OpenAI 2026 hackathon

ClearToGo

Before you erase your old iPhone, ClearToGo finds the app access and data risks your new iPhone may still be hiding.

Solo project by Sangheon Lee · 0 likes · 0 comments

Archive position — measured, not model output

0 likes on Devpost

2,264 of the 7,856 archived projects have more likes, and 5,592 share exactly 0 — so this project's #3,309 place in the like-ranked listing is a tie-break inside that group, not a ranking.

Projects (log scale)

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Likes on Devpost. ▲ marks this project's group.

Show the figures
LikesProjectsShare of archive
05,59271.2%
11,75822.4%
22853.6%
3–41321.7%
5–9751.0%
10+140.2%
Devpost like counts for all 7,856 archived projects, captured when this archive was built.

Executive Summary

What the company appears to be

ClearToGo is a self-reported tool designed to help users identify and manage app access and data risks on their new iPhone before erasing their old one. It is presented as a privacy and security utility, built for iOS environments.

What changed

The project was submitted to the OpenAI 2026 hackathon, suggesting it is in an early development or prototype stage. No commercial traction, revenue, or customer evidence is provided.

Single most important open question

Is there any evidence of real-world usage, user feedback, or a path to monetization beyond the hackathon submission?

Analysis basis

This report is based entirely on the self-reported project description supplied by the caller. It contains no archived history, third-party verification, or independent corroboration. All claims are treated as stated by the author and not proven.

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What The Product Actually Is

The description states:

  • ClearToGo "finds the app access and data risks your new iPhone may still be hiding."
  • It is built for iOS (macOS, Swift, SwiftUI).
  • It uses technologies such as libimobiledevice, libplist, Xcode 16, and OpenAI tools like ChatGPT and Codex.

Inference The product appears to be a macOS/iOS utility that scans iPhone data and app permissions to detect potential privacy or security risks. It may involve automation via GitHub Actions, and leverages AI for processing or structuring outputs.

Evidence strength Based on self-reported technology stack and tagline only. No functional description, screenshots, or user flows are provided.

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Positioning & Claim Evolution

The author states:

  • Tagline: “Before you erase your old iPhone, ClearToGo finds the app access and data risks your new iPhone may still be hiding.”
  • The product is positioned as a privacy/security tool for iPhone users.

Inference The positioning implies a consumer or personal-use privacy utility. It targets individuals who are transitioning phones and want to ensure no sensitive data remains accessible on their new device.

Evidence strength Only the tagline and self-description are available. No claims about market fit, competitive differentiation, or prior positioning history are provided.

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Target Customer & ICP

The description states:

  • The tool is for iPhone users who are erasing old devices and want to ensure no data risks remain on their new phone.

Inference The target customer appears to be individual consumers with iPhones who are concerned about privacy or data leakage during device transitions. The ICP is not defined beyond this.

Evidence strength Not evidenced. No segmentation, personas, or user research provided.

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Business Model & Pricing Evidence

The description states:

  • No pricing information, business model, or monetization strategy is mentioned.

Inference There is no indication of a commercial model (e.g., freemium, subscription, one-time purchase). The project was submitted to a hackathon, suggesting it may be in early development or non-commercial use.

Evidence strength Not evidenced. No business model or pricing claims are provided.

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Technical & Delivery Signals

The description states:

  • Built with Swift, SwiftUI, Xcode 16, macOS, and OpenAI tools (ChatGPT, Codex).
  • Uses libimobiledevice, libplist.
  • Deployed via GitHub Actions.
  • Uses structured outputs and GPT-based automation.

Inference The tool is a native iOS/macOS application with AI integration for data processing or analysis. It likely involves scanning iPhone data or app permissions, and may automate risk detection using AI tools.

Evidence strength Based on declared tech stack and build process. No delivery mechanism, performance metrics, or scalability signals are provided.

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Traction & Maturity Signals

The description states:

  • Submitted to the OpenAI 2026 hackathon.
  • Team size: 1 (Sangheon Lee).
  • No mention of users, downloads, revenue, or adoption.

Inference The project is in a very early stage — likely a prototype or proof-of-concept. No evidence of traction, user feedback, or commercial viability is provided.

Evidence strength Not evidenced. No signs of product-market fit, user engagement, or business development are present.

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Competitive Context

The description states:

  • No mention of competitors or market context.
  • No indication of existing tools in the privacy/security space for iPhone transitions.

Inference The competitive landscape is unknown. It's unclear whether similar tools exist or how this product would differentiate.

Evidence strength Not evidenced. No competitive analysis, market positioning, or differentiation claims are provided.

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Key Risks & Red Flags

  • Early-stage prototype: Submitted to a hackathon; no commercial traction or user feedback.
  • Single founder: Limited team capacity for development and scaling.
  • No monetization strategy: No evidence of a business model or pricing.
  • Unproven market need: No customer validation or demand signals.
  • Privacy-sensitive domain: Risks around data handling, compliance, and trust.

Evidence strength Inferences based on lack of evidence. No concrete risks are stated directly.

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Diligence Questions To Ask The Founders

  1. What specific app access or data risks does ClearToGo detect?
  2. How does the tool scan or analyze iPhone data?
  3. Is there any user feedback or testing beyond the hackathon?
  4. What is the intended business model or monetization strategy?
  5. Are there plans to expand beyond iOS or target enterprise users?

Note

These questions are based on the lack of evidence in the description and are not assertions.

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Investment/Partnership Verdict

The project is presented as a hackathon submission with no commercial traction, revenue, or user validation. It is in an early prototype stage, with no clear path to monetization or scalability.

Verdict Not evidenced. No basis for investment or partnership decision at this time.

Confidence level Low — based on minimal self-reported evidence and absence of any traction signals.

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Source

Submitted to the OpenAI 2026 hackathon on Devpost. Project home on DevPost.

The analysis above was generated by a language model from the project's own one-line description. It is not independent research and contains no verified traction, revenue or customer data.