Proof of Usefulness Report

Hotel Tango Distillery

Analysis completed on 2/9/2026

+312
Proof of Usefulness Score
Certified Problem Solver

Hotel Tango Distillery is a verified, established business (est. 2013) with significant traction (~$7.5M annual revenue, distribution in 25 states, ~45-125 employees). While the submission itself was low-quality (vague claims, pseudonym 'StarBlade'), external verification confirms it is a successful veteran-owned distillery. The score reflects strong real-world utility and traction, penalized heavily for lack of technical innovation (as a physical goods company) and poor response quality.

Ready to Compete for $150k+ in Prizes?

Move this data into a HackerNoon blog draft to become eligible for your share of $150k+ in cash and software prizes

View All Reports

Score Breakdown

Real World Utility+102.0
Audience Reach Impact+75.0
Technical Innovation+20.0
Evidence Of Traction+90.0
Market Timing Relevance+80.0
Functional Completeness+2.5
Subtotal+369.5
Usefulness Multiplierx0.85
Final Score+314

Project Details

Project URL
hoteltangowhiskey.com
Description
Hotel Tango Artisan Distillery is the first service-disabled, veteran-owned distillery in the U.S. The company was founded by Travis Barnes, a three-time combat Recon Marine war veteran, and his wife, Hilary. Using the NATO phonetic alphabet, “Hotel” and “Tango” is derived from the first names of founders Hilary and Travis.

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