Proof of Usefulness Report

Shaped.ai

Analysis completed on 2/4/2026

+570
Proof of Usefulness Score
Industry Mainstay

Shaped.ai is a legitimate Series A startup ($8M funding, Y Combinator W22) providing high-utility AI recommendation APIs. While the submission quality was extremely poor (vague claims, incorrect 'marketcap' terminology, hyperbolic 'everyone' reach), external verification confirms strong technical innovation, significant backing (Madrona, YC), and verifiable B2B traction. The score reflects the company's strong fundamentals and market timing, heavily penalized for the low-quality submission and inaccurate reach claims.

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Score Breakdown

Real World Utility+212.5
Audience Reach Impact+40.0
Technical Innovation+127.5
Evidence Of Traction+140.0
Market Timing Relevance+95.0
Functional Completeness+5.0
Subtotal+620
Usefulness Multiplierx0.92
Final Score+570

Project Details

Project URL

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