Proof of Usefulness Report

Skill-Lync

Analysis completed on 1/30/2026

+585
Proof of Usefulness Score
Industry Mainstay

Skill-Lync is a verifiable, large-scale EdTech entity (YC W19) with significant historical revenue (~$12M+) and reach, exceeding the 'Comparable Scale' benchmark despite a low-quality submission. However, recent massive layoffs (team reduction from ~1500 to ~130) and financial distress lower the Traction and Timing scores. The submission itself ('ShadowHunter', 'most people have used my product') is unprofessional and lacks data, severely penalizing the Response Quality metric, though the project's actual existence and scale drive the primary score.

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+212.5
Audience Reach Impact+160.0
Technical Innovation+75.0
Evidence Of Traction+150.0
Market Timing Relevance+50.0
Functional Completeness+2.5
Subtotal+650
Usefulness Multiplierx0.9
Final Score+585

Project Details

Project URL
skill-lync.com
Description
Skill-Lync is an online education platform that specializes in providing industry-relevant courses in engineering and technology. The company focuses on bridging the gap between academic learning and industry requirements by offering courses that are designed and taught by industry experts. Skill-Lync's curriculum covers a wide range of topics, including mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, civil engineering, computer science, and data science, among others. The platform aims to equip students and professionals with the practical skills and knowledge needed to excel in their careers, offering hands-on projects and real-world applications as part of their learning experience.

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