How to Build Your MVP with AI Coding Tools [Template Included]
A few months ago, a founder friend of mine—let’s call him Jake—was fired up about his new SaaS idea.
He wasn’t technical, but AI coding tools like Cursor AI had him convinced he could build a simple MVP himself.
So, he fired up Cursor AI and typed something like:
"Build me a SaaS app for X."
A minute later, he had a bunch of code.
He copied, pasted, ran it... and nothing worked.
Debugging was a nightmare.
The AI kept making weird mistakes.
Hours turned into days, and Jake started thinking, Maybe AI coding tools just aren’t that good?
Here’s the thing: AI coding isn’t the problem. The problem was his prompt.
A vague, high-level prompt like that won’t get you a working MVP. But a well-crafted first prompt? That’s where the magic happens.
Let’s break down how to prompt these tools like a pro so you can actually build your MVP instead of wrestling with broken code.
The Framework for Effective AI Coding Prompts
Think of AI coding tools like an incredibly fast but slightly clueless junior developer. They’ll do exactly what you ask—sometimes too literally. That’s why your prompt needs structure.
Here’s what your first prompt should include:
Project Context – What are you building, and who’s it for?
Key Features – The core functionalities you need.
Tech Stack (if known) – Preferred frameworks, languages, tools.
Constraints – MVP priorities, platform choices, what to avoid.
Desired Output – What should the AI actually generate first?
This helps the AI make fewer assumptions, so you get useful output instead of vague, half-baked code.
The Expert-Level AI Coding Prompt
Copy, tweak, and paste this into your AI coding tool:
I am building an MVP for a [describe your product, e.g., "task management app for remote teams"].
### Project Context:
- The purpose of this MVP is to [explain what the product does in one sentence].
- The target audience is [describe who will use this product].
### Key Features:
- [Feature 1, e.g., "User authentication with email/password and Google login"]
- [Feature 2, e.g., "Task creation with drag-and-drop organization"]
- [Feature 3, e.g., "Real-time collaboration on tasks"]
### Tech Stack:
- Preferred technologies: [list frameworks, libraries, or tools you want to use, e.g., Next.js, Supabase, TailwindCSS]
- Backend requirements: [any necessary backend services, e.g., "Supabase for authentication and database"]
### Constraints:
- This is an MVP, so keep the architecture simple and scalable.
- Avoid unnecessary dependencies; use built-in solutions where possible.
- The UI should follow modern design patterns (TailwindCSS preferred).
### First Task:
[Example: Generate a project setup with Next.js, Supabase authentication, and a simple dashboard with a protected route.
- Include environment variable handling.
- Follow best practices for structuring the project.
- Output the full project structure and initial code files.]Why This Works
Context-Rich → The AI understands your product, not just isolated features.
Scoped & Specific → It knows what to build first instead of dumping everything at once.
Technical Preferences → Ensures alignment with your preferred tools & constraints.
Actionable Output → You get a structured, working setup instead of random snippets.
When to Use This Prompt
Starting a brand-new AI-assisted project
Pivoting an MVP and need a quick rebuild
Automating boilerplate code setup
Exploring different frameworks before committing
Ready to Build?
Fire up Cursor AI, Lovable, or your favorite AI coding tool and drop in this prompt.
If you’ve been stuck, this might be the shortcut you need. Let me know what you’re building—I’d love to hear how it goes!
PS: If you learn something new leave me a ♡.