Since 2015, our team has helped build over 100 startup products. From zero to MVP and beyond. These weren’t just well-designed apps. They became real businesses, many securing venture funding, winning awards, and hitting key revenue milestones.
That experience taught us one hard truth: feature prioritisation makes or breaks early-stage products.
You’ve got the idea. Maybe even your first wireframes. But somewhere between whiteboarding and launch day, things start to snowball.
More features. More feedback. More ideas.
Suddenly, your MVP isn’t so “minimal” anymore.
And that’s dangerous, because in startups, building everything is a luxury you can’t afford. According to PMI, almost two-thirds of software features are rarely or never used. That’s time, money, and momentum lost to things no one needed.
The antidote? Ruthless prioritisation.
This is where the MoSCoW Method comes in, a practical framework to strip your MVP down to what matters most.
Contents
What is the MoSCoW Method?
The MoSCoW method (no, not the city) is a prioritisation technique that helps you categorise product features into four buckets:
- Must-Have – Essential for the product to function.
- Should-Have – Valuable, but not mission-critical for the MVP.
- Could-Have – Nice-to-have features that can wait.
- Won’t-Have (for now) – Ideas you’ll deliberately exclude for this version.
It was first developed as part of the Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM) in the ’90s but quickly spread beyond enterprise software. Today, startup teams use MoSCoW to cut scope, stay lean, and build MVPs that actually launch.
It works because it’s clear. There’s no ambiguity about what’s in and what’s out.
Why Use MoSCoW for Your MVP?
As an early-stage founder, you don’t need more theory. You need guardrails, and MoSCoW provides them. Here’s how:
1. Cuts Through “Everything Is Important” Syndrome
Founders are passionate. Every feature feels crucial. But when everything’s a priority, nothing is. MoSCoW forces hard decisions by asking, “Can we launch without this?” That clarity keeps you out of the bloated MVP trap.
2. Keeps Your MVP Viable (and Truly Minimal)
By starting with Must-Haves, you guarantee your MVP solves the core user problem. The Shoulds and Coulds? They go in the backlog. You’ll get to them, just not at the expense of getting to market.
3. Creates Alignment Across Your Team
Whether you’re working with developers, designers, or investors, MoSCoW gives everyone a shared language. It’s simple, transparent, and avoids the endless debate of “what’s most important?”
4. Prevents Scope Creep
By clearly listing your Won’t-Haves, you draw a line in the sand. It’s not “no forever”, it’s “not right now.” That distinction helps manage expectations without shutting down innovation.
5. Reinforces Lean Startup Principles
Every Must-Have should help validate a key assumption or drive user value. MoSCoW keeps you focused. You’re not just building a product, you’re proving a concept.
Real-World Example: A marketplace MVP focused solely on user registration, listing creation, and payments. User reviews and social logins? Could-Haves. By sticking to MoSCoW, they launched in half the time and started learning from real users sooner.
Do you have a brilliant startup idea that you want to bring to life?
From the product and business reasoning to streamlining your MVP to the most important features, our team of product experts and ex-startup founders can help you bring your vision to life.
How to Prioritise Features with the MoSCoW Method (Step-by-Step)
Note: MoSCoW works best after you’ve done some early validation. If you haven’t spoken to potential users yet, pause here and go do that first. Prioritisation without insight is just guessing.
Defining the Categories (So Everyone Agrees)
To prevent confusion during prioritisation, define what each category really means for your team:
- Must-Have: Without this, the product fails to deliver its core value. Users can’t complete the primary journey.
- Should-Have: Adds meaningful value or enhances usability. Important, but not essential for the initial release.
- Could-Have: Useful or nice-to-have. Doesn’t block the MVP’s success and can be postponed.
- Won’t-Have (for now): Clearly out of scope for this release. Useful ideas that don’t support your immediate goal, but can be revisited later.
Agree on these definitions before you start. Use a shared doc or whiteboard to capture them so there’s no ambiguity.
Step 1: List Every Feature (Even the Wild Ones)
Start with a full brain dump. Capture everything that’s been suggested, from core functions to blue-sky ideas.
Use tools like Notion, FigJam, or just a spreadsheet. The point is to visualise the full scope.
Pro Tip: Phrase features as user stories. Instead of “Analytics Dashboard,” say “As a founder, I want an analytics dashboard to track engagement.” It keeps the focus on user value.
Step 2: Align on Your MVP Goal
Before prioritising, get aligned on why you’re building this MVP. What’s the outcome you need?
Is it to prove user demand? Validate a monetisation model? Nail that one key user flow?
Whatever it is, write it down. Then define the constraints (e.g., 3-month runway, $50k budget). These will shape what realistically makes it into v1.
Step 3: Apply the MoSCoW Categories (With a Walkthrough)
Let’s bring this to life with a walkthrough. Imagine you’re building a SaaS tool that helps freelancers manage invoices. Here’s how you might MoSCoW your first round of features:
- Must-Haves: User login, create/send invoice, payment tracking
- Should-Haves: Invoice templates, recurring invoice support
- Could-Haves: Custom branding, dark mode
- Won’t-Haves (for now): CRM integration, native mobile app
This breakdown ensures that your MVP can function, solve a core pain point, and be shipped within a 2-3 month window.
Step 4: Revisit Your Constraints and Cut Again
Once you’ve sorted features, reality-check them against your resources. Will your Musts + Shoulds fit within your timeline and budget?
If not, trim again. It’s better to launch a clean, lean version than a bloated, half-built one.
Step 5: Communicate the Plan
Prioritisation is collaborative. Run your MoSCoW session like a working session, not a top-down decision. Here’s how:
- Tools: Use something collaborative: Miro or FigJam.
- Format: Create 4 columns (Must, Should, Could, Won’t) and invite the team to place sticky notes or cards in each.
- Facilitate Discussion: Expect debate. Ask “What assumption does this validate?” or “Can we launch without it?”
- Resolve Conflicts: Use clear MVP criteria and your constraints as a tiebreaker. If it’s a close call, push the feature into ‘Could’ by default.
Then document your final MoSCoW board and share it. It becomes a source of truth that keeps your team aligned and stakeholders reassured.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Labelling Everything a Must-Have
If everything is labelled as critical, then nothing truly is. This is one of the fastest ways to derail your MVP scope. Your Must-Haves should be the absolute minimum set of features needed to deliver your core user value. If you find yourself wanting to include more, ask: “Can we launch without this?” If the answer is yes, it’s not a Must-Have.
Skipping Stakeholder Alignment
Early misalignment with co-founders, developers, or investors can snowball into costly delays and heated debates. Take the time to get everyone on the same page about what each MoSCoW category means, what the goal of your MVP is, and what constraints you’re working within. Shared understanding avoids painful course corrections later.
Using Vague Feature Names
Terms like “dashboard” or “reporting tool” are ambiguous and can mean different things to different people. Replace vague feature names with user stories that clearly state who the user is, what they want to do, and why it matters. This keeps discussions focused on outcomes, not internal assumptions.
Ignoring Constraints
Your timeline and budget are not suggestions, they’re the rules of the game. If your Must + Should list doesn’t fit within them, you need to cut. Hoping for wiggle room later is how MVPs turn into bloated, never-launching products. Use your constraints to your advantage, they keep you focused.
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Other Scenarios Where You Can Leverage the MoSCoW Method
Sprint Planning
MoSCoW is a practical tool for agile teams to focus sprint planning around the highest-impact deliverables. Categorising tasks helps clarify what’s essential versus what’s expendable when time gets tight.
Post-MVP Feature Expansion
Once your MVP is live, you’ll face dozens of new feature ideas. MoSCoW helps you systematically prioritise based on real feedback and usage data rather than emotion or gut feel.
Pivoting or Redesigning
When your product or market changes direction, MoSCoW lets you quickly reprioritise under new constraints, shedding features that no longer serve your updated vision.
Stakeholder Alignment
Use MoSCoW as a visual communication tool. It gives you a framework to justify why some requests are deferred or excluded, reducing friction with marketing, sales, and investors.
Backlog Grooming
Use MoSCoW to clean up your backlog by categorising stale or legacy items. This keeps your team focused and your roadmap relevant.
Final Thoughts: Turn Prioritisation into Progress
Using MoSCoW isn’t just about trimming a feature list. It’s about aligning your team around the few critical features that prove your concept and push your startup forward.
Before you jump into categorising, take a moment to validate the problems you’re solving. Talk to real users. Run quick interviews. Pitch your idea. MoSCoW works best when it’s built on insights, not assumptions.
Next Steps for Founders
- Block an hour with your team this week to run a MoSCoW session
- Use a tool like Notion or FigJam to visualise your MVP backlog
- Define your MVP success criteria and constraints before prioritising
And if you’re not sure where to begin? Start with one use case and ask: “What’s the smallest set of features needed to test this idea?”
Keep it lean. Keep it focused. Prioritise to learn, not to impress.
Real MVPs don’t have everything, they have exactly what’s needed to move forward.
If you’re looking for a broader overview of prioritisation techniques, check out our companion article: How to Prioritise Your Startup MVP Features: 8 Steps to Do More with Less. It walks through all the most popular frameworks, so you can choose the one that fits your startup best.
Frequently Asked Questions About The MoSCoW Method
Q: Can something move from Won’t-Have to Must-Have later?
Absolutely. MoSCoW isn’t fixed. As you learn from users or your priorities shift, you can reclassify features. Just be intentional.
Q: What if two co-founders disagree on a feature’s priority?
Go back to your MVP goal. Ask: “Does this feature directly support our core user outcome?” If not, it likely belongs in Should or Could.
Q: Should we run MoSCoW every sprint?
No, it’s more strategic than tactical. Use it at major planning milestones, before building your MVP, pre-funding rounds, or when scoping a major pivot.
Q: How do we prioritise features that serve different stakeholders?
Start with your primary user or buyer. You can repeat MoSCoW for each stakeholder group, but always stay focused on the MVP’s north star goal.
