·4 min read
MVP Database Design Basics for Founders
You do not need to design databases yourself. But understanding basics helps you ask better questions.
What is a Database
A database stores all your app data: users, products, orders, messages. Think of it as organized spreadsheets that talk to each other.
Common Database Types
| Type | Best For | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| SQL/Relational | Most MVPs, structured data | PostgreSQL, MySQL |
| NoSQL/Document | Flexible schemas, rapid changes | MongoDB, Firebase |
| Serverless | Low maintenance, auto-scaling | Supabase, PlanetScale |
Key Concepts
- •Tables: Collections of similar data (users, products)
- •Rows: Individual records (one user, one product)
- •Columns: Attributes (name, email, price)
- •Relationships: How tables connect (user has many orders)
Questions to Ask Your Developer
- •Which database are you using and why?
- •How are backups handled?
- •Can the database scale if we grow?
- •Where is the data stored geographically?
- •How is sensitive data protected?
MVP Database Recommendations
- •PostgreSQL: Industry standard, scales well, free
- •Supabase: PostgreSQL with extras, great free tier
- •PlanetScale: MySQL based, serverless, easy scaling
- •Avoid: Self-managed databases for MVPs
For 95% of MVPs, PostgreSQL on Supabase is the right choice. It is free to start and scales to millions of users.