Welcome to the third edition of HackerNoon Projects of the Week, where we spotlight standout projects from the Proof of Usefulness Hackathon, HackerNoon’s competition designed to measure what actually matters: real utility over hype.Each week, we’ll highlight projects that demonstrate clear usefulness, technical execution, and real-world impact - backed by data, not buzzwords. Proof of Usefulness Hackathon Proof of Usefulness Hackathon This week, we’re excited to share three projects that have proven their utility by solving concrete problems for real users: QuantumLayer, Ekstra AI, ComLab QuantumLayer, Ekstra AI, ComLab QuantumLayer Ekstra AI ComLab Want to see your own project spotlighted here?Join the Proof of Usefulness Hackathon to get on our radar. Want to see your own project spotlighted here?Join the Proof of Usefulness Hackathon to get on our radar. Want to see your own project spotlighted here?Join the Proof of Usefulness Hackathon to get on our radar. Join the Proof of Usefulness Hackathon Meet the Projects of The Week Meet QuantumLayer https://hackernoon.com/quantumlayer-earns-a-118-proof-of-usefulness-score-by-building-a-developer-facing-risk-intelligence-engine?embedable=true https://hackernoon.com/quantumlayer-earns-a-118-proof-of-usefulness-score-by-building-a-developer-facing-risk-intelligence-engine?embedable=true QuantumLayer is a developer-facing risk intelligence engine built to bring climate and infrastructure risk data into real-world software systems. QuantumLayer Rather than leaving teams to piece together geospatial and climate risk data from scattered sources, QuantumLayer offers a clean API that lets developers embed this kind of analysis directly into their applications. The focus is firmly on making complex risk modeling accessible at the code level, so builders can factor in things like weather exposure and physical infrastructure vulnerability without starting from scratch. It's infrastructure-aware risk intelligence, made usable. Proof of Usefulness score: +118 / 1000 Proof of Usefulness score: +118 / 1000 See QuantumLayer's full Proof of Usefulness report
Read their story on HackerNoon See QuantumLayer's full Proof of Usefulness report See QuantumLayer's full Proof of Usefulness report Read their story on HackerNoon Read their story on HackerNoon Meet Ekstra AI Meet Ekstra AI https://hackernoon.com/ekstra-ai-earns-a-46-proof-of-usefulness-score-by-building-a-privacy-first-intelligence-layer-for-the-physical-world?embedable=true https://hackernoon.com/ekstra-ai-earns-a-46-proof-of-usefulness-score-by-building-a-privacy-first-intelligence-layer-for-the-physical-world?embedable=true Ekstra AI is a privacy-first foot traffic intelligence platform built to give small businesses a window into how people move through and around physical spaces, without relying on surveillance. Ekstra AI Aimed squarely at brick-and-mortar operators in places like New York City, Ekstra AI surfaces pedestrian and visitor patterns in ways that are actually useful for day-to-day decisions, such as staffing, hours, and location planning, while keeping the data anonymous by design. It sits at the intersection of DePIN infrastructure and ethical AI, proving that you can give small businesses the kind of location intelligence usually reserved for large retail chains, without trading away people's privacy to get there. Proof of Usefulness score: +46 / 1000 Proof of Usefulness score: +46 / 1000 See Ekstra AI's full Proof of Usefulness report
Read their story on HackerNoon See Ekstra AI's full Proof of Usefulness report See Ekstra AI's full Proof of Usefulness report Read their story on HackerNoon Read their story on HackerNoon Meet ComLab Meet ComLab https://hackernoon.com/comlab-earns-a-40-proof-of-usefulness-score-by-turning-user-feedback-into-actionable-tickets?embedable=true https://hackernoon.com/comlab-earns-a-40-proof-of-usefulness-score-by-turning-user-feedback-into-actionable-tickets?embedable=true ComLab is an AI-powered tool that takes the noise out of user feedback and turns it into structured, prioritized tickets that product teams can actually act on. ComLab Most teams drown in comments, complaints, and feature requests spread across reviews, support threads, and survey responses. ComLab pulls that scattered input together, uses AI to identify patterns and urgency, and translates it all into clear task items linked to a knowledge graph. The result is less time spent manually triaging feedback and more time spent fixing the things users actually care about. Proof of Usefulness score: +40 / 1000 Proof of Usefulness score: +40 / 1000 See ComLab's full Proof of Usefulness report
Read their story on HackerNoon See ComLab's full Proof of Usefulness report See ComLab's full Proof of Usefulness report Read their story on HackerNoon Read their story on HackerNoon Stop Building in the Dark - Get Scored! The web is drowning in vaporware and empty promises. We created Proof of Usefulnessto reward what actually matters: real user adoption, sustainable revenue, and technical stability. Proof of Usefulness Why submit? 1. Instant Validation:Get your Proof of Usefulness score (from -100 to +1000) the moment you submit.2. The Prize Pool: Compete for $20K in cash and $130K+ in software credits from Bright Data, Neo4j, Storyblok, Algolia, and HackerNoon.3. Built-in Distribution:Your submission becomes a HackerNoon story, putting your build in front of millions of monthly readers.4. Rewards for All: Every qualifying participant unlocks a suite of software credits just for entering. 1. Instant Validation: 2. The Prize Pool: Bright Data Neo4j Storyblok Algolia HackerNoon 3. Built-in Distribution: 4. Rewards for All: How to Enter: 1. Get Your Score: Head to www.proofofusefulness.comand submit your project details to generate your PoU Report Card.2. Generate Your Draft:Click the button on your report page to convert your submission into a HackerNoon blog post draft.3. Refine & Publish: Edit your draft to add your technical "secret sauce," then hit Submit for Review. Once published, you’re officially in the prize queue! 1. Get Your Score: www.proofofusefulness.com 2. Generate Your Draft: 3. Refine & Publish: Read the complete guide on how to submit here. here 👉 Submit Your Project Now & Get Scored Now! 👉 Submit Your Project Now & Get Scored Now! 👉 Submit Your Project Now & Get Scored Now! 👉 Submit Your Project Now P.S. The clock is ticking! The second month of the competition is drawing to a close, meaning the next round of winners will be announced soon. With only 4 months and 4 prize rounds remaining, now is the time to get your project in the mix. Don't leave money on the table - get in early! P.S. The clock is ticking! Until next time, Hackers! Until next time, Hackers!

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HackerNoon Projects of the Week: QuantumLayer, Ekstra AI, & ComLab

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