When you’re pitching investors, your product doesn’t need to be perfect—but it does need to work. A buggy prototype can kill momentum and shake investor confidence, no matter how brilliant your idea is.

What Investors Expect from an MVP

Investors know an MVP is an early product. They don’t expect all features to be live or the UI to be flawless. What they do expect is:

• Core functionality that proves your concept works.

• Stability during a demo (no crashes or dead ends).

• Scalability potential—your tech shouldn’t collapse under growth.

Stabilization Checklist

Before you step into the room with investors, focus on:

1. Fixing critical bugs – Prioritize user flows like sign-up, login, and the core demo.

2. UI polish where it matters – Small design tweaks can make the experience feel intentional, not broken.

3. Basic documentation – A technical overview reassures investors you’re not building on shaky ground.

Common Prototype Mistakes to Avoid

• Overbuilding: Don’t waste time adding non-essential features before investor meetings.

• Ignoring the backend: Investors often bring technical advisors. A messy backend can raise red flags.

• Skipping load testing: Even light stress testing shows you’re serious about scalability.

Takeaway: Your prototype’s job is to inspire confidence. By stabilizing core flows and cleaning up critical code, you give investors proof that your vision is executable.