Minimal Lovable Products: One lesson as Product guy, building 100 products in 18 years

From Taskmaster to CollabDeen: The Power of Making People Smile

You know that feeling of launching a product? Like sending your baby out into the world? I've done it over a hundred times, each launch a rollercoaster ride from concept to market. For years, I was all about MVPs - Minimum Viable Products. Get something basic out there, test the waters, right?

But lately, I've been seeing the magic of MLPs - Minimum Lovable Products. It's not just about function, it's about making people smile. Take "Taskmaster," my first productivity app. It let you make lists and set reminders, sure, but... ugh. It was about as exciting as watching paint dry. Downloads were okay, but let's just say people weren't exactly raving. It validated the need for a productivity app, but there was zero oomph.

Fast forward 12 years came "CollabDeen." This time, we went all in on the lovable factor. Think sleek design, gamified tasks that made checking things off feel like a victory lap, and even AI-powered suggestions to help you stay on top of your game. "CollabDeen" exploded! Downloads skyrocketed, and people couldn't stop talking about how much they loved using it. It wasn't just managing tasks anymore, it felt collaborative, and empowering - like you were part of something bigger.

The difference was night and day. "Taskmaster" got me in the market fast, but "CollabDeen" built product which people love at first sight, adds brand loyalty at lightning speed. People loved it, shared it with their friends, and even attracted awesome talent who wanted to be part of something special.

Sure, MLPs take more time. But in the crowded app world, a little extra polish can be your secret weapon. It's the difference between blending in and standing out, between getting by and getting hearts. "CollabDeen" wasn't just an app, it was a community collaboration platform, like a private Facebook group where you could actually get things done. We used to joke that every time we came up with something cool, the big players like Facebook copied it! That's how you know you're onto something people truly love.

With every update, we poured our hearts into the UI, UX, and features - even throwing in cutting-edge voice recognition for good measure. And it all paid off. "CollabDeen" grew to over 30 countries, a testament to the power of creating something people genuinely adore.

The lesson? For markets I understand well, the MLP is the key to unlocking explosive growth. It's not just about validation, it's about creating an experience that resonates, that makes people smile. And that, my friends, is the fuel that propels products to success.

Building products is my passion, and I'm always on the hunt for new problems to solve. In fact, I'm currently cooking up two revolutionary products – HajiAnsari.ai (we just crushed a pitch competition in Saudi Arabia!), and 'Deen' (another AI/IoT project i will share in public later). You guessed it, both MLPs!

I could talk about the power of lovable products all day. Maybe next time, I can share more about the journey and the magic of making people fall in love with what you create.