Proof of Usefulness Report

OpenCounter

Analysis completed on 1/27/2026

+583
Proof of Usefulness Score
Industry Mainstay

OpenCounter is a verified GovTech success story, having been acquired by GTY Technology (2019) and later Accela (2024). It serves a critical function in digitizing municipal permitting for over 20 states. However, the submission itself was low-quality, with the user falsely claiming 'everyone' and 'most people' use the product. The score reflects the project's high verified utility and successful exit, significantly penalized for the lazy and inaccurate submission details.

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Score Breakdown

Real World Utility+225.0
Audience Reach Impact+90.0
Technical Innovation+97.5
Evidence Of Traction+261.25
Market Timing Relevance+70.0
Functional Completeness+5.0
Subtotal+748.75
Usefulness Multiplierx0.78
Final Score+583

Project Details

Project URL
opencounter.com
Description
OpenCounter is building the next generation of permitting and licensing software for state and local governments. The software helps residents navigate complicated permitting requirements, and helps city staff process applications more quickly. \n\nThe company grew out of a 2012 Code for America Fellowship, and was selected as a winner of the Knight News Challenge in 2013. Since then, we’ve scaled to 20+ states and process hundreds of thousands of permit applications each year. \n\nIn February of 2019, we were acquired by GTY Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:GTYH) to be part of the leading provider of SaaS/cloud software for state and local government.

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