I’m famous for saying “No MVP should take more than 5 months”. Here’s why. A close friend from a top software firm once recounted a partnership with a leading entertainment company in NYC. Their task? Develop tech for a 5,000-person marketing department still using Google Sheets.They collaborated closely with the client's robust team and, by the fifth month, produced an MVP. Yet, the executives found it lacking. So, back to the drawing board: refining, enhancing, and optimizing. A year later, a revamped version was tested on UK employees. Still, only two transitioned from their beloved Sheets.Debate ensued: Was it the interface? Habit? Or should the new system be enforced? The corporate decided it was the interface, prompting another redesign. Results? Unchanged. Sadly, they realized too late that user needs had been sidelined.A suggestion from a developer to address a key pain point raised adoption to 67%, but only for that feature. After a $10M investment and two years, the project was dropped.Meanwhile, as my friend parted ways with the entertainment giant, in sun-baked Arizona, Techery was assisting a $500M enterprise in modernizing their Health & Wellness e-commerce platform. One day, I spotted a trend: customers with accrued points predominantly subscribed to product A, but only a fraction sporadically purchased product B. They were never using their points for anything. We proposed developing a module that would bundle the two products, allowing points to partially cover product B. Two months post-implementation, the ROI was a staggering 5,700%. ($500K in - $29M out). At our year-end corporate bash, amidst the clinks of glasses and echoes of laughter, my friend from the earlier tale approached, a reflective look in his eyes. He posed a question, "What's your biggest takeaway this year?" Thinking back to his story and juxtaposing it with our triumph in Arizona, I quipped, "No MVP should take more than 5 months!" He nearly spat out his wine in surprise, before joining me in a hearty laugh. From that moment, the phrase became legendary within our circles.After implementing this 'start-up mentality' in over 30 enterprises, I'm convinced that there's almost always a chance to leverage a frugal tech initiative to generate millions in savings and profits. The real challenge isn't just having expert resources; it's about those experts knowing how to address a business issue without turning it into an 18-month software endeavor. The true art lies in pinpointing the quickest, most reliable route to a win within a 5-month timeframe.