Proof of Usefulness Report

NearSt

Analysis completed on 1/26/2026

+369
Proof of Usefulness Score
Certified Problem Solver

NearSt demonstrates exceptional real-world utility by bridging the gap between physical retail inventory and digital search, backed by a verified global partnership with Google. While the submission itself was sparse and lacked specific internal metrics (penalizing the Response Quality and Traction Quality factors), the external reality of the project confirms significant reach, market relevance, and technical integration capabilities. The score reflects a high-potential venture comparable to or exceeding established benchmarks like HackerNoon.

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Score Breakdown

Real World Utility+114.0
Audience Reach Impact+68.0
Technical Innovation+48.0
Evidence Of Traction+72.0
Market Timing Relevance+38.0
Functional Completeness+8.0
Subtotal+348
Usefulness Multiplierx1.06
Final Score+369

Project Details

Project URL
near.st
Description
Hi! ? We're NearSt - a retail tech startup on a mission to get people back into high street shops.\n\nOur technology shows online shoppers what’s in local stores by making the products in those stores visible in places like Google and Facebook. If you search for a product in Google, and it pops up showing you it’s available nearby, there’s a good chance we’re the ones behind the scenes making that possible for Google (who trust our tech globally to make this all possible).\n\nWe believe the future of the high street is one where every product in every shop is connected directly to the web, making it genuinely faster and easier to get something from a real shop nearby than ordering it for delivery online. The high street has incredible value that’s currently hidden from the internet, and we see it as our job to unlock it.

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