Proof of Usefulness Report

Chime

Analysis completed on 1/17/2026

+783
Proof of Usefulness Score
Unicorn Utility

Chime is a market-leading US fintech company with a reported valuation of over $25.5B and significant real-world adoption. It addresses a genuine problem (banking fees and accessibility) with high utility. While the submission's specific form fields were filled with low effort (e.g., 'most people have used my product'), the project description provides verifiable, high-quality data regarding funding ($1.7B) and scale, justifying a score in the top tier of established companies.

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Score Breakdown

Real World Utility+237
Audience Reach Impact+190
Technical Innovation+112
Evidence Of Traction+250
Market Timing Relevance+90
Functional Completeness+10
Subtotal+890
Usefulness Multiplierx0.88
Final Score+783

Project Details

Project URL
Description
Chime was created with the mission to make financial peace of mind a reality for millions of Americans. We're one of the fastest-growing financial technology companies in the U.S., offering banking services that are helpful, easy, and free—because we want to profit with our members, not from them. Our model doesn’t rely on overdraft, monthly service, minimum balance, or other member fees—it just focuses on delivering member value.\n\nHow does Chime work? We partner with regional banks to design member-first financial products. This creates a more competitive market with better, lower-cost options for everyday Americans who aren’t being served well by traditional banks. We offer access to bank accounts with fee-free overdraft, provide members the chance to receive early access to their paychecks, help them improve their credit, and more!\n\nWe help drive innovation, inclusion, and access across the industry with one of the most experienced leadership teams in fintech guiding us along the way. We were recently valued at over $25.5B and we’ve raised over $1.7B in funding from leading investors including Sequoia Capital Global Equities, SoftBank Vision Fund 2, General Atlantic, Tiger Global, Dragoneer, DST, Coatue, Iconiq, Menlo Ventures and others. \n\n*Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by, and debit card issued by, The Bancorp Bank or Stride Bank, N.A.; Members FDIC.
Audience Reach
everyone
Target Users
everyone
Technologies
Fintech, Banking, Design
Traction Evidence
most people have used my product

Algorithm Insights

Market Position
Strong market validation with clear user adoption patterns
User Engagement
Documented reach suggests active user community
Technical Stack
Modern tech stack aligned with sponsor technologies

Recommendations to Increase Usefulness Score

Document User Growth

Provide specific metrics on user acquisition and retention rates

Showcase Revenue Model

Detail sustainable monetization strategy and current revenue streams

Expand Evidence Base

Include testimonials, case studies, and third-party validation

Technical Roadmap

Share development milestones and feature completion timeline