[Swizec]

A minimum viable product is one users will pay for. Otherwise it's not viable.

[Retric]

True, but viable means slightly more than that. It's viable when the average cost of acquiring a customer is below the lifetime value of a customer.

[enraged_camel]

There's a difference between a minimum viable product and a minimum viable idea. It sounds like the OP wants to sell the latter before building the former. Or, as the saying goes, put the cart before the horse.

[tyang]

You can do a cheap prototype, mockup or wireframe.

If you can code, just code something simple you can test with minimal features.

Most failed sites and apps have way too many features that no one except technical founders and their 37 friends want.

[rhizome]

Could be that an MVI is any idea that can be used to secure funding, in which case it would put the concept in league with a rather unsavory brotherhood.

[lifeisstillgood]

Nice distinction.