Proof of Usefulness Report

SmartAsset

Analysis completed on 1/30/2026

+775

Proof of Usefulness Score

Unicorn Utility

SmartAsset is a verified fintech unicorn (valued at $1B+ in 2021) with massive reach (~5M+ direct monthly visits, 60M network reach). While the submission itself was low-effort ('ThunderWing'), the underlying business is highly useful, solving genuine financial planning problems with calculators and advisor matching. Innovation is moderate (standard fintech/lead-gen), but traction is exceptional ($100M+ revenue range). Secondary market data suggests a potential valuation discount recently, reflected in the timing score.

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Score Breakdown

Real World Utility+225

Audience Reach Impact+190

Technical Innovation+105

Evidence Of Traction+237.5

Market Timing Relevance+80

Functional Completeness+5

Subtotal+842.5

Usefulness Multiplierx0.92

Final Score+775

Project Details

Project URL

smartasset.com

Description

SmartAsset is a web app that helps the average person make important financial decisions. Our proprietary financial modeling technology allows us to provide automated, highly personalized advice for 24 significant life events.\n\nFrom buying a home to going back to school to family or retirement planning our platform models decisions and creates interactive, graphical advice on affordability, tax, financing alternatives and how your decisions affect your cash flow and net wealth.

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