HackerNoon Projects of the Week: AI Security Exposure Detector, Shoppinlyst, and TimeVyn

Welcome to HackerNoon’s 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.

This week, we’re excited to share three projects that have proven their utility by solving concrete problems for real users: AI Security Exposure Detector, Shoppinlyst, and TimeVyn.

Meet the Projects of The Week

AI Security Exposure Detector

https://hackernoon.com/ai-security-exposure-detector-earns-a-13-proof-of-usefulness-score-building-an-ai-powered-data-leak-identification-tool?embedable=true

AI Security Exposure Detector is an AI-powered tool designed to scan cloud storage environments for exposed or misconfigured files that could lead to data breaches. Built with a cybersecurity-first mindset, it identifies sensitive data leakage risks and assigns risk scores to help teams prioritize remediation.

The project addresses a growing blind spot in enterprise security: as AI systems increasingly read from and write to cloud storage, the attack surface for accidental data exposure expands rapidly. AI Security Exposure Detector exists to close that gap with automated, intelligent scanning.

Proof of Usefulness score: +13 / 1000

Shoppinlyst

https://hackernoon.com/shoppinlyst-earns-a-35-proof-of-usefulness-score-by-building-an-advanced-grocery-list-system?embedable=true

Shoppinlyst is an advanced grocery list management system built for modern shoppers. It moves beyond simple checklist apps by incorporating smart categorization, store-aware organization, and features designed to reduce decision fatigue at the supermarket.

The project tackles a deceptively hard everyday problem: grocery shopping is a high-frequency task that most digital tools treat as trivially simple. Shoppinlyst takes the problem seriously, delivering a consumer utility app that genuinely improves the weekly shop.

Proof of Usefulness score: +35 / 1000

TimeVyn

https://hackernoon.com/timevyn-earns-a-36-proof-of-usefulness-score-by-building-a-privacy-first-socialfi-protocol?embedable=true

TimeVyn is a privacy-first SocialFi protocol that gives users genuine ownership over their social data and online identity. Built on blockchain infrastructure, it combines the creator economy with data sovereignty — letting users monetize their time and attention without surrendering their privacy to centralized platforms.

TimeVyn takes aim at one of Web3's most compelling unsolved problems: social networks that reward participation while respecting user autonomy. By blending blockchain privacy tools with social finance primitives, TimeVyn makes data sovereignty practical rather than theoretical.

Proof of Usefulness score: +36 / 1000

You Too Can Get Scored

What is Proof of Usefulness?

It's our answer to a web drowning in vaporware and empty promises. We evaluate projects based on:
▪️ Real user adoption
▪️ Sustainable revenue
▪️ Technical stability
▪️ Genuine utility

Projects score from -100 to +1000. Top scorers compete for**$20K in cash and $130K+ in software credits.**

You’ll be in good company. The hackathon is backed by teams who ship production software for a living - Bright Data, Neo4j, Storyblok, Algolia, and HackerNoon.

What happens when you submit:

1. Get your free Proof of Usefulness score instantly
2. Your submission becomes a HackerNoon article (published within days)
3. Compete for monthly prizes
4. All participants get rewards

Complete guide on how to submit here.

Thanks for building useful things!