Proof of Usefulness Report

Kong

Analysis completed on 1/24/2026

+787

Proof of Usefulness Score

Unicorn Utility

Kong is a definitive leader in the API management space (Unicorn status, $2B+ valuation). The project demonstrates exceptional real-world utility and verified traction with a team of ~850 people. While the specific submission text was brief and hyperbolic ('everyone', 'most people'), the underlying factual data regarding revenue, market cap, and widespread industry adoption warrants a high score typical of established infrastructure technology.

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Score Breakdown

Real World Utility+250.0

Audience Reach Impact+162.0

Technical Innovation+135.0

Evidence Of Traction+250.0

Market Timing Relevance+90.0

Functional Completeness+7.5

Subtotal+894.5

Usefulness Multiplierx0.88

Final Score+787

Project Details

Project URL

konghq.com

Description

Mashape powers API Driven Software with many leading products including Kong (Open-Source API Gateway), Galileo (API Analytics), Marketplace (API Hub) and Gelato (Dev Portals).\n\nMashape is funded by tier 1 VC firms including Index Ventures, NEA, CRV, Stanford University, Jeff Bezos (Amazon) and Eric Schmidt (Google).

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