Developing a lean, insight-driven CleanTech MVP for the industrial laundry sector

Working for a small startup, I joined a lean R&D team tasked with refining an ambitious AI-driven textile treatment system for the industrial laundry sector. The original vision was expansive, but to align with funding constraints and ensure feasibility, we needed to scale it down into a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) that still delivered strong market value.

Our goal was to develop a solution that delivered the most value while remaining cost-effective and competitive. Through user research, we uncovered the real industry pain points – leading us to pivot from a chemical treatment system to a high-precision quality control solution that gave laundries a powerful market advantage. In this article, I share how we made this shift and the impact it had.

The research: Discovering the real barriers in linen management

To ensure our revised MVP would align with industry needs, we needed to conduct industry research. Given the startup’s limited resources, we had to be strategic – focusing our efforts on the key stakeholders who would ultimately determine the product’s success. We interviewed hotel managers, hotel cleaners, laundries, and holiday property managers – those who deal with industrial linen daily. We asked them about their key pain points around linen and common complaints from guests and customers.

Through these discussions, we uncovered an unexpected but critical insight: while the system's targeted chemical stain treatment would reduce chemical usage and improve stain removal, the biggest operational pain point was something else entirely. Hospitality businesses were frequently receiving ‘clean’ linen with embedded stains that had not come out from washing. This caused significant frustration, as cleaners had to replace the stained linens themselves, on short notice and tight schedules, leading to operational delays, wasted staff hours, and customer complaints.

This insight was a turning point. Instead of focusing on chemical applications, we realised our MVP should focus on addressing quality control at the source.

The UX strategy: Building a lean, value-driven MVP that solves the right problem

With our newly discovered insights, we changed the MVP’s focus to a high-precision scanning and quality control system for laundries. This shift transformed our approach, allowing laundries to guarantee stain-free linen – giving them a powerful competitive edge. Our approach included:

• Validating the new MVP: We worked collaborated with industry professionals to validate the new direction, ensuring a real market need.

• Rapid prototyping: We developed an early-stage prototype of the scanning system, testing its accuracy and highlighting its value to key stakeholders as a way to get buy-in and further investment.

• Defining a new value proposition: We positioned the new MVP as a way for laundries to differentiate themselves by guaranteeing spotless linen, eliminating the need for last-minute replacements.

The outcome: A smarter, market-ready MVP that transforms laundry operations

By leveraging customer research to guide MVP definition, we delivered a solution that directly addressed a pressing industry challenge. Our revised MVP allowed laundries to guarantee spotless linen deliveries, reducing inefficiencies and providing a tangible selling point against competitors.

✔ Clear market differentiation: The MVP now offered laundries a unique selling point – guaranteed stain-free linen.

✔ Improved operational efficiency: Hotels and holiday agencies could trust that linen deliveries met quality standards, reducing logistical headaches.

✔ Cost-effective solution: Instead of an expensive chemical-based treatment system, the revised MVP focused on a scanning technology that delivered immediate, actionable results.

The power of research: How industry insights shape successful MVPs

This project underscored the power of lean, insight-driven MVP development. Working within a small startup with limited resources, we demonstrated that user research is the key to defining the most impactful and cost-effective product direction.

Instead of relying on assumptions, we engaged directly with industry professionals, allowing us to change our direction towards an MVP that not only met funding requirements but also provided a clear and immediate value to customers.

If you’re working on an R&D project with tight constraints, start by researching your customers and understanding their real problems. The most valuable product is not the most complex – it’s the one that solves the right problem, in the simplest way possible.