MVP in two weeks — what realistically fits inside it
Two weeks for a first working app version sounds like a marketing line. It isn't — it's a format with clear rules: one fixed price, one core function, one firm end date. What actually gets built, and what stays out on purpose, is laid out here without polish.
What “MVP” means here
MVP stands for minimum viable product — the smallest version that has real value, not a clickable dummy and not a throwaway prototype. At Digitalbucht that means: a native iOS app that solves one single core function completely and cleanly, instead of five functions half done. What it does not mean: an unfinished app you would not want to show anyone. At the end of the two weeks, something runs on a real device that you can hand to real users.
The process, day by day
| Day | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1–2 | Conversation about goal and scope, boundaries, fixed-price quote |
| 3–4 | Rough concept: screens, flow, core function locked in |
| 5–9 | Building the app — native iOS, the core function takes shape |
| 10–11 | Testing on real devices, final polish |
| 12 | Walkthrough with you, last adjustments |
| 13–14 | App Store submission and handover |
Submission sits deliberately at the end: Apple's own review process usually takes a few more days after that and falls outside the deadline, because it is not in Digitalbucht's hands.
What gets built in two weeks — and what stays out on purpose
| Gets built | Stays out on purpose |
|---|---|
| One clearly scoped core function | Multiple languages |
| Native iOS app, no clickable dummy | Android version |
| Working on real devices | Complex payment handling |
| Ready for the first real users | Backend built for many thousands of users |
| A clean, extensible foundation | Admin dashboard and reporting |
This split is deliberate, not thrift: two weeks are enough for one thing that really works — not for ten things that half work.
When two weeks are not enough
Honestly: not for every project. It runs long as soon as real payment processing with legal requirements is added, as soon as interfaces to third-party systems need to be integrated, with special data-protection cases (health data, for instance), or when store review time itself becomes the bottleneck. In all these cases that is said openly before the start — not when day 14 is approaching.
What happens after the MVP
Once payment is complete, the code is yours, unless the quote agreed otherwise. Whether it gets built further afterwards is your call — there is no subscription obligation and no follow-on order that is silently assumed. Some clients use the MVP as a basis for a decision (does the idea work with real users?), others carry straight on building. Both are a legitimate next step.
Why a one-person business is faster here than an agency
Digitalbucht is the sole proprietorship of Emil Deak, based in Wülfrath, near Düsseldorf, Germany. At an agency, a project moves through several stations: sales, project management, development, quality assurance — with a handover at every interface. At Digitalbucht, those interfaces do not exist. The person you talk to also writes the code. No staffing plan, no onboarding of a new developer mid-project, no information lost on the way between two departments. That is not a criticism of agencies — it is simply a different structure, and in two weeks that structure is the decisive advantage.
Digitalbucht is the sole proprietorship of Emil Deak, based in Wülfrath, Germany. No team, no agency, no layer in between — the reason for short paths, and equally the limit of what can run in parallel.
Frequently asked questions
What does an MVP cost?
Based on market research, most MVP projects fall between €15,000 and €60,000 — depending on scope and technical depth. Details and the full pricing logic are on the App cost page.
Basis: the same researched market assessment as on the App cost page, as of August 2026 — not a Digitalbucht price.
How long does an MVP take?
At Digitalbucht, usually two weeks to a working version — plus the store review time set by Apple.
What belongs in an MVP, and what doesn't?
One core function, solved completely and cleanly. Anything that is “nice to have” but does not carry the core function belongs in the next build-out stage, not in the first two weeks.
Who owns the code after the project?
You do, once payment is complete — unless the quote agreed otherwise.
Can an MVP later become a proper app?
Yes, that is the standard case, not the exception. The MVP is built as a foundation to build further on, rather than something to throw away later.
How long does App Store approval take?
Usually a few days, with some variation — Apple gives no fixed commitment here, and that applies to every developer equally, not only to Digitalbucht.
Next: What does it cost to have an app developed? — the full pricing logic · Choosing an App Developer. Or straight to the app portfolio.
Last updated: august 2026
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