Proof of Usefulness Report

Omnicom Balfour Beatty

Analysis completed on 2/20/2026

+781
Proof of Usefulness Score
Unicorn Utility

The project 'Omnicom Balfour Beatty' (submitted as AncientStorm) is a verified, major rail infrastructure technology provider recently acquired by Hitachi Rail (Jan 2025). While the submission itself was low-quality (vague claims like 'most people', missing financial specifics), external verification confirms it processes massive datasets (25TB/day) for critical national infrastructure. The company generates estimated revenues of ~$85M+ and employs ~125-237 people. The solution uses advanced LiDAR and AI for predictive maintenance, demonstrating exceptional utility and innovation. The score reflects the high value of the verified business, despite the poor quality of the submission inputs.

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Score Breakdown

Real World Utility+261.25
Audience Reach Impact+160.00
Technical Innovation+148.50
Evidence Of Traction+261.25
Market Timing Relevance+85.00
Functional Completeness+2.50
Subtotal+918.5
Usefulness Multiplierx0.85
Final Score+781

Project Details

Project URL
omnicomrail.com
Description
As of Friday, 17th January 2025, we reached an agreement for the sale of Omnicom to Hitachi Rail. A further announcement will follow upon the completion of the deal. Major international OEMs, owners, and operators hire us to CAPTURE their railway's condition, PROCESS ~25TB daily, and VISUALISE it. We configure our hardware and software modules in line with country regulations to deliver maintenance efficiency through survey-grade data management (0.8mm resolution). By blending laser and lidar vision systems + IoT monitoring + rail engineering know-how, we can provide 'preventative insights' after just one pass of a track. The majority of our multi-year asset monitoring contracts utilise all of our capabilities: • Automated infrastructure inspections • Improved performance outcomes + costs • Simplified infrastructure maintenance And the future? We've been optimising rail maintenance since 1989, grown internationally, and currently handle the UK's largest rail data set. But in 2020, we began scaling an emerging capability: Change Detection—processing long data periods to visualise trends, previously impossible for engineers, but AI is enabling it. Rail moves on.

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