Proof of Usefulness Report

The Trade Desk

Analysis completed on 2/18/2026

+514
Proof of Usefulness Score
Industry Mainstay

The project refers to 'The Trade Desk', a leading publicly traded AdTech platform with massive verifiable utility, reach, and traction (Market Cap ~$50B+). However, the submission itself is of extremely low quality, likely submitted by an unaffiliated or casual user ('StarSpirit'). It contains significant inaccuracies (e.g., stating market cap as $1B instead of ~$50B, team size 7500 vs ~3000) and vague claims ('everyone', 'most people have used my product'). Consequently, while the underlying entity scores highly on fundamentals, the final PoU score is heavily penalized by minimum Quality Factors (0.5) due to the lack of verifiable detail and professionalism in the submission data.

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+184.0
Audience Reach Impact+95.0
Technical Innovation+66.0
Evidence Of Traction+112.5
Market Timing Relevance+81.0
Functional Completeness+2.5
Subtotal+541
Usefulness Multiplierx0.95
Final Score+514

Project Details

Project URL
Description
It's more than just clicks. Premium streaming TV. One-click commerce. Trusted journalism. The world’s most popular audio and podcasts. All these amazing online experiences thrive on an open internet. And they’re all fueled by relevant advertising. That’s why we created an independent media buying platform designed for the open internet. One that helps brands grow and thrive by giving them access to more: more customers engaging with more of the content they love across more channels and devices, and more transparency and precision at every stage.

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