Ed Sim of Beyond VC conjectures that there are two ways that early-stage companies can view product releases: as an airplane shuttle that "takes off only when full" or as a train that "runs on schedule." The date-driven approach is preferable:

"It forces the team to clarify the absolute minimum requirements necessary to deliver the right product for the market. It also discourages feature creep and encourages highly disciplined prioritization. Most importantly, having a date driven release can get everyone at the company aligned. Everyone knows the ship date and sets their schedule accordingly to ensure that all pistons are running..."