15 Essential Tools for Founders in 2025

Building your Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is an exciting product phase for any founder, but it’s a complex process filled with challenges. For first-time founders, the path to startup success can feel overwhelming, but the right tools can make all the difference. By simplifying workflows, improving collaboration, and saving time, these essential tools for founders empower you to focus on what matters most; creating a product your customers will love.

These MVP tools help with every stage of your journey - from ideation to launch - while keeping affordability and efficiency in mind. Whether you’re brainstorming ideas, gathering feedback, or preparing for a successful startup launch, these tools are here to help.

Design Tools

1. Canva

Canva is a beginner-friendly platform that lets founders create professional visuals, even without a design background. From pitch decks to mockups, it’s perfect for presenting your MVP to stakeholders or crafting social media content. Canva’s free plan offers plenty of features and its drag-and-drop functionality makes it accessible for everyone.

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Use Cases

• Design pitch desk to secure investor interest
• Create landing page visuals to validate your product idea
• Craft social media content to advertise your MVP

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Project Management and Collaboration Tools

2. Trello

Building an MVP is all about organization and keeping your MVP development on track. Internally, your team can use Trello to manage tasks visually using Kanban boards, which are great for tracking progress and prioritizing tasks. Its simplicity and flexibility make it ideal for startups working in agile sprints.

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Use Cases

• Plan and track MVP milestones
• Organize tasks for team members to streamline collaboration

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3. Notion

For founders juggling multiple responsibilities, Notion acts as your second brain. Use it to manage notes, documentation, and project timelines - all in one place. Notion combines flexibility and customization, helping you organize your startup’s ideas and resources.

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Use Cases

• Document your startup’s goals and MVP roadmap
• Build knowledge bases for your team and access important resources

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4. Slack

Communication is at the backbone to every startup success story. Slack keeps your team connected with channels, integration, and quick messaging. It reduces the need for endless email threads and makes collaboration seamless, even for remote teams.

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‍Use Cases

• Create channels for “MVP Features” or “User Feedback” to remain organized
• Integrate with tools like Trello to receive task updates directly in Slack

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Productivity and Automation tools

5. Loom

Loom has revolutionized communication by enabling you to record video messages and share updates. Whether you’re demoing a new feature or onboarding users, Loom saves time by replacing lengthy meetings. It allows asynchronous communication, keeping your team productive without interrupting their focus.

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Use Cases

• Share product updates with stakeholders
• Create tutorial videos for beta testers

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6. Calendly

Founders often struggle to coordinate meetings with users, partners, or investors. Calendly solves this problem by letting others book meetings based on your availability. It streamlines the scheduling process and integrates with tools like Zoom to make meeting logistics effortless.

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Use Cases

• Schedule interviews with potential users to validate your MVP
• Set up investor calls during your startup launch phase

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Analytics and User Feedback Tools

7. SurveyMonkey

Understanding customer needs is critical to building an MVP that resonates. SurveyMonkey enables you to create surveys that gather actionable insights from your target audience. Templates and analytics make it easy to collect and interpret feedback.

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Use Cases

• Validate your MVP concept by surveying early adopters
• Test new features or designs before launch

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8. PickFu

Get instant feedback on key decisions with PickFu. The platform allows you to run polls with real users, helping you make informed decisions about logos, designs, or product features. PickFu provides fast and reliable insights to help you stay agile.

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Use Cases

• Test two landing page designs to see which resonates more
• Poll users on your startup's tagline or brand name

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9. Typeform

Typeform turns surveys into conversations, encouraging higher response rates. Its intuitive design ensures users feel comfortable sharing their thoughts. The polished interface helps establish credibility with early adopters.

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Use Cases

• Collect feedback from beta users post-testing
• Gather sign-ups for your MVP launch list

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Marketing and Analytics Tools

10. MailChimp

Build awareness before your MVP launch; marketing your MVP is just as important as building it. Mailchimp helps you design email campaigns, build landing pages, and track audience engagement. Mailchimp’s automation features make it easy to nurture leads with minimal effort.

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Use Cases

• Build an email list of potential customers before your startup launch
• Send updates about product progress and exclusive early access offers

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11. Buffer

Social media is a powerful way to connect with potential customers, and Buffer makes it easy to schedule and manage posts across platforms. It simplifies the process of maintaining an active presence online, even with a small team.

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Use Cases

• Promote your MVP launch on LinkedIn, Instagram, and other social media platforms
• Share milestones, updates, or customer testimonials to build trust

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12. Hotjar

To refine your MVP, you need to know how users interact with it. Hotjar provides heatmaps, session recordings, and surveys that reveal where users click, scroll, and get stuck. It offers actionable insights that help your user experience.

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Use Cases

• Identify friction points in your product’s navigation
• Use heatmaps to optimize landing pages for conversions

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Financial and Administrative Tools

13. Xero

Managing finances can be daunting for new founders. Xero provides cloud-based accounting software that helps you track expenses, manage invoices, and stay on top of your budget. It’s easy to use, even for founders with little financial expertise.

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Use Cases

• Track your MVP development budget in real-time
• Generate invoices for early customers or partners

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14. Docusign

Partnerships and agreements are crucial during the MVP phase. Docusign lets you send and sign digital contracts securely, eliminating the need for physical paperwork. It saves time and adds a layer of professionalism to your operations.

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Use Cases

• Finalize NDAs with beta testers
• Close partnership deals quickly during your startup launch phase

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15. Stripe

If your MVP involves transactions, Stripe simplifies payment processing. Whether you’re testing subscription models or accepting early sales, Stripe is a reliable and scalable solution. Its developer-friendly APIs make it easy to integrate, even for tech-light startups.

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Use Cases

• Set up payment forms to collect revenue from your first customers
• Test different pricing models before committing

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Bonus Tool: Verticode Portal

As a Verticode customer, you’ll gain access to the Verticode Portal, an all-in-one hub for managing your MVP development.

This tool is specifically designed to help founders streamline collaboration during development sprints. You can provide feedback to the development team and report and resolve bugs efficiently.

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Use Case

• Use the Verticode Portal to ensure your MVP stays on track, aligned with your vision and ready for a successful launch.

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Set Your Startup Up for Success

The right tools can make all the difference during your founder journey. These tools simplify workflows, improve collaboration, and help you focus on what truly matters: building a product that solves real problems.