I've vibe-coded my startup—now what? How to get your MVP in front of users

I've vibe-coded my startup—now what? How to get your MVP in front of users – You’ve shipped a working build from late nights and lots of intuition. The fastest way to real traction in 2026 Australia is to move from “it runs” to “it proves one clear outcome” with paying, consenting users and a short learning loop.

Define one measurable outcome and user job

Anchor your MVP to a single job-to-be-done with a measurable outcome. For example: “Reduce weekly reporting time for finance managers by 30%.” Document the success metric, the target role, and the environment (desktop/mobile, in-office/on-site). This lets you judge progress in days, not months.

Set up consent, privacy, and reliability guardrails

Before adding more features, ensure your pilot is safe to run. Publish clear Terms of Use and a Privacy Policy that match how you actually process data. If you use AI services, disclose the model provider and data flows. Avoid production secrets in client-side code, and keep logs minimal. For personal information, align with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC). Reliability: add basic monitoring (uptime + errors), a single rollback path, and clear in-product status messaging.

Recruit 8–12 pilot users with structured sessions

Start with warm networks: LinkedIn 2nd-degree searches, local meetups, and university clubs tied to your problem domain. Offer a short incentive (gift card or early pricing) and block 45-minute moderated sessions. Use a repeatable script: context questions, 2–3 core tasks, time-on-task measurement, and open feedback. Record sessions with consent. After each session, capture observations (what happened), interpretations (what it might mean), and decisions (what to change this week).

Format your pilot

Run a two-week sprint: 3–5 users in week one, iterate, then 3–7 users in week two to confirm improvements. Keep your change log public to pilots so they see momentum.

Price testing: earn signal, not perfect revenue

Introduce pricing early to test willingness-to-pay. Choose one simple offer (e.g. monthly subscription or per-seat) and one anchor discount for early adopters. If you work in regulated industries, confirm whether charging makes you a service provider under relevant rules (e.g. health data handling). Capture objections verbatim; they inform both product and positioning.

Instrument learning loops (evidence over opinions)

Add lightweight analytics focused on the core job: task completion rate, time to complete, error/retry counts, and retention after first week. Pair numbers with qualitative notes from sessions. Ship weekly releases and share a short pilot report covering metric movement, top issues, and the next bet. This rhythm builds credibility with early customers and future investors.

Prep a lean “MVP packet” for partners and investors

Create a single page that includes: the user/job, the win condition, 2–3 screenshots, your metric baseline, quotes from pilot users (with permission), pricing test results, and your next 4-week plan. Keep claims cautious—note known gaps, AI limitations, and risk mitigations. This packet accelerates conversations with accelerators, grant programs, and seed investors.

Move from vibe-coded to validated in four weeks

Keep your MVP narrow, safe, and measurable. Run two pilot cycles, report progress weekly, and ship visible changes. With a clear win condition, evidence from 8–12 users, and transparent privacy practices, you will have the traction story needed for early revenue, partnerships, or a compelling pre-seed discussion.