The challenge
There was pressure to include multiple high-effort features early, which risked:
- Slower delivery
- Unclear MVP signal
- Fragmented experience
Approach
Used a transparent prioritization method:
- Impact vs effort
- Dependencies (what unlocks value)
- Validation-first: what proves the core loop works?
Decision
Prioritized a tight loop:
- Discover maps → view place → save → follow
- Minimal contributor workflow
- Defer business expansion until trust + engagement are validated
Why it worked
It kept scope realistic while protecting trust and creating a foundation for future monetization.