Selection Process

Selection Criteria: What We Look For

Real AI Innovation – No ChatGPT wrappers. No rebranded APIs. Only genuine, impactful AI technology.

Most AI startups in Web3 today are superficial integrations—simple ChatGPT implementations or repurposed, off-the-shelf AI tools with limited real-world utility. A-Day strictly filters these low-effort projects, spotlighting only startups that:

✅ Possess proprietary or significantly enhanced AI technology—not solely reliant on publicly available APIs.

✅ Demonstrate meaningful advancements or innovation in key AI areas such as machine learning, data analytics, computer vision, NLP, automation, healthcare, finance, or environmental impact.

✅ Address tangible real-world problems with clear paths to impact, market adoption, and scalability.

✅ Have developed or planned robust AI infrastructure and technology strategies to sustain growth and differentiation beyond initial adoption.

To validate authenticity and feasibility, we engage industry experts and AI specialists to assess the technical claims, scalability potential, and clarity of vision, ensuring each project's viability aligns with genuine market needs.

Scalability – Can this startup survive and thrive beyond the initial excitement?

Many promising AI startups falter not due to technology limitations, but from weak business models, ineffective go-to-market strategies, or inability to scale operations sustainably. We rigorously assess each project's business scalability by evaluating:

✅ Clear Market Strategy – Does the startup have a well-defined, realistic go-to-market plan with viable customer segments?

✅ Revenue & Growth Potential – Can the project sustainably generate revenue, expand user adoption, and scale business operations effectively?

✅ Long-term Sustainability – Is the project designed to maintain operations and continue growth even in challenging or bearish market conditions?

✅ Product Evolution & Improvement – Does the business model leverage AI in ways that enhance value over time, enabling the product and revenue model to grow stronger as adoption increases?

Through these criteria, we ensure selected startups are not just innovative, but also positioned to achieve genuine long-term success and significant real-world impact.

Founder Credibility – Fully doxxed, experienced teams. No anonymous projects.

Trust is everything. We only work with fully transparent, accountable teams that have a proven track record in AI, product development, or business execution.

✅ Founder & team verification – Every team undergoes a KYC & background check. ✅ Industry experience – Do the founders have relevant expertise in AI, engineering, or scaling startups? ✅ Commitment to long-term success – Are they building for the long haul, or looking for a quick exit?

No anonymous teams. No shady operators. Only serious founders building serious AI products.

Real-World Impact – AI products solving meaningful problems.

AI is not just a buzzword—it should be solving real-world problems. We assess:

✅ Market relevance – Is this solving an actual pain point, or is it AI for AI’s sake?

✅ Industry adoption potential – Can this product be used in healthcare, finance, automation, security, or other high-impact fields?

✅ Technological differentiation – Is the AI startup competing with major players, or bringing something new to the market?

✅ User validation – Has the product been tested and validated by real users or industry partners?

AI startups that lack product-market fit or provide no real-world value will not be selected.