notes for any links or

(03:38):
articles mentioned in today's episode. Until next time,