Ask HN: How to show a not “so perfect” MVP to potential customers?

Hello.

I know that MVP is not about the finished product, but you need at least to show some reliable experience to potential customers.

I have an MVP in the AI field, but in order to have accuracy and a fully satisfactory experience, it requires some conditions, because it deals with random variables that I still don't have full control over (i.e: I need people to speak with good diction/utterance).

How can I present this to potential customers so "random variables" wouldn't discredit my product?

MVP implies that you show them the most valuable feature. It can simply be a mockup too!

What you need, in my opinion, is basically your core proposition. Like if you build a killer robot, showing that it can hit any target you click on, is nice.. even though it might not be able to move.

If its a webapp, don't focus on solved problems, like Logins or SSO but rather show me what your "x for y" can do. After all the products you do actually buy are the ones, you think, will solve your problems.

Adding to this if voice recognition is just the first part of a process can you eliminate it? Can you show them an example of how to use it based on text? For example “type your command/query” instead of speaking it.

You can just say you're early. If your vision resonates and you're solving a real problem they will be excited.

Who is your ideal customer base and how large/expensive are they? I believe that matters. If you're selling b2b or similar, (infrequent but expensive contracts with a bit of back and forth) I find they tend to be okay with drawbacks like that if A) you can prove value higher than the price regardless of those drawbacks and B) you document the drawbacks well.

I haven't dealt with the opposite end of the customer spectrum, low cost sales/subscription. But from my experience as a consumer I feel like they are more hostile towards those sorts of drawbacks unless your marketing is extremely clear about them.