Zoya Parasher (+91) 9871348353 zoya.parasher.mba23@iilm.

edu

MVP for a marketplace app aimed at connecting freelancing consultants and potential customers.
Creating a minimum viable product (MVP) for a marketplace app is a great way to test the viability of our
product and gather feedback from users. Here are some steps we can follow to create an MVP for our
freelancing consultant marketplace app:
1. Define the problem you are trying to solve: Your MVP should aim to solve a specific problem that
your target users are facing. For example, are you trying to make it easier for freelancers to find
consulting work? Or are you trying to help businesses find the right consultants for their projects?
Clearly defining the problem, you are trying to solve will help you focus your MVP and make it more
valuable to your users.
2. Identify your target users: Think about who will be using your app and what they will be looking for.
Will your app be used by freelancers or by businesses? Will it be used by people in a specific industry
or geographic region? Understanding your target users will help you design an MVP that meets their
needs.
3. Determine the core features: Decide which features are essential for your MVP. For a freelancing
consultant marketplace, some core features might include a profile page for consultants to list their
skills and experience, a search function for customers to find consultants with specific expertise, and a
messaging system for customers to contact consultants.
4. Build a prototype: Use a tool like Figma or InVision to create a low-fidelity prototype of your app.
This will allow you to test out your ideas and get feedback from potential users before you start
building the actual app.
5. Test your MVP: Once you have a prototype, ask a few potential users to test it out and provide
feedback. This will help you identify any issues or areas for improvement before you invest time and
resources into building the full app.

Overview:
A few potential pain points that our freelancing marketplace app could address are:

 Difficulty finding qualified consultants: Potential clients may have trouble finding the right consultant
for their needs, either due to a lack of information or because the available options are not relevant or
trustworthy.
 Inefficient communication: The process of finding and communicating with consultants can be time-
consuming and inefficient, especially if it requires multiple emails or phone calls.
 Complex payment processes: Paying for consulting services can be complicated, especially if it
requires invoicing or handling multiple currencies.
 Lack of transparency: Consultants and clients may not have a clear understanding of each other's
expectations or requirements, leading to misunderstandings or disappointments.
 Limited availability: Consultants may not always be available for consultations, or they may be
booked up for long periods of time, making it difficult for clients to get the help they need.
By addressing these pain points and providing a convenient, transparent, and efficient platform for connecting
consultants and clients, your app could provide value to both parties and differentiate itself from the
competition.
This MVP would provide a solid foundation for a marketplace app that connects freelancing consultants with
potential customers, allowing them to easily find and connect with each other for consultations. It would also
provide a platform for consultants to showcase their skills and experience, and for customers to make
informed decisions about which consultants to work with.

 Key metrics to assess before going ahead with the product:

1. Number of registered consultants and customers
Zoya Parasher (+91) 9871348353 zoya.parasher.mba23@iilm.edu

2. Number of successful matches and bookings made through the app

3. Average transaction value
4. Customer satisfaction ratings
5. Consultant retention rate
6. Cost of acquiring customers and retaining them
7. Potential revenue and profit margins

 Basic features of the application:

1. Profile creation for freelancing consultants: Consultants would be able to create a profile that includes
their name, location, skills, and experience. They would also be able to upload a profile picture and
write a short bio.
2. Search and browse capabilities for customers: Customers would be able to search for consultants
based on their location, skills, and other criteria. They would also be able to browse through a list of
available consultants and view their profiles.
3. Request a consultation feature: Customers would be able to request a consultation with a specific
consultant by filling out a form with their contact information and a brief description of their needs.
4. Consultant acceptance/decline feature: Consultants would receive notification of a request for
consultation and would have the option to accept or decline the request.
5. Payment integration: The app would include a payment system that allows customers to pay for
consultations directly through the app.
6. Rating and review system: Customers would be able to rate and review consultants after a
consultation has been completed. This would help other customers make informed decisions about
which consultants to work with.
7. Basic messaging functionality: Both consultants and customers would have the ability to send
messages to each other through the app, allowing them to communicate about consultation details and
schedules.

 Basic layout of the application:

1. Home screen with featured consultants and a search bar
2. Consultant directory page with filters and a list of consultants
3. Consultant profile pages with information and availability calendar
4. Booking and payment page
5. In-app messaging screen for communication between consultants and customers
6. Payment screen for booking and paying for consultations
7. Review and rating page

 Competitive landscape:
1. The competitive landscape for a freelancing marketplace app would include other apps or platforms
that offer similar services for connecting consultants and clients. Some examples of such apps or
platforms could include:
 Upwork
 Freelancer
 Fiverr
 Thumbtack
 LinkedIn ProFinder
2. To differentiate our app from the competition, we can focus on features and services that set it apart.
This could include unique filters or search capabilities, a more intuitive or user-friendly interface,
specialized services or industries, or other value-added features.

3. It can also be helpful to research the target audience for our app and identify any unmet needs or pain
points that our app could address(Some of them have been listed earlier). By addressing these needs
and providing a high-quality service, we can differentiate oour app and attract users who are looking
for a solution to their specific problems.
Zoya Parasher (+91) 9871348353 zoya.parasher.mba23@iilm.edu

 How will the Hook Framework work out for this product?
The Hook Framework could be used to create a habit-forming product by designing actions that lead users
to the next step in the process, and rewarding them with a variable reward for completing those actions.
For example, the app could send notifications to users when a new consultant matching their preferred
industry or location becomes available, or when a customer has requested a consultation with them. This
could encourage users to continue using the app and increase the chances of successful matches and
bookings. Another example can be:
1. Trigger: A customer needs consulting services and opens the app
2. Action: The customer browses the consultant directory and selects a consultant based on their skills,
experience, and availability
3. Reward: The customer successfully books a consultation with the selected consultant and receives
valuable insights and advice
4. Investment: The customer leaves a review and rating for the consultant, increasing the consultant's
visibility and credibility on the platform

 What business model would you opt for and how the unit economics will work out?
One potential business model for this app would be to charge a commission on each transaction made
through the platform. The commission could be a percentage of the consultant's rate, with a higher
percentage for lower-priced services to ensure the app is still profitable. The unit economics of this model
would depend on the volume of transactions and the average transaction value. If the app is successful in
attracting a high volume of users and generating a high number of transactions with a reasonable average
transaction value, it could be a profitable business.
1. Commission-based model: The app takes a percentage of each transaction as a fee. This model aligns
the company's interests with those of the consultants and customers, as the app will only make money if
the consultants are successful in finding and retaining customers.
2. Unit economics: The app needs to balance the cost of acquiring customers with the potential revenue
and profit margins from each transaction. To ensure profitability, the app should aim to have a high
customer lifetime value (CLV) and a low customer acquisition cost (CAC).

 User journeys:
1. Customer Journey:
i. Home screen: The customer sees featured consultants and a search bar.
ii. Search results: The customer enters their preferred location, industry, and skills and sees a list
of matching consultants.
iii. Consultant profile: The customer clicks on a consultant's profile and sees their experience,
education, skills, and rates, as well as their availability calendar.
iv. Booking and payment: The customer requests a consultation with the consultant and pays for
their services through the app.
v. In-app messaging: The customer communicates with the consultant to discuss details of the
consultation or project.
vi. Review and rating: After the consultation or project is completed, the customer leaves a
review and rating for the consultant.
2. Consultant Journey:
i. Home screen: The consultant sees a list of potential clients who have requested consultations
with them.
ii. Consultant profile: The consultant updates their profile with their experience, education,
skills, and rates, as well as their availability calendar.
Zoya Parasher (+91) 9871348353 zoya.parasher.mba23@iilm.edu

iii. In-app messaging: The consultant communicates with potential clients to discuss details of
their services and rates.
iv. Booking and payment: The consultant confirms or declines requests for consultations and
receives payment through the app.
v. Review and rating: The consultant see reviews and ratings left by clients after the consultation
is over.
 Wireframes

1. Home screen:
i. This could include a search bar for users to find consultants by location, industry, or skills. The
search bar could include autocompleting suggestions and filters to help users narrow down their
search.
ii. The home screen could also include a directory of consultants, displayed in a grid or list view.
Each consultant's profile could include their name, industry, location, and profile picture. Users
should be able to click on a consultant's profile to view more information.
iii. The wireframe layout will have:
 Header: App logo, search bar, account and, notification links
 Main content: Search results or directory of consultants
 Footer: Additional links and information

2. Consultant directory:
i. This screen would display a list of consultants, with filters for location, industry, and skills. The
filters could be displayed as a sidebar or a dropdown menu.
ii. Users should be able to sort the list of consultants by relevance, ratings, or price.
iii. Users should be able to click on a consultant's profile to view more information.
iv. The wireframe layout will have:
 Header: App logo, search bar, account and, notification links
 Main content: List of consultants with filters and sorting options
 Footer: Additional links and information

3. Consultant profile:
i. This screen would include the consultant's experience, education, skills, rates, and availability
calendar.
ii. The experience and education section could include a list of the consultant's past jobs and
degrees, with dates and descriptions.
iii. The skills section could include a list of the consultant's technical and professional skills, as well
as any certifications or licenses they have.
iv. The rates section could include the consultant's hourly or project-based rates, as well as any
packages or discounts they offer.
v. The availability calendar could show the consultant's available times for consultations, with the
option to book a consultation at one of these times.
vi. Users should be able to book a consultation or request more information from the consultant
through this screen. This could be done through a form or by clicking on a button to send a
message.
vii. The wireframe layout will have:
 Header: App logo, search bar, account and, notification links
 Main content: Consultant's experience, education, skills, rates, and availability calendar
 Footer: Additional links and information

4. Booking and payment:

i. This screen would allow users to select a time and date for a consultation, as well as enter
payment information.
Zoya Parasher (+91) 9871348353 zoya.parasher.mba23@iilm.edu

ii. The time and date selection could be done through a calendar view or a list of available times.
iii. The payment section could include fields for the user to enter their credit card or payment details,
as well as a summary of the total cost of the consultation.
iv. The screen could also include a confirmation or summary of the booking, with details such as the
date and time of the consultation, the consultant's name and contact information, and the total
cost.
v. The wireframe layout will have:
 Header: App logo, search bar, account and notification links
 Main content: Time and date selection, payment form, booking confirmation
 Footer: Additional links and information

5. In-app messaging:
i. This feature would allow users to communicate with consultants directly through the app.
ii. The messaging interface could include a list of conversations with different consultants, with the
option to start a new conversation or reply to an existing one.
iii. Each conversation could include a list of messages with the option to send a new message.
iv. The wireframe layout will have:
 Header: App logo, search bar, account and notification links
 Main content: List of conversations, messaging interface
 Footer: Additional links and information.

6. Reviews and ratings:

i. This feature would allow users to leave reviews and ratings for consultants, which would be
displayed on the consultant's profile page.
ii. Users could leave a star rating and a written review, as well as the option to recommend the
consultant to others.
iii. The consultant's profile page could display the average rating and the number of reviews, as well
as a list of individual reviews.
iv. The wireframe layout will have:
 Header: App logo, search bar, account and notification links
 Main content: Average rating, number of reviews, list of individual reviews
 Footer: Additional links and information