Proof of Usefulness Report

Labstep

Analysis completed on 1/24/2026

+342
Proof of Usefulness Score
Certified Problem Solver

Labstep is a highly successful Electronic Laboratory Notebook (ELN) platform that was acquired by STARLIMS in 2023, validating its significant real-world utility and market value. Despite the submission containing low-quality, hyperbolic filler text (e.g., claiming 'everyone' as the audience), the underlying project is a legitimate, high-impact tool addressing the reproducibility crisis in science with verified coverage in Nature and TechCrunch. The score reflects the strong business fundamentals and successful exit, penalized slightly for the poor quality of the specific submission data.

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Score Breakdown

Real World Utility+135.0
Audience Reach Impact+35.0
Technical Innovation+56.25
Evidence Of Traction+90.0
Market Timing Relevance+42.5
Functional Completeness+1.25
Subtotal+360
Usefulness Multiplierx0.95
Final Score+342

Project Details

Project URL
Description
Global R\u0026D is spending $2 trillion a year, yet 50% of that money is wasted, as over half of all experiments cannot be reproduced. Most scientists still use pen and paper to document methods and results. Existing software solutions are outdated, time-consuming and fragmented.\n\nLabstep takes a completely different approach, allowing companies to flexibly connect functional modules to create an integrated research environment. \n\nWe are transforming the way research is carried out on a global scale, with over 900 universities and 30 companies adopting Labstep. This means that those groundbreaking discoveries, life-changing technologies and potential cures for cancer can finally be realised and benefit the world.\n\nFeatured in a Nature podcast:\nhttps://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-01333-0 \n\nRecent Financial Times article:\nhttps://sifted.eu/articles/science-lab-startup-labstep-reproducibility/ \n\nThe tech crunch article from our previous raise:\nhttps://techcrunch.com/2018/06/22/labstep/

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