Proof of Usefulness Report

Samaritan

Analysis completed on 1/29/2026

+98
Proof of Usefulness Score
You're In Business

Samaritan is a high-utility platform with verified social impact (Techstars W'20, contracts with health insurers, ~15k donors). While the submission itself contained spam-like/false data (e.g., 'most people have used my product'), external search confirms the project's legitimacy, innovative beacon technology, and successful pilot programs reducing ER visits for the unhoused. The score reflects high real-world utility and timing, heavily penalized by low reach (compared to mass-market apps) and poor submission quality.

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+33.25
Audience Reach Impact+5.60
Technical Innovation+14.40
Evidence Of Traction+17.50
Market Timing Relevance+10.80
Functional Completeness+0.25
Subtotal+81.8
Usefulness Multiplierx1.20
Final Score+98

Project Details

Project URL
Description
More than one million Americans will sleep tonight not knowing if they'll sleep in the same place tomorrow. People who lack housing face a vicious cycle of financial and social poverty, creating lasting barriers that can cut life expectancy by 20+ years.\n\n[Samaritan](https://samaritan.city) (Techstars W '20) is a support platform helping people access the financial and social capital needed to find a stable home. The platform has helped its Members reach [life-changing outcomes](https://samaritan.city/stories) in early deployments. \n\nWe’re now contracting with some of the top health insurers in the country to scale the intervention and are excited to rapidly hire a number of new team members and get strong internal / external processes in place as we gear up for this next phase of growth.

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