Proof of Usefulness Report

The Spinoff

Analysis completed on 1/26/2026

+279
Proof of Usefulness Score
Gaining Momentum

The Spinoff is a highly established, award-winning independent media brand in New Zealand with verified traction (13k+ paying members, ~2M monthly page views). However, the project submission itself was of extremely poor quality (vague claims like 'most people', nonsensical financial data), which significantly penalized the score. While real-world utility and local impact are high, the submission failed to accurately represent the project's scale or technical depth.

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+96
Audience Reach Impact+54
Technical Innovation+20
Evidence Of Traction+96
Market Timing Relevance+27
Functional Completeness+1
Subtotal+294
Usefulness Multiplierx0.95
Final Score+279

Project Details

Project URL
Description
The Spinoff is an independent online magazine and full-service content agency. Since our foundation in 2014, our current affairs and cultural coverage has been embraced by an audience looking for a fresh perspective on New Zealand. The work of our award-winning journalists saw The Spinoff named Website of the Year at the 2019 Voyager Media Awards. If you’d like to work with us, visit: https://thespinoff.co.nz/about-contact/ To learn about The Spinoff Members, visit: https://members.thespinoff.co.nz/ To subscribe to The Spinoff's newsletters, visit: https://thespinoff.co.nz/subscribe-to-our-newsletters/

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