Proof of Usefulness Report

ENSO

Analysis completed on 1/20/2026

+684
Proof of Usefulness Score
Category Standard

Enso is a legitimate, high-impact medical technology project that was acquired by Hinge Health in 2021 (a 'unicorn' exit). The device offers verified clinical utility for chronic pain relief without opioids. However, the submission itself is of extremely poor quality, containing placeholder text ('most people have used my product'), incorrect categorization ('Data preparation'), and outdated descriptions (~2019). While the project's real-world success warrants a high score (verified via external search), the 'Response Quality' and 'Evidence of Traction' scores are penalized due to the negligence of the submission data.

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Score Breakdown

Real World Utility+237.5
Audience Reach Impact+150.0
Technical Innovation+135.0
Evidence Of Traction+142.5
Market Timing Relevance+90.0
Functional Completeness+5.0
Subtotal+760
Usefulness Multiplierx0.9
Final Score+684

Project Details

Project URL
ensorelief.com
Description
1.5 billion people worldwide live with chronic pain, and the best option they have are drugs like Vicodin that have terrible side effects and make people feel sick. \n\nEnso has developed the first opioid-free, wearable device clinically proven to solve pain better than Vicodin. It works by delivering a patented electrical stimulation treatment that relaxes the muscles and calms the nerves wherever it is applied, and it's all controlled via an app on your smartphone. \n\nEnso is being used to solve chronic and acute pain at over 100 medical centers in the US such as Stanford, Harvard and Cedars-Sinai. The device is covered by the VA Hospitals and workers compensation insurance plans and is expected to be covered by other major insurance plans by 2020.

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