How SOFL scores startups
SOFL prioritizes Growth Score: verified improvement from a startup's approved baseline. Donations and gifts are engagement signals, not shortcuts to win.
Growth Score is primary
The official ranking starts with verified improvement from each startup's approved baseline.
Support is engagement
Verified donations and gift claims help with community signal and tie-breaks, but do not replace Growth Score.
Admin verifies, not judges
Admin work covers review, eligibility, data quality, and disputes. SOFL avoids subjective jury decisions for core outcomes.
Seasonal fairness
Each season has its own timeline, baseline dates, public criteria, and review trail.
1. Registration and baseline
A startup submits its public profile, founder contact, sector, and source links. The SOFL team reviews the submission and, if approved, captures a fixed baseline. This approval date becomes the starting point for measuring growth during the season.
2. Growth Score
Growth Score represents verified improvement from baseline. The leaderboard sorts by Growth Score first, then uses verified support, verified gift engagement, and earlier baseline date as secondary tie-breakers when needed.
3. Donate Score
Donations start as pending until admin verifies the transfer. The current rule is $10 = +1 verified engagement point, with a $100/day/startup cap. The model keeps community support visible without turning the league into pay-to-win.
4. Gift Score
Gift Score records verified claims from sponsors and partners, such as credits, tools, or startup perks. Gift points are useful for engagement reports and tie-break context, but still sit below Growth Score.
5. Audit trail
The next hardening step is a stronger audit log for approvals, rejections, baseline changes, score changes, and dispute outcomes so Season 1 can remain reviewable.