Proof of Usefulness Report

Squelch

Analysis completed on 2/16/2026

+53
Proof of Usefulness Score
You're In Business

Squelch was a legitimate B2B Customer Experience (CX) platform that raised ~$20M in venture capital (Shasta Ventures, Correlation Ventures) and was acquired in 2020 by Optix Capital (likely an asset sale/restructuring managed by a partner), reportedly for ~$17M. However, PitchBook lists the company as 'Out of Business' as of 2021. The submission contains highly hyperbolic and inaccurate claims regarding audience reach ('everyone') and traction ('most people have used my product'), which severely impacts the score. While the project had significant historical financial backing and utility, its current status (defunct) and the poor quality of the submission result in a low Proof of Usefulness score.

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Score Breakdown

Real World Utility+18.75
Audience Reach Impact+2.0
Technical Innovation+11.25
Evidence Of Traction+8.75
Market Timing Relevance+6.0
Functional Completeness+0.25
Subtotal+47
Usefulness Multiplierx1.12
Final Score+53

Project Details

Project URL
Description
Squelch was an customer experience optimization solution, acquired by Optix Capital in 2020.

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