What is a Proof of Concept (POC)? 2026 Guide

Before a big idea turns into a real product, a proof of concept steps in to show its true potential. It helps teams test if an idea can work in real life before full development. Hence, many users question what it is and why it matters in shaping a successful project. To answer that, this article will review this term in detail, along with some examples for better clarity.

What is Proof of Concept?

A Proof of Concept is an early step that helps test if an idea or plan can truly work before a company spends much time or money on it. In software or business, a POC acts as a small version of the real product or system. Hence, it helps teams see if their idea can solve the main problem and perform well in real situations.

To further explain, the proof of concept means to reduce project risks, avoid wasted effort, and guide smart investment decisions. Thus, the key goal of a POC is to confirm that the concept is practical, useful, and worth building further. Moreover, a successful POC builds trust among teams and investors by showing early proof that the idea has real value and potential for growth.

Why is POC Important in Real-Time Communication?

Though you know the proof of concept meaning, you might overlook its importance. Hence, in this section, we have given you 5 points that determine why this step is important and how:

Technical Feasibility Validation: This step helps check if real-time tools like video calls, chat, or live streams can work well in real use. Hence, it tests speed, quality, and steady connections under real network conditions. This helps teams see if tools such as WebRTC, APIs, or other systems can handle smooth data flow before investment.
Risk Mitigation and Early Issue Detection: Real-time apps face many problems, such as weak networks, user delays, or sync errors across regions. Therefore, POC helps find these issues early and fix them before the final build. This step also saves time, cuts costs, and prevents major loss after launch.
Informed Decision-Making & Roadmap Planning: A POC gives clear proof of what works and what fails. Additionally, it helps leaders plan the right tools, time, and funds for the project. It also helps design a better system for safety, speed, and growth, which is vital when every second counts.
Stakeholder and Investor Confidence: In fast-moving markets, investors and partners want proof that a product can run fast and stay reliable. Additionally, a solid POC builds that trust by showing the idea works in real cases. It helps gain support, approval, and funds for further steps.
User Feedback and Market Fit Validation: In addition, user reaction plays a key role in real-time apps, as delay can affect trust. Thus, a POC helps early users test the product and share feedback on design, response, and comfort. This allows teams to shape the app to real needs before a full release.

Proof of Concept Examples

As one is clear with the proof of concept definition, they seek real-life examples to determine its application. So, adhere to the 5 given examples below and learn how this step has benefited them:

1. Dropbox – Explainer Video as POC

Dropbox did not build the full app at first, as the team made a short video that shows how file sharing in the cloud would work. Hence, the video drew huge attention and thousands of early signs. Thus, this proves that people like the idea and that investors were ready to support it before the development began.

2. Airbnb – Initial Website for Room Sharing

The founders made a simple website to rent rooms to visitors who could not find hotels during the big events. Thus, this step shows that people are open to sharing their homes for short stays. Additionally, the first few paid bookings cleared the idea that the app works and gave founders the confidence to grow.

3. Netflix – Testing Online Video Streaming

Netflix began as a DVD rental service but wanted to test if streaming could work. The team ran pilot projects to see if users would watch movies online and if the system could handle it. Hence, these tests proved that online streaming had real demand and shaped Netflix’s path to global access.

4. Amazon Go – Internal Store Trials

Additionally, Amazon Go tested its cashier-free store idea with its own employees before the public launch. The team used sensors, cameras, and smart systems to track items and refine accuracy. Thus, these trials helped fix issues, confirm reliability, and prepare the technology for customer use.

5. Walmart – Blockchain for Food Traceability

Among many proof of concept examples, Walmart partnered with IBM to test blockchain for tracking food across supply chains. Thus, they traced mangoes in the US and pork in China to check if blockchain could improve safety and transparency. The pilot’s success proved the method worked, leading Walmart to expand blockchain use in its global operations.

Proof of Concept vs Prototype

Although users have an idea of what proof of concept is, amateurs tend to confuse it with a prototype. So, to know whether the steps and terms are the same or not, review the given table:

Aspect	Proof of Concept (POC)	Prototype
Purpose	Validate the technical feasibility of a concept	Visualize design, usability, and functionality
Typical Target Audience	Internal technical team, project stakeholders	Stakeholders, investors, focus groups, test users
Primary Focus	Technical viability: “Can it be built?”	User experience, “How will it look/work?”
Output/Format	Functional experiment, minimal UI/UX	A visual model with UI elements may lack backend logic
Timeline	Short (days to weeks)	Short to medium (weeks)
Cost Level	Low to moderate	Moderate
Demonstrates	If the idea is technically possible	Product flow, interaction, design, and partial features
Usefulness	Technology selection, risk reduction, and feasibility	Feedback, fundraising, securing buy-in
Validation	Can the concept work with existing/new technologies?	Is the user experience effective and appealing?
Ideal Use Case	New tech or radical innovation	Refining product, testing usability, attracting investors
Iteration	Typically not shared publicly	Often used for stakeholder and user feedback

How to Create Proof of Concept in 7 Steps

When one asks you to define proof of concept, the next question that arises is how to create one. Hence, this section provides an overview to create a POC in 7 simple steps for better guidance:

1. Define Your Project Idea

To begin with, identify the problem that you want to resolve and the ideas you want to test. So, think about the issue your solutions address and who will benefit from them. Once you understand that, explain the idea clearly so every team member and stakeholder knows its purpose and value. Moreover, a clear concept helps everyone move in the same direction with confidence.

Examples:

Idea: A live tutoring app for instant student–teacher video sessions.
Problem: Students struggle to find quick academic help at odd hours.
Goal: Connect students with qualified tutors in minutes for real-time learning support.

2. Set Success Criteria

In this step, set clear goals that will help you see if the idea truly works. So, these goals can be technical, business-related, or user-based. Include ways to measure the progress, such as response, performance speed, or cost efficiency. If you define success early, it will keep your team focused and ensure everyone knows what results to look for when testing the concept.

Examples:

Goal: Test if the tutoring app can connect a student with a tutor in under 30 seconds.
Measure: Track connection time, video quality, and user satisfaction scores.
Success: 90% of users rate the experience as smooth and helpful.

3. Identify Required Resources

Now, list down all the resources you will need to make your POC work. Thus, this includes tools, technology, team members, and budget, and think about whether you’ll need APIs. Moreover, ponder on the inclusion of frameworks or sample users for testing and estimate how much cost and money the project will need. If you have a clear plan for resources, it will prevent delays and keep the process smooth.

Examples:

Team: 1 app developer, 1 designer, 1 tester.
Tools: ZEGOCLOUD SDK for video calls, Firebase for backend, Figma for design.
Budget: $2,000 for setup, testing, and API access.
Goal: Have all tools and people ready before development starts.

4. Plan Your Timeline

Create a simple timeline that shows when each phase of your proof of concept will start and end. So, divide your project into stages like planning, building, testing, and reviewing, and add key milestones to track your progress. Besides, keep the schedule flexible so you can make quick changes if something doesn’t work as expected.

Example Timeline:

Week 1: Research and planning, define goals and resources.
Week 2–3: Build prototype, set up core features with ZEGOCLOUD SDK.
Week 4: Test, collect user feedback, and fix issues.
Week 5: Review, analyze results, and prepare final report.

Pro Tip: Keep buffer days for adjustments if any step needs more time.

5. Build and Test the Prototype

Build a small version of your idea to test how it works in real situations. Additionally, let your target users or testers try it out and share feedback. While doing so, focus on usability and value, and use ZEGOCLOUD to easily add features like real-time voice, video, and chat to your prototype. Thus, this helps test interactive parts faster without creating them from scratch.

Additionally, developers can also use SDKs for screen sharing, cross-platform use, and AI-based noise reduction. These features help the prototype act like a real app, showing smooth and clear communication between users. Its chat system supports text, images, and file sharing, while live interaction tools allow group calls and virtual rooms. ZEGOCLOUD also includes security options such as encryption and user authentication.

6. Review and Refine

Test and compare the results with what you have set earlier. Additionally, ask yourself what was effective and what should be done better, and discuss it with your team in order to receive the insights and improve the weak aspects. Take the feedback to strengthen your idea, make it more efficient, and prepare it for the next level of evolution.

7. Present Your POC for Approval

Make a brief presentation or demonstration of your POC findings to decision-makers. Besides, use graphics, test results, and user comments to back your results. Discuss how the concept achieved its objectives and why it is prepared to be developed to the fullest extent. Therefore, a concise and assertive presentation can contribute to gaining approvals, funding, and other investors or stakeholder support.

Conclusion

Summing up, proof of concept is a necessary step to test whether an idea can work in real life before full development. So, this guide has explained this term in detail and has highlighted why it matters and how to create one. Hence, apply all the listed steps and make use of ZEGOCLOUD to easily add features like real-time voice, video, and chat to your prototype.

FAQ

Q1: What is Proof of Concept with an example?

A Proof of Concept (POC) is a small-scale prototype used to test whether an idea or product is feasible before full development. For example, a company developing a fitness app may create a simple version that tracks steps and calories to prove the idea works before building the full app.

Q2: What is a POC in a project?

In a project, a POC demonstrates the practicality of a proposed solution. It helps verify that the concept can achieve expected results before investing significant time or resources.

Q3: What is the difference between a POC and a PoP?

A POC (Proof of Concept) validates feasibility and answers whether the idea can work in practice. A PoP (Proof of Principle) focuses on theoretical or scientific validation, showing that the underlying principle is sound even if not yet applied in a real-world scenario.

Q4: What is POC and POV?

POC (Proof of Concept) tests if an idea or solution works in practice. POV (Proof of Value) demonstrates the business value of the solution, proving that it delivers measurable benefits such as efficiency or cost savings.