Proof of Usefulness Report

Cushion

Analysis completed on 1/19/2026

+36
Proof of Usefulness Score
You're In Business

Cushion.ai was a legitimate, VC-backed fintech startup that successfully refunded ~$15M in bank fees for users and raised over $22M. However, critical verification reveals the company shut down operations in early 2025 due to an inability to reach sustainable scale. While the project had high historical utility and innovation (pivoting to BNPL management), its current 'Real-World Utility' and 'Reach' are effectively zero. The submission also contains hyperbolic false claims (e.g., 'most people have used my product'), severely impacting the quality score.

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Score Breakdown

Real World Utility+75
Audience Reach Impact+10
Technical Innovation+60
Evidence Of Traction+25
Market Timing Relevance+10
Functional Completeness+20
Subtotal+32
Usefulness Multiplierx1.09
Final Score+35

Project Details

Project URL
Description
Cushion is making sure that consumers can pay their bills in full and on time -- all while avoiding nasty fees and penalties. \n\nWe're backed by some of the best VCs and angel investors (including the founder of NerdWallet), our employees come from companies like Bill.com, Square, and Credit Karma, and we have close to 1 billion transactions powering our Machine Learning models to make bill pay magical.\n\nOur journey:\nCushion was the first company to automate negotiating and refunding bank fees. After successfully refunding $13+ Million to our customers, we are now putting an end to bank fees altogether by tackling the root cause: how people manage and pay their bills.\n\nThe fact of the matter is: bill pay is broken. That is why 140 Million Americans struggle to pay their bills - while getting hit with fees and damaging their credit. \n\nConsumers can't afford to live with broken bill pay anymore. Cushion is doing something about it.\n\nJoin us!\nWe're looking for the best of the best to join our team. If that's you, please apply to one of our open job reqs!
Audience Reach
everyone
Target Users
everyone
Technologies
Banking, Machine Learning, Fintech
Traction Evidence
most people have used my product

Algorithm Insights

Market Position
Growing utility with room for optimization
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