Terms & Conditions

1. Acceptance of terms

Forja is a product of Design Glyphe LLC. By accessing or using the Forja website at enterforja.com, registering your interest in the Forja Design, Build and Release Contest, submitting an application, signing a Participant Agreement, or attending any competition event (virtual or physical), you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. These terms are issued by Design Glyphe LLC and apply to all visitors, registrants, applicants, contestants, judges, mentors, sponsors, partners, and other participants. If you do not agree with any part of these terms, you should not use this website or participate in the competition.

These Terms and Conditions should be read alongside the Competition Rules, the Privacy Policy, the Code of Conduct, and the Disclaimer, all of which form part of the overall legal framework governing your use of this website and participation in Forja.

2. Definitions

In these Terms and Conditions, the following definitions apply:

• "Forja" means the Design, Build and Release Contest, a product operated by Design Glyphe LLC.
• "Design Glyphe LLC" (also referred to as "we", "us", or "our") means the company registered as Design Glyphe LLC that organises and operates Forja.
• "Contestant" means a startup (and its founding team) accepted into the competition.
• "Applicant" means any person or startup that submits an application to participate.
• "Participant" means any person involved in the competition, including contestants, judges, mentors, sponsors, partners, and staff.
• "Stage One" means the 4-week virtual qualification round.
• "Stage Two" means the 12-week hybrid live competition.
• "Boardroom" means the formal elimination session held during Stage Two.
• "Judging Panel" means the group of internal and external judges responsible for evaluating contestants.
• "Integrity Quotient" or "IQ" means the ethical scoring framework measuring five dimensions (Truthful Marketing, Quality Delivery, Transparent Pricing, Ethical Sourcing, Customer Communication) on a 1-10 scale.
• "SAFE" means a Simple Agreement for Future Equity, the investment instrument used for prize disbursement.
• "Participant Agreement" means the set of legal documents that must be signed before participation, as described in Section 10.
• "Paying customer" means an independent third party (excluding any family member, friend, affiliate, or co-founder of the contestant) who has paid a real invoiced amount for a product or service delivered. During judging and winner selection, Forja leadership and investors evaluate contestants against a minimum commercial viability standard of $1,500 USD in verified revenue from at least 2 independent paying customers — this may be one transaction of $1,500+, multiple transactions totalling $1,500+ (e.g., two $750 sales of a physical product), or part payment on a larger $15K–$25K project. Cash transactions without invoices are not accepted, and any transaction from a connected party is disqualified regardless of amount. This standard is applied when selecting who advances and who wins — not as a requirement to apply or participate.

3. Competition overview

Forja is a skills-based startup competition for the Home Improvement sector. It is not a lottery, sweepstakes, or game of chance. No purchase is necessary to enter. Prizes are awarded solely on the basis of demonstrated execution and measurable results. The competition runs for 16 weeks in total: a 4-week virtual Stage One followed by a 12-week hybrid live Stage Two.

Full details of the competition structure, stages, scoring, eligibility, and prizes are set out in the Competition Rules. In the event of a conflict between these Terms and Conditions and the Competition Rules, these Terms and Conditions shall prevail unless the Competition Rules explicitly state otherwise.

4. Eligibility

Participation in Forja is open to startups globally, subject to the eligibility criteria published on the Eligibility page and in the Competition Rules. Design Glyphe LLC reserves the right to verify eligibility at any stage of the competition. Any misrepresentation of eligibility information, including false claims about paying customers, business stage, team composition, or Integrity Quotient scores, will result in immediate disqualification and forfeiture of any prizes or benefits received.

The Integrity Quotient minimum of 7.0 is an eligibility requirement, not a target. Participants who fall below this threshold during the competition may be reviewed for disqualification at the discretion of the Judging Panel.

5. User obligations

You agree not to use this website or the Forja competition to:

• Submit false, misleading, or fraudulent information in any form
• Impersonate another person, business, or entity
• Attempt to gain unfair advantage through deception, collusion, or manipulation
• Interfere with or disrupt the operation of this website or competition processes
• Violate any applicable law, regulation, or third-party right
• Breach the Code of Conduct
• Share confidential information obtained through the competition with unauthorised parties
• Use competition access, tools, or resources for purposes unrelated to the competition

All participants are required to execute the applicable Participant Agreement before competition entry. Participation is contingent upon compliance with these Terms, the Competition Rules, the Code of Conduct, and all signed agreements. Violation of these obligations may result in disqualification, account termination, and legal action where appropriate.

6. Intellectual property

6a. Website content

All content on this website, including text, images, illustrations, logos, design assets, icons, and structural elements, is the property of Design Glyphe LLC or its licensors. You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, or create derivative works from this content without prior written permission from Design Glyphe LLC.

6b. Contestant intellectual property

All intellectual property created by contestants before and during the competition remains the full property of the founding team. Design Glyphe LLC makes no claim on contestant innovations, products, services, or business methods by virtue of participation.

Before entering, contestants must disclose any pre-existing intellectual property relevant to their competition entry and confirm they have the legal right to commercialise it. During the competition, contestants retain full ownership of everything they create. After the competition, winners retain full IP ownership. Investors gain only the rights defined in signed equity agreements (SAFE or convertible note). Design Glyphe LLC may showcase winning startups as case studies with attribution but cannot commercialise contestant intellectual property.

6c. Media rights exception

The sole exception to contestant IP retention is media content. Design Glyphe LLC retains perpetual rights to all video, audio, images, and other media content produced during the competition. Contestants grant a perpetual licence for the use of their likeness, startup name, and competition footage in promotional, broadcast, and archival materials. Full media rights terms are described in Section 8 below.

7. Confidentiality and non-disclosure

All contestants are required to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before entering Stage One. The NDA covers business information shared during the competition, proprietary methods, financial data, and personal disclosures made in the competition environment.

Judges and mentors sign separate NDAs. They may not share, publish, or act on contestant innovations, business plans, or confidential information outside the scope of their competition role. Members of the Investor Panel must recuse themselves from investment decisions if they have received confidential information during the competition that creates a conflict of interest.

Sponsors and partners sign confidentiality agreements that specifically prohibit the use of competition access for competitive intelligence purposes. Sponsors may not access contestant proprietary methods, financials, or intellectual property.

The full NDA is a separate signed document provided before competition entry. This section describes the obligation. Breach of confidentiality obligations may result in immediate disqualification and legal action.

8. Media and likeness rights

By entering the competition, contestants sign a media release agreement granting Design Glyphe LLC the following rights:

• The right to capture and distribute video, audio, images, and other media content featuring the contestant and their team
• The right to use the contestant's name, likeness, and startup branding in marketing, broadcast, and promotional materials
• Global broadcast rights, in perpetuity, across all media platforms and formats
• Editorial rights to edit, produce, and adapt content for storytelling, documentation, and promotional purposes

Contestants may not demand editorial approval of final media content. Contestants may request a review of content they believe materially misrepresents their character. Approval of any changes remains at the sole discretion of Design Glyphe LLC.

The media release agreement is a separate signed document provided before Stage Two entry. All Stage Two contestants must have an executed media release agreement on file.

9. Prize disbursement conditions

Prize payments are made via SAFE agreements and are subject to the execution of formal investment documentation between the prize recipient and Design Glyphe LLC. The $250,000 total prize pool is distributed as follows: 1st place receives $150,000, 2nd place receives $65,000, and 3rd place receives $35,000. Equity percentages tiered by placement (1st: 10–12%, 2nd: 13–15%, 3rd: 15–18%) and vesting schedules of 4 years with a 1-year cliff apply as confirmed in the Competition Rules.

Prize funds are disbursed in three tranches: 40% upon execution of the investment agreement, 30% upon achievement of the first post-competition milestone, and 30% upon achievement of the second milestone. Milestones are defined in the individual investment agreement.

Disbursement is contingent upon successful completion of due diligence. An Integrity Quotient score of 7.5 or above is required for funding eligibility. Design Glyphe LLC reserves the right to withhold or reclaim prize funds in cases of fraud, misrepresentation, or material breach of competition rules. Winners are solely responsible for all taxes arising from prize receipt, as described in Section 7 of the Competition Rules.

10. Participant agreements

Entry into the competition is contingent upon the execution of all required legal agreements. These are separate signed documents, distinct from these Terms and Conditions. The specific agreements required depend on the participant's role (contestant, judge, mentor, sponsor, or partner).

Contestant agreements cover: eligibility confirmation, Code of Conduct acknowledgment, IP and confidentiality terms, media release, liability waiver, compliance commitment, data privacy consent, and funding terms (if applicable). Judge and mentor agreements cover: conflict of interest declaration, NDA, Code of Conduct, and media participation. Sponsor and partner agreements cover: sponsorship terms, non-interference, confidentiality, and brand alignment standards.

Full agreement documents will be provided to registered participants before competition commencement. Failure to execute the required agreements by the specified deadline will result in forfeiture of the participant's place. For the complete list, see Section 13 of the Competition Rules.

11. Limitation of liability

11a. Design Glyphe LLC is not liable for:

• Contestant business failure before, during, or after the competition
• Customer disputes arising from contestant businesses
• Intellectual property disputes between contestants and third parties
• Personal injury, except where caused by gross negligence or willful misconduct by Design Glyphe LLC staff
• Any indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or punitive damages arising from your use of this website or participation in the competition
• Loss of profits, revenue, data, or business opportunities

11b. Design Glyphe LLC is liable for:

• Gross negligence or willful misconduct by its staff, judges, or mentors acting in their official capacity
• Breach of confidentiality obligations by Design Glyphe LLC representatives
• Failure to disburse promised prize funding to winners who have passed due diligence and executed all required agreements

11c. Contestant liability

Contestants are solely liable for the accuracy of all information submitted, all customer obligations and service or product delivery, any intellectual property violations or infringement, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations in their jurisdiction.

This website and all related services are provided on an as-is basis. Design Glyphe LLC makes no warranties, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, or fitness for purpose of any information on this site. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, the total aggregate liability of Design Glyphe LLC shall not exceed the value of the prize awarded to the claimant, or $1,000, whichever is greater.

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Design Glyphe LLC, its officers, directors, employees, agents, and affiliates from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or relating to:

• Inaccurate, false, or misleading information submitted in your application or during the competition
• Intellectual property violations or infringement claims related to your products, services, or business methods
• Customer disputes, complaints, or claims arising from your business operations
• Your failure to comply with applicable laws, regulations, licensing requirements, or safety standards
• Your breach of these Terms, the Competition Rules, the Code of Conduct, or any signed Participant Agreement
• Any third-party claim arising from your acts or omissions during the competition

This indemnification obligation survives your participation in the competition and the termination of these Terms.

13. Dispute resolution

Any dispute, claim, or controversy arising from or relating to these Terms, the Competition Rules, the Code of Conduct, or your participation in the competition shall be resolved through the following three-step process:

Step 1: Direct resolution

The parties shall first attempt to resolve the dispute directly through good-faith negotiation. Either party may initiate this step by providing written notice of the dispute to the other party. The parties shall have 14 days from the date of notice to reach a resolution.

Step 2: Mediation

If direct resolution fails, the dispute shall be submitted to mediation facilitated by a member of the Advisory Board or a mutually agreed neutral third party. Mediation shall be conducted in good faith within 30 days of the request. Each party bears its own costs of mediation, and the mediator's fees are shared equally.

Step 3: Binding arbitration

If mediation fails, the dispute shall be submitted to binding arbitration. Arbitration shall be conducted by a single arbitrator under rules agreed upon by the parties at the time. The arbitrator's decision shall be final and enforceable in any court of competent jurisdiction. Each party bears its own legal costs unless the arbitrator determines otherwise.

The jurisdiction for dispute resolution will be specified in the signed Participant Agreements. Until such time as the jurisdiction is confirmed, disputes shall be governed by the laws applicable to Design Glyphe LLC's place of registration.

14. Force majeure

Neither Design Glyphe LLC nor any participant shall be liable for failure to perform any obligation under these Terms where such failure results from circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the affected party. Force majeure events include, without limitation: natural disasters, pandemics, government actions or restrictions, war, terrorism, civil unrest, infrastructure failures, power outages, and internet service disruptions.

In the event of force majeure, Design Glyphe LLC reserves the right to postpone, modify, or cancel any aspect of the competition, including specific deadlines, Stage Two scheduling, venue arrangements, or the competition in its entirety. Design Glyphe LLC will make reasonable efforts to notify affected participants promptly and to resume operations as soon as practicable. No compensation or liability arises from modifications made in response to force majeure events.

15. Governing law

These Terms and Conditions are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction in which Design Glyphe LLC is registered. Any disputes arising from these Terms or your participation in Forja shall be subject to the jurisdiction specified in the dispute resolution process described in Section 13.

The host country legal jurisdiction for Stage Two operations is currently under review and will be confirmed before competition commencement. Signed Participant Agreements may specify a different governing law from these general Terms, in which case the governing law in the signed agreement shall take precedence for matters covered by that agreement.

16. Severability

If any provision of these Terms and Conditions is found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction or arbitrator, that provision shall be severed from these Terms to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect. Where possible, the invalid provision shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with the original intent.

17. Waiver

The failure of Design Glyphe LLC to enforce any provision of these Terms at any time does not constitute a waiver of that provision or of the right to enforce it at a later date. A waiver of any provision shall be effective only if made in writing and signed by an authorised representative of Design Glyphe LLC. No waiver of any provision shall be deemed a waiver of any other provision or of the same provision on a future occasion.

18. Changes to these terms

Design Glyphe LLC reserves the right to modify these Terms and Conditions at any time. Significant changes will be communicated to registered users via email. Continued use of this website after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated terms. The date at the top of this page reflects when these terms were last revised.

19. Contact

If you have questions about these Terms and Conditions, need to send a dispute notice, or need to contact the Forja legal team about any formal legal matter, please email legal@contact.enterforja.com or by writing to the address registered with our incorporation documents. We will respond to all written enquiries within 10 business days.