1. Introduction and Acceptance of Terms
Welcome to the World Startup Federation ("WSF," "we," "us," or "our"). These Terms & Conditions ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the WSF website located at worldstartupfederation.org (the "Site"), along with any services, features, applications, content, events, networking tools, AI-assisted features, and member offerings provided by WSF (collectively, the "Services").
By accessing or using the Services, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not use the Services.
WSF may update or modify these Terms from time to time. Where material changes are made, we may notify registered users through email, platform notifications, or notices published on the Site. Continued use of the Services after updates become effective constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.
2. About the World Startup Federation
The World Startup Federation is a global nonprofit initiative designed to support and connect startup ecosystem stakeholders across countries and industries.
WSF operates as a technology-enabled ecosystem platform intended to facilitate networking, collaboration, knowledge sharing, and access to opportunities among founders, investors, universities, incubators, accelerators, governments, researchers, students, professionals, service providers, and other ecosystem participants.
WSF may provide features and services including, but not limited to:
- Membership registration and profile management
- Fred, WSF's AI-powered networking and matchmaking assistant
- Founder, investor, mentor, and co-founder networking tools
- Talent discovery and recruitment support features
- Startup ecosystem events and community initiatives
- Educational resources and webinars
- Research and innovation collaboration facilitation
- Ecosystem advocacy initiatives
- Partner offers, discounts, and ecosystem benefits
- Community communication tools and engagement features
WSF acts solely as a networking and technology facilitation platform. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, WSF does not verify, endorse, certify, guarantee, supervise, or assume responsibility for:
- Users or organizations on the platform
- Investment opportunities
- Startup claims or business performance
- Professional qualifications
- Government programs
- Third-party services
- Employment opportunities
- Business outcomes arising from platform interactions
WSF does not provide investment, legal, tax, immigration, employment, accounting, regulatory, or professional advice.
3. Eligibility
By using the Services, you represent and warrant that:
- You are at least 16 years old, or the age of legal majority in your jurisdiction, whichever is higher
- You have the legal authority and capacity to enter into these Terms
- Your use of the Services does not violate applicable laws or regulations
- The information you provide is accurate, current, and complete
- You will maintain and update your information as necessary
You may not use the Services if:
- You are prohibited from doing so under applicable law
- Your use would violate sanctions, export control regulations, or trade restrictions
- You have previously been suspended or removed from the platform for violations of these Terms
WSF reserves the right to deny access, suspend accounts, or terminate memberships at its sole discretion.
4. Membership
4.1 Founding Membership
WSF may offer Founding Memberships or introductory access programs at no cost for a limited period.
WSF reserves the right to introduce paid memberships, premium features, or revised pricing structures in the future. Existing members will receive reasonable notice before pricing changes become effective.
4.2 Paid Memberships
If WSF introduces paid memberships:
- Pricing will be displayed on the Site
- Fees may be billed annually or through other disclosed billing cycles
- Certain features may be limited based on membership category
- Membership fees may be subject to applicable taxes or governmental charges
4.3 Member Responsibilities
Members agree to:
- Provide truthful and accurate information
- Maintain the confidentiality of login credentials
- Notify WSF of unauthorized account access
- Interact respectfully and professionally with other users
- Use the platform in good faith
- Comply with applicable laws and regulations
Membership does not guarantee:
- Funding
- Investment opportunities
- Employment
- Partnerships
- Visibility
- Introductions
- Commercial success
- Participation in specific initiatives or programs
4.4 Membership Categories
WSF may provide different onboarding flows, features, or visibility settings based on member category, including but not limited to:
- Founders
- Investors
- Mentors
- Students
- Researchers
- Universities
- Incubators and accelerators
- Government representatives
- Service providers
- Professionals
- Aspiring startup employees
- Community supporters
5. Fred — AI-Powered Networking Assistant
WSF may provide AI-assisted tools and features, including "Fred," an AI-powered networking and matchmaking assistant.
By using Fred or other AI-assisted features, you acknowledge and agree that:
- Recommendations and matches are generated algorithmically
- AI-generated outputs may contain inaccuracies, omissions, biases, or incomplete information
- AI-generated outputs should not be relied upon as legal, financial, investment, employment, professional, or strategic advice
- WSF does not guarantee the suitability, credibility, legitimacy, or compatibility of suggested matches or introductions
- Users are solely responsible for conducting their own due diligence before entering into any relationship, agreement, transaction, or engagement arising from platform interactions
You acknowledge that certain platform features may involve automated processing or profiling intended to improve networking and matchmaking experiences.
WSF reserves the right to modify, suspend, limit, or discontinue AI-assisted features at any time.
6. User Conduct and Prohibited Activities
You agree to use the Services responsibly, lawfully, and respectfully.
You must not:
- Provide false, misleading, deceptive, or fraudulent information
- Misrepresent your identity, qualifications, affiliations, funding status, or authority
- Engage in fraudulent fundraising or misleading investment solicitation
- Conduct unlawful securities offerings or unlicensed financial promotions
- Harass, intimidate, threaten, abuse, or discriminate against others
- Share harmful, defamatory, hateful, or illegal content
- Send spam, phishing messages, or unsolicited commercial communications
- Upload malware, viruses, or harmful code
- Attempt unauthorized access to systems, data, or accounts
- Scrape, crawl, or extract platform data without authorization
- Use bots or automation tools without WSF's permission
- Infringe intellectual property or privacy rights
- Use the platform for illegal or unethical purposes
- Interfere with platform operations or community safety
WSF reserves the right, but not the obligation, to monitor, review, restrict, suspend, remove, or investigate accounts, activities, or content that may violate these Terms or harm the platform or its users.
7. User Content
Users may upload, post, submit, or share content including:
- Profile information
- Messages
- Posts
- Startup information
- Pitch materials
- Documents
- Media
- Comments
- Community contributions (collectively, "User Content")
By submitting User Content, you represent and warrant that:
- You own or have the necessary rights to share such content
- Your content does not violate laws or third-party rights
- Your content does not contain unlawful, misleading, or harmful material
You retain ownership of your User Content.
However, by submitting User Content, you grant WSF a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable license to host, display, reproduce, distribute, and use such content solely for the operation, improvement, promotion, and administration of the Services.
WSF reserves the right to remove or restrict User Content that violates these Terms, applicable law, or community standards.
WSF may terminate repeat infringers or users who repeatedly violate intellectual property rights.
8. Intellectual Property
All platform content, branding, software, designs, systems, AI tools, workflows, datasets, recommendation systems, algorithms, graphics, trademarks, and related intellectual property associated with the Services are owned by WSF or its licensors and are protected under applicable intellectual property laws.
Except as expressly permitted, users may not:
- Copy
- Reproduce
- Reverse-engineer
- Modify
- Distribute
- License
- Sell
- Create derivative works from
- Commercially exploit
any part of the Services without prior written permission from WSF.
Users are granted a limited, revocable, non-transferable, non-exclusive right to access and use the Services for lawful and intended purposes.
9. Privacy and Data Protection
Your use of the Services is subject to WSF's Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference.
By using the Services, you acknowledge and consent to the collection, storage, processing, transfer, and use of your information in accordance with the Privacy Policy.
WSF may process:
- Profile information
- Networking preferences
- Platform activity
- Communications
- AI-assisted matching inputs
- Usage analytics
- Other data reasonably necessary for platform operations
Because WSF operates globally, your information may be processed or transferred across jurisdictions.
WSF is committed to handling personal data responsibly and in accordance with applicable data protection laws where applicable.
WSF does not sell personal data to third parties.
10. Third-Party Services and Links
The Services may include links, integrations, referrals, or access to third-party websites, vendors, partners, governments, incubators, service providers, payment processors, or external platforms.
WSF does not control or assume responsibility for third-party services, content, availability, conduct, products, or privacy practices.
Unless explicitly stated otherwise, WSF does not independently verify:
- Professional qualifications
- Licensing status
- Regulatory standing
- Funding claims
- Service quality
- Legal compliance
of third parties or platform users.
Any arrangements, transactions, investments, engagements, or agreements entered into with third parties are solely between the relevant parties.
11. Disclaimers
The Services are provided on an "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" basis.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, WSF disclaims all warranties, representations, and guarantees, whether express, implied, statutory, or otherwise, including:
- Accuracy or reliability of content
- Availability or uninterrupted operation of the Services
- Suitability of platform matches or introductions
- Security or error-free operation
- Fitness for a particular purpose
- Non-infringement
WSF does not guarantee:
- Funding outcomes
- Business success
- Hiring outcomes
- Partnerships
- Investments
- Commercial opportunities
- Government approvals
- Grants
- Visa approvals
- Startup performance
- Community compatibility
Users are solely responsible for exercising judgment and conducting due diligence before relying on platform information or engaging with other users.
12. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, WSF and its directors, officers, employees, volunteers, advisors, partners, affiliates, contractors, licensors, and agents shall not be liable for:
- Indirect or consequential damages
- Loss of profits or opportunities
- Business interruption
- Data loss
- Investment losses
- Startup failures
- Employment disputes
- Failed introductions
- Third-party misconduct
- Fraudulent user activity
- Partnership disputes
- Regulatory outcomes
- Government program outcomes
- Immigration or visa outcomes
- Damages arising from platform interactions
WSF's total aggregate liability arising out of or related to the Services shall not exceed the greater of:
- The amount paid by the user to WSF in the preceding twelve months; or
- USD $100
Some jurisdictions may not allow certain liability limitations. In such cases, portions of these limitations may not apply.
13. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless WSF and its directors, officers, employees, volunteers, partners, affiliates, contractors, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, investigations, proceedings, costs, and expenses, including reasonable legal fees, arising out of or related to:
- Your use of the Services
- Your violation of these Terms
- Your violation of laws or regulations
- Your User Content
- Fraudulent or misleading conduct
- Intellectual property infringement
- Investment or fundraising activities
- Misuse of platform data or member information
14. Payments and Refunds
Where paid memberships or paid Services apply:
- Fees will be displayed in the applicable currency
- Payments may be processed through third-party payment providers
- Annual membership fees are non-refundable after 14 days from the date of payment, except where required by applicable law
- Members who wish to request a refund within the 14-day window should contact WSF at mail@worldstartupfederation.org
- WSF may revise pricing upon reasonable notice of at least 30 days prior to renewal
- Users are responsible for applicable taxes and governmental charges
- If WSF permanently discontinues a paid Service, WSF may provide a pro-rata refund for unused paid periods where appropriate
15. Suspension and Termination
WSF reserves the right to suspend, restrict, or terminate access to the Services at its discretion, including where:
- These Terms are violated
- Conduct harms the platform or its community
- Fraudulent or unlawful activity is suspected
- Required by law or regulatory request
- Payment obligations remain unpaid
WSF may preserve records and cooperate with legal authorities where required.
Users may terminate their membership at any time by contacting WSF.
Upon termination:
- Access rights may immediately cease
- Certain data may remain retained in accordance with legal obligations or operational requirements
- Provisions intended to survive termination shall continue to apply
16. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution
These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction in which WSF is formally registered, without regard to conflict of law principles.
In the event of any dispute arising from or relating to these Terms or the Services, the parties agree to first attempt good-faith resolution through informal negotiation.
If the dispute cannot be resolved within a reasonable period, the dispute shall be resolved through binding arbitration conducted in English under internationally recognized arbitration procedures.
Nothing in this section prevents either party from seeking urgent injunctive or equitable relief from a competent court where necessary.
17. General Provisions
17.1 Entire Agreement
These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and any additional legal notices published by WSF, constitute the entire agreement between users and WSF regarding the Services.
17.2 Severability
If any provision of these Terms is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in effect.
17.3 Waiver
Failure to enforce any provision shall not constitute a waiver of rights.
17.4 Assignment
Users may not transfer or assign their rights under these Terms without prior written consent.
WSF may assign or transfer its rights and obligations without restriction.
17.5 Force Majeure
WSF shall not be liable for delays or failures caused by circumstances beyond reasonable control, including:
- Natural disasters
- Government actions
- War
- Terrorism
- Cyberattacks
- Infrastructure failures
- Internet outages
- Public emergencies
17.6 Electronic Communications
By registering for or using the Services, you consent to receive electronic communications from WSF relating to:
- Platform updates
- Membership notices
- Events
- Service announcements
- Legal notices
- Community updates