Proof of Usefulness Report

Upside

Analysis completed on 2/1/2026

+642
Proof of Usefulness Score
Category Standard

Upside is a verified high-growth 'unicorn' ($1.5B valuation) with significant market penetration in the cashback/rewards sector. The project demonstrates exceptional real-world utility by addressing inflation and brick-and-mortar competitiveness. While the submission itself was low-effort (hyperbolic claims, missing specific metrics, lack of detail), the verifiable external traction (millions of users, national TV presence, major retail partnerships) drives a high score. The score is penalized for the poor quality of the response but buoyed by the undeniable scale and success of the platform.

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Score Breakdown

Real World Utility2.5)
Audience Reach Impact2.0)
Technical Innovation1.5)
Evidence Of Traction2.5)
Market Timing Relevance1.0)
Functional Completeness0.5)
Subtotal+755.8
Usefulness Multiplierx0.85
Final Score+642

Project Details

Project URL
Description
Given today’s hyper-efficient online shopping experiences, it’s natural to ask if brick-and-mortar businesses are now obsolete. We created Upside to level the playing field. Consumers use our app for everyday purchases, merchants use our platform to earn more profit without changing their business models, and as a result the offline world is made more efficient. And, it makes a difference for our communities.\n \nOur advisor, Hal Varian, developed an economic theory that is the bedrock of our model. His theory says if we know what a customer has done historically, and we know what that customer needs right now, we can design a personalized offering that maximizes the customer’s purchasing power, the merchant’s profitability, \u0026 societal value overall. At Upside, we do just that. We use real data to understand user behavior and generate personalized cash-back offers to motivate customers to buy more, more often--for millions of users and thousands of businesses across the country.

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