The verdict in three sentences
In 2026, discovery takes 2 to 3 weeks, an MVP ships in 8 to 14 weeks, and a full v1 needs 4 to 7 months. The cadence rests on 2-week sprints with a demo at the end of each, which makes the plan verifiable. An investor doesn't fund a date, they fund delivered milestones: better to promise an MVP in 12 weeks and hit it than announce 6 weeks and slip.
Phases, deliverables and duration by project size
Each phase produces a concrete deliverable. That's what lets you steer and reassure a board.
| Phase | Deliverable | Small project | Medium | Ambitious |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discovery | Backlog, mockups, architecture | 1-2 wks | 2-3 wks | 3-4 wks |
| UX/UI design | Design system, key screens | 1-2 wks | 2-4 wks | 4-6 wks |
| MVP (core feature) | Demonstrable product | 4-6 wks | 8-12 wks | 12-16 wks |
| Private beta | First-user feedback | 2-3 wks | 3-4 wks | 4-6 wks |
| v1 (GA) | Sellable version | 2-3 months | 4-6 months | 6-9 months |
| Post-launch hypercare | Fixes, stabilization | 2 wks | 3-4 wks | 4-8 wks |
What really speeds up or slows down the plan
At equal effort, a few organizational factors shift the timeline by 30 to 50%. Spotting them early avoids nasty surprises in front of investors.
| Factor | Speeds up | Slows down | Timeline impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Available decision maker | Dedicated product owner | Committee sign-off | ±2-4 weeks |
| Scope | Frozen for the MVP | Mid-flight additions | ±3-8 weeks |
| Design | Reusable system | Pixel-perfect custom | ±2-5 weeks |
| Third-party integrations | Modern documented APIs | Undocumented legacy/ERP | ±2-6 weeks |
| Content & data | Ready upfront | Provided piecemeal | ±1-4 weeks |
| Quality bar | Targeted tests | Certification/compliance | ±2-8 weeks |
An available client-side product owner is the most underrated lever: alone, they win or lose several weeks through fast decisions.
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Mini case study
Yannick, founder of a B2B marketplace project in Bordeaux, must present a credible roadmap to business angels in 3 months. We scope a milestone plan: discovery (2 wks), design (3 wks), transactional MVP (10 wks) — a usable live demo in 15 weeks. He pitches not a promise but a product that takes a real order with payment split. The raise rests on demonstrated traction, which noticeably improves valuation versus a mere slide deck.
FAQ
Can you ship an MVP in 4 weeks? Rarely for a truly billable product. 4 weeks suffice for a clickable prototype or demo; a sellable MVP with auth and billing needs 8 to 14 weeks.
Why 2-week sprints? Because they force regular demos and fast adjustments. You see the product advance every two weeks rather than discovering the result at the end.
How do you hold a plan against surprises? By freezing the MVP scope and treating every new idea as a post-MVP backlog item. Scope discipline is the first guardian of the timeline.
Should everything be designed before coding? No: we design the MVP's key screens, then iterate. Chasing pixel-perfect across the whole app before the first commit needlessly extends the timeline.
How long for a v1 after a validated MVP? Typically plan 3 to 5 extra months to move from a single-feature MVP to a sellable v1, depending on the modules added.
Let's scope your project. Give us your deadline (raise, trade show, season) and scope: we'll build a realistic milestone plan. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
