Terms & Conditions

These Terms & Conditions (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of Giolinko (the “Service”), operated by [Legal Entity Name] (“Giolinko,” “we,” “us”). By creating an account, activating a membership, or otherwise using the Service, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Service.

1. What Giolinko is — and is not

Giolinko is a member-backed community that awards Weekly Grants to startups. Members pay a small weekly membership fee that gives them community access, resources, and one vote per cycle. Each week, active members vote on shortlisted businesses, and the businesses with the most member support are selected as grant recipients and funded from a community fund.

Selection is by member vote on merit. It is not, and is not intended to be:

• a lottery, raffle, sweepstakes, or game of chance — recipients are chosen by member vote, never by random draw, and the Service contains no randomization in recipient selection;
• gambling or a wager — your membership fee purchases real, ongoing value (community, resources, and a vote) that has worth independent of any grant;
• an investment, security, deposit, or offer of financial return — members receive no ownership, interest, dividend, or promise of profit;
• a guarantee — no member, applicant, or business is promised or entitled to receive a grant, or any particular amount.

2. Definitions

• Member — a user with an active paid membership.
• Founder / Applicant — a user who submits a business for consideration.
• Recipient — an applicant selected in a cycle to receive a grant.
• Community Fund — the pooled fund from which grants are awarded.
• Grant — an award of funds to a selected recipient.
• Cycle — a weekly round of applications, voting, and selection.

3. Eligibility & accounts

You must be at least 18 years old and able to form a binding contract. You are responsible for your account and for keeping your sign-in method secure. One account per person; one membership per verified identity. You agree to provide accurate information and to keep it current.

4. Membership & fees

• Fee. Membership is billed at [$1] per [week] on a recurring basis until cancelled.
• Payment. Payments are processed by Stripe, Inc. under Stripe’s terms. We do not store full card details.
• Auto-renewal. Your membership renews automatically each period. You authorize recurring charges until you cancel.
• Cancellation. You may cancel anytime from Settings → Billing; cancellation stops future renewals. Access and voting rights continue until the end of the paid period.
• Fee split. We disclose how each fee is allocated: approximately [80%] goes to the Community Fund and approximately [20%] is retained by Giolinko as a platform fee to operate the Service. The exact split is shown in-product and on the public fund ledger.
• Additional businesses. Each founder may list one business for free; each additional business requires a one-time fee of [$1]. This one-time fee is separate from, and is not, the weekly membership.
• Changes. We may change fees or the split prospectively with reasonable notice.

5. Refunds

Except where required by law, membership fees and one-time fees are [non-refundable], because the membership delivers value (community access and a vote) during each period. If you believe a charge was made in error, contact [support@giolinko.com]. [Describe any statutory cooling-off / withdrawal rights applicable in your jurisdiction.]

6. Voting

• Only active members may vote, and only during the open voting window of a cycle.
• One vote per member per cycle. You may not vote for your own business.
• Vote manipulation, buying or selling votes, operating multiple accounts, or other attempts to distort outcomes are prohibited and may result in vote invalidation and account termination.
• Ties are broken by documented, deterministic rules (higher vote count, then earlier submission, then operator judging) — never by chance.

7. Applications & business listings

• You are responsible for the accuracy of everything you submit about your business. Misleading or fraudulent submissions may be removed and your account terminated.
• You grant Giolinko a non-exclusive licence to display your submitted business profile to members for the purpose of voting and transparency.
• Being shortlisted or receiving votes does not entitle you to a grant. Operators may decline, remove, or reject any application at their discretion, including for eligibility, legal, or integrity reasons.

8. Grants & payouts

• Grants are awarded to recipients selected by member vote and are paid from the Community Fund, subject to available balance, reserves, and applicable limits.
• To receive a payout, a recipient must complete identity verification (KYC) and onboarding through Stripe Connect. Stripe performs KYC/AML checks and is the regulated mover of funds.
• Grants are gifts/awards, not loans or investments. Recipients are solely responsible for any taxes arising from a grant and should seek their own tax advice.
• We may withhold, delay, reverse, or cancel a grant where required by law, our risk/anti-fraud review, chargebacks, or a failed verification.

9. Acceptable use

You agree not to: break the law; commit fraud or money laundering; create multiple or fake identities; manipulate voting or the fund; infringe others’ rights; upload harmful or unlawful content; or interfere with the Service’s operation or security.

10. Transparency

Money into and out of the Community Fund — contributions, the platform fee, and each grant — is recorded on a public ledger. By using the Service you acknowledge that fund activity is public, though it is not tied to your personal identity on the public ledger.

11. Disclaimers

The Service is provided “as is” and “as available,” without warranties of any kind to the fullest extent permitted by law. We do not warrant that the Service will be uninterrupted, error-free, or secure, or that any business, application, or grant outcome will meet your expectations.

12. Limitation of liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Giolinko and its affiliates are not liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or lost profits or funds. Our aggregate liability for any claim is limited to the greater of [the fees you paid to us in the 12 months before the claim] or [$100]. Some jurisdictions do not allow certain limitations, so some of these may not apply to you.

13. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold Giolinko harmless from claims arising out of your use of the Service, your submissions, or your breach of these Terms.

14. Termination

You may stop using the Service at any time. We may suspend or terminate your access for breach of these Terms, legal or risk reasons, or as needed to protect the Service or the community. Certain provisions survive termination.

15. Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms. We will post the updated version with a new effective date and, where required, notify you. Continued use after changes take effect constitutes acceptance.

16. Governing law & disputes

These Terms are governed by the laws of [jurisdiction], without regard to conflict-of-laws rules. [Insert dispute-resolution / arbitration / venue provisions as advised by counsel.]

17. Contact

Questions about these Terms: [legal@giolinko.com]. [Legal Entity Name], [registered address].