---
title: "How Kontai went from idea to MVP in 3 weeks | Donux"
description: "How Donux designed Kontai's MVP prototype in three weeks: a smart spend journal that helps companies manage and optimize SaaS subscriptions."
url: "https://donux.com/case-studies/kontai"
language: "en"
---

![Kontai logo](https://images.app.donux.com/unsafe/fit-in/240x0/case-studies/kontai/logo.png)

# How Kontai went from idea to MVP in 3 weeks

  ![Kontai dashboard overview](https://images.app.donux.com/unsafe/fit-in/1440x0/case-studies/kontai/hero-1.png)  ![Kontai subscription management](https://images.app.donux.com/unsafe/fit-in/1440x0/case-studies/kontai/hero-2.png)  ![Kontai analytics view](https://images.app.donux.com/unsafe/fit-in/1440x0/case-studies/kontai/hero-3.png)  ![Kontai spending insights](https://images.app.donux.com/unsafe/fit-in/1440x0/case-studies/kontai/hero-4.png)   

Industry AI & Machine Learning

Services Product Design, Branding

1/

## About

**Kontai** is a startup created within **Startup Bakery**, an Italian startup studio. The product focuses on **helping companies manage** and **optimize their SaaS** subscriptions and invoicing processes. After validating their market concept through research, they needed to develop their first prototype to demonstrate market traction and attract investor interest.

 ![Kontai team working on the product](https://images.app.donux.com/unsafe/fit-in/1440x0/case-studies/kontai/about-1.png)

  ![Kontai AI Engine banner](https://images.app.donux.com/unsafe/fit-in/1440x0/case-studies/kontai/about-2.png) ![Kontai welcome dashboard](https://images.app.donux.com/unsafe/fit-in/1440x0/case-studies/kontai/about-3.png)

2/

## Problem

Kontai had a validated idea but lacked a tangible product to demonstrate value to investors and early users. Without a working prototype and clear product definition, they couldn't prove market traction or secure the investment needed to build a full product. They needed to quickly **move from concept** to a **realistic, presentable prototype** that could be tested with prospects and **shown to investors**.

[Watch video](https://images.donux.com/case-studies/kontai/how-it-works.webm)

3/

## Goals

**The primary objectives were to**:

— Align on problem space and user needs  
— Identify and prioritize unknowns and risks  
— Enable rapid iteration  
— Define the MVP scope for the initial prototype  

 ![Kontai inbox with vendor notifications](https://images.app.donux.com/unsafe/fit-in/1440x0/case-studies/kontai/goals.png)

4/

## Results

In just **3 weeks**, Kontai moved from a validated idea to a **fully designed MVP prototype** ready to demonstrate how the product works.  
During the process, the team defined a **clear value proposition, established the MVP** scope, and **created an interactive prototype** that could be tested with early prospects and shown to investors.  

 ![Kontai vendors management table](https://images.app.donux.com/unsafe/fit-in/1440x0/case-studies/kontai/results.png)

5/

## Process

**Market research recovery**  
We started by analyzing the business model canvas and market research previously conducted by the Kontai team.

**User research synthesis**  
We identified all user segments and recovered insights from previous surveys to understand the target audience deeply.

**MVP definition**  
Working in co-design with the Kontai team, we defined the value proposition and created user story mapping to determine what would be in scope for the MVP and what wouldn't.

**Proto-branding exploration**  
We created three distinct style tile proposals:  
— Classic digital approach with blue tones  
— Calm and gentle aesthetic with green tones and Japanese-inspired ideogram (selected)  
— Bold and edgy style with purple and acid green

**Flow design and architecture**  
We developed:  
— Complete navigation structure  
— Information architecture  
— Key user flows aligned with product goals  
— Core journeys for the SaaS spend management tool

**UI application and prototyping**  
We applied the chosen style tile to all flows, creating:  
— High-fidelity UI designs  
— Interactive prototype  
— Landing page with interactive video explaining the platform's key features  

  ![Kontai navigation structure and information architecture](https://images.app.donux.com/unsafe/fit-in/1440x0/case-studies/kontai/process-1.png) ![Kontai journal view with AI-assisted notes](https://images.app.donux.com/unsafe/fit-in/1440x0/case-studies/kontai/process-2.png)

6/

## Design assets

**The project deliverables included:**

— Value proposition definition

— User story mapping

— Proto-branding package (logo, typography, colors, illustrations, naming)

— Complete information architecture

— High-fidelity user flows and UI designs

— Interactive prototype demonstrating all key features

— Landing page with product video

— Presentation materials for investors and prospects

  ![Kontai logo and brand identity](https://images.app.donux.com/unsafe/fit-in/1440x0/case-studies/kontai/design-assets-1.png) ![Kontai color palette system](https://images.app.donux.com/unsafe/fit-in/1440x0/case-studies/kontai/design-assets-2.png)

 ![Kontai UI components and interactions](https://images.app.donux.com/unsafe/fit-in/1440x0/case-studies/kontai/design-assets-3.png)

7/

## Challenges

**Tight 3-week timeline**  
Completing comprehensive product definition, branding, and prototype development in just 3 weeks required efficient collaboration and clear prioritization.

**Scope definition**  
Balancing what to include in the MVP versus future iterations while ensuring the prototype was compelling enough for investor presentations.

**Stakeholder alignment**  
Working asynchronously with the Kontai team to ensure the flows and features aligned with their vision and market research findings.

 ![Kontai invoice review interface with smart categorization](https://images.app.donux.com/unsafe/fit-in/1440x0/case-studies/kontai/challenges.png)

8/

## Solution

We implemented a structured co-design approach that kept the project moving efficiently.

**Collaborative decision making**  
Through asynchronous collaboration with the Kontai team, we continuously validated that the designed flows were the key journeys to present and aligned with their vision.

**Strategic prioritization**  
The user story mapping exercise helped us clearly define what was in scope for the MVP, ensuring we focused efforts on the most impactful features.

**Complete package**  
By delivering both the interactive prototype and landing page with video, we provided Kontai with everything needed to demonstrate value to investors and test with early prospects.

 ![Kontai landing page with Slack review preview](https://images.app.donux.com/unsafe/fit-in/1440x0/case-studies/kontai/solution.png)

## Have a validated idea but nothing to show yet?

We design a realistic MVP prototype in weeks, ready for prospects and investors.

[Let's talk](https://donux.com/contact-us)

[Explore Product Design](https://donux.com/services/product-design)

## More Case Studies

[![Blue.ai platform interface](https://images.app.donux.com/unsafe/case-studies/blue-ai/uzXYj3jBxT9m9q2gUnbKQpsu9M.png)](https://donux.com/case-studies/blue-ai)

Marketing & Sales

### How Blue.ai transformed their omnichannel CX platform in 12 weeks

[Explore the project](https://donux.com/case-studies/blue-ai)

[![ESGMax reports dashboard with report status cards](https://images.app.donux.com/unsafe/case-studies/esgmax/yYBDKZX2mB53VQbDeLJSUHZ9tk8.png)](https://donux.com/case-studies/esgmax)

Sustainability

### How ESGMax launched with product, brand and website designed together

[Explore the project](https://donux.com/case-studies/esgmax)

[![Sencare home care platform and brand identity](https://images.app.donux.com/unsafe/case-studies/sencare/cO2n5lmtiOBHJVBiuVdBgrs5xk.png)](https://donux.com/case-studies/sencare)

Healthcare

### How Sencare brought four very different roles into one home care platform

[Explore the project](https://donux.com/case-studies/sencare)