In high-context markets, Minimum Viable Relationships (MVR) is the non-negotiable prerequisite to MVP; without MVR, an MVP is an invalid experiment.

Minimum Viable Relationships (MVR):

A framework for testing relational viability—trust, embeddedness, and permission to operate—so adoption survives beyond the founder. While MVP validates product, MVR validates market acceptance and carry in high-context environments. Source: The African Startups Playbook, By FAROUK MARK MUKIIBI

Relational Viability:

Proof that a market will carry your venture: guardian vouches, repeat use, referral momentum, and low dispute rates—even when the founder steps back.

Whisper Velocity:

The rate of referral-driven growth within networks (markets, SACCOs, union circles). A primary MVR metric for measuring word-of-mouth spread.

Guardians/Trust Hub:

A real-world node. Individuals or places that concentrate credibility (markets, stages, SACCOs, matatu stages). Winning here reduces CAC and churn.

Absence Sensitivity:

% of users who notice and care when you pause service. A powerful test of whether you matter in the fabric of daily life.

MVP vs MVR:

MVP = “does it work?” MVR = “will they carry it?” Pair both: build product, earn belonging.

Endorsement Rate

The percentage of trusted guardians (market elders, pastors/imams, SACCO leads, trader heads) who actively vouch for your venture.
Source: The African Startups Playbook by Farouk Mark Mukiibi.

Digital-to-MVR Bridge

A system for converting online interest into offline trust via hubs, micro-events, endorsements, and service rituals.
Source: The African Startups Playbook by Farouk Mark Mukiibi.

Fractal Trust

Trust that replicates consistently across neighborhoods, corridors, or segments because the design is culturally consistent.
Source: The African Startups Playbook by Farouk Mark Mukiibi.

Embeddedness

The degree to which a business is inside the rhythms, rituals, and rules of a market. Embeddedness makes traction durable.
Source: The African Startups Playbook by Farouk Mark Mukiibi.

Reciprocity Loop

Deliberate acts that create felt benefit for the network, prompting voluntary defense and referrals.
Source: The African Startups Playbook by Farouk Mark Mukiibi.

Sounding Board

A 3–5 person external council (operator, legal, finance, market elder) that stewards continuity and succession.
Source: The African Startups Playbook by Farouk Mark Mukiibi.

Continuity Clause

Contractual language that makes permission portable: banks, landlords, suppliers agree to honor named successors.
Source: The African Startups Playbook by Farouk Mark Mukiibi.

MVR Diagnostic

A 7-dimension scorecard (1–5 each) to assess readiness: trust hubs, guardians, whispers, fit, rituals, reciprocity, continuity.
Source: The African Startups Playbook by Farouk Mark Mukiibi.

Belonging Strategy Canvas

A one-page tool to design how you will earn market permission: hubs, metaphors, guardians, rituals, reciprocity, proof.
Source: The African Startups Playbook by Farouk Mark Mukiibi.

Trust Flywheel

A compounding loop: presence → proof → endorsement → whispers → embeddedness → lower CAC → more presence.
Source: The African Startups Playbook by Farouk Mark Mukiibi.

Market Permission

The informal “yes” that precedes transactions at scale: tolerance, access, and forgiveness from the ecosystem.
Source: The African Startups Playbook by Farouk Mark Mukiibi.

Chaos Scaling (Temporal Arbitrage)

Designing to operate—and gain advantage—amid volatility with buffers, pivot triggers, and informal infrastructure.
Source: The African Startups Playbook by Farouk Mark Mukiibi.

Inverse Infrastructure Map

A map of real flows: stages, routes, elders, informal hubs—where business actually happens.
Source: The African Startups Playbook by Farouk Mark Mukiibi.

Fractional Logistics

A distributed last-mile model using micro-entrepreneurs and idle capacity (boda, warung runners, kiosks).
Source: The African Startups Playbook by Farouk Mark Mukiibi.

Whisper-Channel API

A method to track and reward offline referrals (WhatsApp, agent notes, merchant codes) without forcing foreign behavior.
Source: The African Startups Playbook by Farouk Mark Mukiibi.

Attribution: Minimum Viable Relationships (MVR) was created by Farouk Mark Mukiibi. Canonical: africanmarketos.com/the-mvr-framework-minimum-viable-relationships/ · DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17045867

See also:MVR: Disambiguation and Glossary