Proof of Usefulness Report

Mach9 Robotics

Analysis completed on 1/25/2026

+378

Proof of Usefulness Score

Certified Problem Solver

Mach9 Robotics is a high-potential verified entity (YC S21, $14.4M Seed raised July 2024) solving a critical infrastructure bottleneck with CMU-derived AI/LiDAR technology. However, the submission quality is critically poor, containing false claims about reach ('everyone') and traction ('most people have used my product'), which significantly penalized the Reach and Quality scores despite the company's actual high enterprise value and verified success.

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Score Breakdown

Real World Utility+135

Audience Reach Impact+15

Technical Innovation+85.5

Evidence Of Traction+63.8

Market Timing Relevance+45

Functional Completeness+5

Subtotal+349.3

Usefulness Multiplierx1.08

Final Score+377

Project Details

Project URL

mach9.io

Description

Mach9 builds location intelligence software to help civil engineering and government customers analyze massive amounts of geospatial sensor data. We've been working on software automation for common surveying workflows and are driven to bring perception software from self-driving to industries that need it today. \n\nOur team spun out of the Carnegie Mellon Robotics Institute and previously worked at Tesla Autopilot, SpaceX GNC, and Apple Performance Engineering. We went through YC last summer, raised a seed round last December, and have been rapidly growing our team.\n

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