The verdict in three sentences
A web app MVP for a pre-seed New York startup costs in 2026 between 30,000 and 80,000 EUR, delivered in 2 to 4 months, on a modern stack like Next.js/Supabase with 1 to 2 core features only. The useful unit of measure is the sprint: 8,000 to 15,000 EUR for two weeks of development. The goal is not a complete product but a functional proof that convinces first customers and investors without burning the runway.
How much an MVP costs in 2026
The price depends on the number of core features, the finish level and whether the startup has a CTO. Here are the 2026 orders of magnitude in New York.
| MVP type | Scope | Timeline | Budget EUR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demo MVP | 1 feature, single flow | 4-6 wks | 20,000 - 30,000 |
| Market MVP | 1-2 features, auth, payment | 8-12 wks | 30,000 - 50,000 |
| Scalable MVP | 2-3 features, back office, API | 12-16 wks | 50,000 - 80,000 |
| MVP + fractional CTO | + tech scoping, hiring | 12-16 wks | 70,000 - 110,000 |
A fractional CTO (2-3 days/week) bills 800 to 1,200 EUR/day in 2026: useful to frame the architecture and prepare Series A without hiring a full-time CTO too early.
Budget per sprint and the runway
Reasoning by sprint lets you steer spend week by week and stop as soon as product-market fit emerges. The table quantifies a market MVP over 5 sprints.
| Sprint | Deliverable | Cost EUR | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sprint 0 | Scoping, design, architecture | 8,000 | 8,000 |
| Sprint 1 | Auth + core feature 1 | 12,000 | 20,000 |
| Sprint 2 | Core feature 2 + payment | 12,000 | 32,000 |
| Sprint 3 | Back office + emails | 10,000 | 42,000 |
| Sprint 4 | Polish, tests, go-live | 8,000 | 50,000 |
| Maintenance / month | Fixes, evolutions | 2,500 | — |
On a 12-month runway, a 50,000 EUR MVP is a controlled share of the budget if the raise targets 300,000 to 500,000 EUR. The rule: do not exceed 10 to 15 % of the runway on the initial product.
Mini case study
Sarah co-founds a B2B startup in New York, pre-seed, with a 400,000 EUR runway. She wants an MVP to sign 5 pilot customers and convince an early-stage fund. She picks a 50,000 EUR market MVP over 5 sprints (10 weeks), with auth, one core feature and payment.
The MVP represents 12.5 % of her runway, within the reasonable zone. In 3 months she signs 3 paying customers at 900 EUR/month, i.e. 2,700 EUR MRR, enough traction to open Series A discussions. The fractional CTO (2 days/week, 1,000 EUR/day) helps her structure the technical pitch for about 8,000 EUR/month, stopped after the raise.
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FAQ
Why not build everything yourself with no-code?
No-code is perfect to test an idea in a few days. But as soon as you target paying customers and a raise, no-code's debt and limits cost a lot to migrate. A cleanly coded MVP (Next.js/Supabase) scales without a rewrite.
How many features should an MVP have?
One, two at most. The M means minimum: each extra feature delays go-to-market and burns runway. Everything else is added after first customer feedback.
Do I need a fractional CTO?
If no co-founder is technical, yes. At 800-1,200 EUR/day over 2-3 days a week, they frame the architecture and reassure investors for far less than a full-time CTO (100,000 EUR+/year).
How much is maintenance after launch?
Budget 2,000 to 3,500 EUR/month for fixes and small evolutions until the internal team is built.
What is a realistic timeline to first customers?
A market MVP ships in 2 to 3 months. You can start prospecting from sprint 3, with an imperfect but already demonstrable product.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your core feature, your runway and your target raise date, and we will frame a costed sprint-based MVP. 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.
