Proof of Usefulness Report

Starfish Space

Analysis completed on 1/30/2026

+479
Proof of Usefulness Score
Industry Mainstay

Starfish Space is a high-potential aerospace company with verified traction, including over $50M in funding and ~$90M in government contracts (US Space Force, NASA). The 'Otter' space tug and 'Cephalopod' software address the critical problem of orbital debris and satellite life extension. However, the project submission itself contained significant hallucinations (claiming 'most people have used my product' and 'audience reach: everyone'), which severely penalized the Audience Reach and Response Quality scores. Despite the poor submission quality, the underlying project's technical innovation and market relevance drove a high overall score.

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Score Breakdown

Real World Utility+23.75
Audience Reach Impact+6.00
Technical Innovation+21.38
Evidence Of Traction+22.50
Market Timing Relevance+9.50
Functional Completeness+0.25
Subtotal+500.28
Usefulness Multiplierx0.96
Final Score+479

Project Details

Description
Starfish Space is giving life to on-orbit services. Founded by former Blue Origin and NASA engineers, Starfish is developing the Otter, the first small and versatile space tug that will lower costs and increase availability for satellite servicing missions including life extension and active debris removal. Starfish technologies, including its proprietary CEPHALOPOD software, are key logistics, autonomy, and robotics infrastructure for the developing off-world economy and orbital industries like manufacturing, assembly, tourism, and mining. Learn more at starfishspace.com.

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