Proof of Usefulness Report

Mercor

Analysis completed on 2/4/2026

+884
Proof of Usefulness Score
Unicorn Utility

Mercor is a legitimate 'Decacorn' (valued at $10 Billion as of late 2025) and one of the fastest-growing AI companies in history, with verified annual recurring revenue (ARR) estimates exceeding $500M. The founders (Foody, Hiremath, Midha) are confirmed as the youngest self-made billionaires. While the submission itself was low-effort (vague claims like 'most people', missing user stats), the underlying project's real-world utility in training frontier AI models (RLHF) and its massive verifiable traction (paying >$1.5M/day to contributors) warrant an exceptional score. The score is penalized slightly only for the poor quality of the submission text.

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+250
Audience Reach Impact+190
Technical Innovation+140
Evidence Of Traction+250
Market Timing Relevance+100
Functional Completeness+5
Subtotal+935
Usefulness Multiplierx0.945
Final Score+884

Project Details

Project URL
Description
Mercor is an AI-powered platform that connects job seekers with companies, streamlining the hiring process through automated interviews and matching. The company also focuses on providing experts to train AI models and chatbots for leading AI labs like OpenAI and Anthropic. Founded in 2023, Mercor has experienced rapid growth, with its founders becoming some of the youngest self-made billionaires.

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