Proof of Usefulness Report

Shield AI

Analysis completed on 1/29/2026

+587

Proof of Usefulness Score

Industry Mainstay

Shield AI is a verified defense unicorn ($5.3B valuation, ~$267M revenue) building critical autonomous systems (V-BAT, Hivemind) for the DoD and allies. While the project entity has massive real-world utility and verified commercial traction, the submission itself contained inaccuracies (claiming 'everyone' as audience and 'most people' as users). The score reflects the company's high strategic value and market position, penalized by recent safety incidents (V-BAT accident), missed profit targets, and the low quality of the submission data.

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Score Breakdown

Real World Utility+225

Audience Reach Impact+96

Technical Innovation+135

Evidence Of Traction+140

Market Timing Relevance+90

Functional Completeness+5

Subtotal+691

Usefulness Multiplierx0.85

Final Score+587

Project Details

Project URL

shield.ai

Description

Backed by top-tier Silicon Valley VC funds, Shield AI established itself as the leader in AI for aviation. Shield AI has been named to Forbes’ AI 50 and Best Startups lists, CB Insights Top 100 AI Companies, and Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies. Our mission is to protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems.\n\nWe're hiring! Visit shield.ai/careers to learn more.

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