Proof of Usefulness Report

Melanin Kapital

Analysis completed on 2/9/2026

+221
Proof of Usefulness Score
Gaining Momentum

Melanin Kapital demonstrates strong real-world utility by addressing the critical finance gap for African SMEs through an innovative carbon-banking model. The project claims $1M in loans provided, which is a significant traction signal for an early-stage B2B fintech. However, the submission quality is mixed; while the project description is detailed, fields like 'Evidence of Traction' contain unprofessional placeholders ('most people have used my product'), and the 'everyone' audience claim is inaccurate for a niche B2B product. The score reflects a high-potential venture weighed down by a low-effort submission.

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Score Breakdown

Real World Utility+85.0
Audience Reach Impact+24.0
Technical Innovation+45.0
Evidence Of Traction+52.0
Market Timing Relevance+36.0
Functional Completeness+4.0
Subtotal+246
Usefulness Multiplierx0.9
Final Score+221

Project Details

Description
Melanin Kapital Neobank is the 1st Carbon Bank providing access to finance digitally to African SMEs from the green economy. We focus on the following sectors: sustainable agriculture, electric mobility, renewable energy and waste management. 40% of SMEs in Africa citing access to finance as a main growth barrier. Our digital carbon bank enables African businesses to aggregate their emissions data, finance carbon reduction projects, and monetize their CO₂ savings. We leverage APIs, IoT devices, and satellite data to measure carbon performance, ensure transparency, and reward sustainable business practices. Since 2024, we have provided $1M of loans to agriculture and clean technology businesses across Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast and Zambia. We offer 3 main products to African businesses: 1) Carbon-based lending: Unlock credit for your carbon reduction activities with our receivable-backed loans — rates as low as 15.5% per annum, no additional collateral required, & flexible terms from 6 to 36 months. 2) Carbon off-taking: Monetize your carbon reduction activities by selling verified carbon credits to Melanin Kapital under a pre-agreed pricing framework. 3) Carbon credit certification: With our streamlined digital MRV system, we ensure fast, transparent certification of carbon units — completed in 10 business days.

Algorithm Insights

Market Position
Growing utility with room for optimization
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