Proof of Usefulness Report

HackerNoon

Analysis completed on 1/21/2026

+334
Proof of Usefulness Score
Certified Problem Solver

The submission corresponds to the calibration reference itself (HackerNoon). Verified metrics indicate steady growth since the calibration baseline: monthly readership has increased to 4M+ (from 3M) and the team has expanded to ~20 (from 13), while revenue remains in the low-millions (consistent with the $2M baseline). The project demonstrates verifiable traction, a custom-built technical stack (open-source CMS), and a strong niche position, justifying a score consistent with the 'Comparable Scale' (250-400) calibration bracket.

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Score Breakdown

Real World Utility+87.5
Audience Reach Impact+60.0
Technical Innovation+45.0
Evidence Of Traction+75.0
Market Timing Relevance+40.0
Functional Completeness+40.0
Subtotal+347.5
Usefulness Multiplierx0.96
Final Score+334

Project Details

Project URL
hackernoon.com/
Description
How hackers start their afternoons. Where 25k+ technologists publish stories and expertise for 4M+ monthly readers.
Audience Reach
45K+ Contributors, 4M+ Readers Monthly & 150K+ Blogs Published.
Target Users
HackerNoon has space for everybody, whether you are a tech enthusiast, artist, businessman, entrepreneur, or something else 😉. There is only one rule of engagement: We treat our internet friends with respect.
Technologies
Other, Algolia, Neo4j, Storyblok, Bright Data, The HackerNoon Tech Stack
Traction Evidence
https://www.proofofusefulness.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/hackernoon https://courses.hackernoon.com/ https://hackernoon.cv/ https://www.producthunt.com/products/hacker-noon

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