Terms & Conditions

Last Updated: November 2025
Parent Company: K1NDRED, Incorporated
Contact Email: support@thefounderspool.com
Website: www.thefounderspool.com

These Terms of Use (these “Terms”) are a binding legal agreement between you (“you,” “your,” or “Member”) and K1NDRED, Incorporated (doing business as The Founders’ Pool, “K1NDRED,” “we,” “us,” or “our”). They govern your access to and use of The Founders’ Pool platform, services, membership, rewards, pooled funding, and related offerings (collectively, the “Services”).

By accessing or using the Services (in whole or part), you agree to these Terms and our Privacy Policy (as amended from time to time). If you do not agree, you may not access or use the Services.

1. Definitions & Interpretation

1.1 Definitions. In these Terms, unless the context otherwise requires, the following words have the following meanings:

“Account” means your membership account on the Platform.
“Award” or “Grant” means any non-dilutive funding, prize, reward, or benefit disbursed from the Pool to a selected Member under the rules of the program.
“Authorized User” means any individual authorized by you to access or use the Services on your behalf.
“Contribution” means a monetary payment or deposit made by Members into the pooled fund.
“Data” means all personal, account, business, transactional, and usage data you provide or generate through the Services.
“Eligible Activity” means the set of business actions, expenditures, or behaviors that qualify for earning points or other metrics under the rewards system.
“Member” means a person or business entity that has successfully registered, been approved, and currently holds a membership under these Terms.
“Platform” or “Website” means the software, web interfaces, mobile interfaces, APIs, and any underlying systems used to deliver the Services (www.thefounderspool.com and associated pages).
“Points” means the internal unit of measurement or score that Members accrue by performing Eligible Activity, used to evaluate or prioritize Award selection.
“Pool” means the collective fund composed of Member Contributions, which is managed and allocated under the rules described herein.
“Proprietary Algorithm” means the AI, statistical, or machine-learning model(s) and rules by which awards, allocations, or rankings are determined.
“you / your / Member” means the individual or business entity who accesses or uses the Services, registers for a membership, or receives an Award.

1.2 Interpretation. Headings are for convenience and do not affect interpretation. Plural includes singular and vice versa. Unless otherwise indicated, references to “in writing” include electronic writing and notices delivered through the Platform.

2. Eligibility & Approval

2.1 Eligibility Criteria. To register and maintain membership, you must:

Be at least 18 years old (or the legal age in your jurisdiction);
Be a legally formed business entity (e.g., LLC, C-corp, S-corp, or sole proprietor) in the U.S.;
Have or maintain a valid U.S. bank account in good standing that you own or control;
Provide truthful, current, accurate, and complete information during registration and keep that information up to date;
Pass identity, background, compliance, and fraud screening as required by K1NDRED or its third-party providers.

2.2 Approval & Rejection.
Registration is subject to approval at K1NDRED’s discretion. We may reject any application without providing a reason. We may also suspend, restrict, or terminate your membership at any time if you fail or no longer satisfy eligibility, or violate these Terms or applicable law.

2.3 Business Purpose Only.
You agree to use the Services only for bona fide business or operational purposes. You may not use the Services for personal, family, or household use.

3. Membership, Fees & Billing

3.1 Membership Fee & Payment.
Your membership involves a recurring fee (e.g. $25/month) (or other amount as posted), paid via your linked bank account (ACH or other supported method). The fee covers administrative, technical, and operational costs, and grants you access to certain features, educational resources, workshops, and participation in the rewards/funding pool.

3.2 Authorization to Debit.
You hereby authorize K1NDRED (or its payment processors) to debit your linked bank account for all amounts owed under these Terms, including membership fees, applicable penalties, and other charges. We may initiate such debits at any time, including in advance or on the due date, subject to applicable law.

3.3 Fee Changes.
We may modify membership or program fees upon notice (via email and/or posting). If a fee increase materially affects your rights or obligations, we will provide at least 30 days’ notice before it takes effect. Your continued use of the Services after the change constitutes your acceptance.

3.4 Refunds & Cancellation.
You may cancel your membership at any time through your account interface. Cancellation is effective at the end of your current billing cycle. We do not issue refunds for past or partial periods, except where required by law.

3.5 Outstanding Obligations.
Upon cancellation or termination, you remain liable for all amounts that became due prior to cancellation or termination, including fees, penalties, and any award reversals (if applicable).

4. Member Contributions & Fund Pooling

4.1 Contribution Mechanics.
As a Member, you will make regular Contributions into the Pool in accordance with the schedule and method specified in your account. Contributions may be collected via ACH or other supported bank connectivity (e.g., via Stripe).

4.2 Custodial Account & Ledger.
Contributions are aggregated into a custodial account held in trust (or under K1NDRED’s designated account). We maintain an internal ledger to track each Member’s contribution history, eligibility, point accrual, and award allocation metrics.

4.3 Pool Nature & Risk Acknowledgment.
You acknowledge and accept that Contributions into the Pool:

Are not deposits, investments, or insured accounts (e.g., not FDIC-insured);
Do not guarantee any right to withdrawal or return;
Are subject to the rules of award allocation and funding decisions;
May be used (in whole or part) to fund Awards to other Members, per the program’s rules.

4.4 No Individual Ownership or Equity.
Your participation in the Pool does not create any individual ownership interest in any assets or funds, nor rights to claim a pro rata share of the Pool. Rather, your contributions are pooled for collective use under the framework of the Membership’s funding program.

5. Awards, Points, & Rewards Programs

5.1 Points Accrual & Eligible Activity.
Members accrue Points by engaging in Eligible Activity, which may include:

Making purchases via linked or approved financial accounts or platforms;
Meeting minimum spend thresholds;
Attending workshops or community events;
Referring other Members;
Other behaviors or metrics as defined by K1NDRED (which may change over time).

K1NDRED reserves the right to define, modify, or remove Eligible Activities, point multipliers, caps, or earning rules at its discretion, with notice.

5.2 Award (“Grant”) Eligibility & Selection.
From time to time, K1NDRED may run funding rounds, Awards, or programs under which Members may receive a Grant from the Pool. Selection will be based on criteria including (but not limited to):

Points accrued;
Contribution and membership history;
Business financials, revenue traction, or metrics (if submitted);
Algorithmic scoring from the Proprietary Algorithm;
Qualitative review or verification (if applicable);
Meeting any eligibility thresholds or prerequisites.

5.3 No Guarantee of Award.
Membership, accumulation of Points, or even satisfying certain thresholds does not guarantee selection or receipt of any Award. All Awards remain at the discretion of K1NDRED under the program rules.

5.4 Disbursement.
If selected, Award funds will be disbursed from the Pool to your linked bank account (via ACH or other supported method). Disbursements will follow the Program’s timelines and verification procedures, including any identity verification or required documentation.

5.5 Use of Award Funds.
You may use Award funds at your discretion for your business operations, subject to any terms or limitations set forth in the specific grant agreement or program rules (e.g., you may be required to report use or return unspent funds).

5.6 Rewards & Non-Financial Benefits.
In addition to grants, K1NDRED may offer non-financial rewards, such as:

Software or service credits;
Marketing or PR campaigns;
Expert mentorship sessions;
Discounted tools or access;
Other promotions or perks.

K1NDRED reserves the right to change or terminate such programs at any time.

6. Proprietary Algorithm, Data Use & Transparency

6.1 Use of Algorithm & Scoring.
The selection process for Awards is driven in whole or in part by K1NDRED’s Proprietary Algorithm, which considers Member data, Points, contribution history, business metrics, and other factors to rank or score Member eligibility. Use of the algorithm helps reduce manual bias and standardize selection.

6.2 Consent to Data Use.
By agreeing to these Terms, you consent to the collection, use, processing, and storage of your Data (including transactional, financial, business, usage, and behavioral data) for purposes of operating the Platform, scoring Members, verifying eligibility, detecting fraud, personalizing features, and other operational needs.

6.3 Third-Party Data Providers & Tools.
We may access or use third-party services (e.g. Stripe) to connect to your bank accounts or retrieve financial data. You grant necessary authorizations for such access.

6.4 Algorithmic Adjustments & Updates.
We reserve the right to update, retrain, modify, or substitute components of the algorithm, scoring criteria, weightings, or ranking rules. If changes materially affect your standing or likelihood of an Award, we will endeavor to provide notice but are not obligated to guarantee retroactive consistency.

6.5 Transparency & Disputes.
While the full internals of the algorithm are proprietary, we may provide you with your point totals, ranking feedback, or eligibility status. You may contest or inquire about score outcomes via our support process, but K1NDRED retains the final discretion on algorithmic decisions.

7. Banking, Stripe & Financial Connectivity

7.1 Use of Stripe (or Similar Service).
We employ Stripe (or a similar financial API provider) to connect to your bank accounts securely, verify account ownership, initiate or retrieve transactions, and move funds (ACH transfers) as needed.

7.2 Authorization.
You authorize Stripe (or a similar financial API provider) and its financial data partners to access and transmit account balances, transaction history, account metadata, and other information required to facilitate Contributions, disbursements, and eligibility calculations.

7.3 Verification & Holds.
We may place verification holds, micro-deposits, or temporary holds on transactions to confirm your account. If your linked account becomes invalid, closed, or otherwise nonfunctional, we may suspend your membership or limit Services until resolved.

8. Member Obligations, Prohibited Conduct & Compliance

8.1 Your Commitments.
You agree to:

Maintain accurate and up-to-date information (business, contact, bank, etc.);
Use the Services only lawfully and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations;
Provide necessary documentation or verification upon request;
Not to manipulate or attempt to fraudulently game the points or award systems;
Not to share your login credentials or permit unauthorized access;
Not to reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, or derive the logic of the algorithm, code, or Platform;
Not to use the Services for money laundering, terrorist financing, prohibited commercial activity, or in violation of sanctions laws.

8.2 Prohibited Activities.
We may immediately suspend or terminate your account if we reasonably believe you:

Provide false or fraudulent data;
Use bots, scripts, or automation to generate Points;
Facilitate privacy or security breaches;
Assist others in violations;
Engage in any activity harmful to K1NDRED’s systems, reputation, or other Members.

8.3 Reporting Misconduct.
You should promptly report suspected fraud, security incidents, unauthorized access, or violations via our designated support channels.

9. Intellectual Property

9.1 Ownership.
All content, technology, software, algorithms, designs, trademarks, trade names, documentation, interfaces, artwork, and other materials used in or comprising the Services (“K1NDRED IP”) are owned exclusively by K1NDRED or its licensors.

9.2 License to Members.
Subject to these Terms, we grant you a limited, nonexclusive, revocable license to access and use the Services strictly in accordance with these Terms and solely for your internal business use.

9.3 Restrictions.
You may not:

Copy, reproduce, distribute, rent, sublicense, or otherwise exploit K1NDRED IP beyond permitted use;
Modify, adapt, translate, or create derivative works;
Reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, or otherwise attempt to derive source code or underlying structure;
Use K1NDRED trademarks or branding without prior written permission.

9.4 Feedback.
If you provide suggestions, improvements, or feedback about the Services (“Feedback”), you grant K1NDRED a worldwide, royalty-free, irrevocable license to use, implement, reproduce, modify, distribute, and otherwise exploit the Feedback in any way.

10. Disclaimers & Limitation of Liability

10.1 “As Is” Services.
THE SERVICES, PLATFORM, AND ALL COMPONENTS ARE PROVIDED “AS IS,” WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY, OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT.

10.2 No Guarantee of Functionality, Uptime, or Results.
We do not guarantee that the Services will always be error-free, uninterrupted, or secure, or that any particular Member will receive an Award or any specific outcome.

10.3 Limitation of Liability.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, K1NDRED (and its officers, directors, employees, affiliates, agents, and service providers) will not be liable to you or any third party for:

Any indirect, incidental, special, punitive, or consequential damages (including lost profits, business interruption, or reputational harm);
Any damages resulting from lost data, loss of opportunity, or reliance on information;
Any claim arising from your use or inability to use the Services, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.

In no event shall K1NDRED’s total aggregate liability under these Terms exceed the total membership fees you paid in the 12 months preceding the claim.

10.4 Caps & Adjustments.
If applicable law prohibits or limits any portion of this liability limitation, that portion shall be deemed modified to the maximum permissible limit, and the remaining terms shall remain in effect.

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless K1NDRED, its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, partners, and agents from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and court costs) arising out of or relating to:

Your violation of these Terms;
Your use or misuse of the Services;
Any content you submit or transmit;
Your breach of representations, warranties, or obligations hereunder;
Your violation of any laws, rights of third parties, or regulations.

We reserve the right, at our own expense, to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter otherwise subject to indemnification by you.

12. Dispute Resolution, Governing Law & Arbitration

12.1 Governing Law.
These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware (without regard to conflict of laws).

12.2 Arbitration & Waiver of Class Actions.
Any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Services shall be resolved by binding arbitration in English, administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) under its Commercial Arbitration Rules, before a single arbitrator. Arbitration shall take place in Wilmington, Delaware, or such other location as the parties may agree. Judgment on the award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction.

You and K1NDRED each waive the right to a jury trial and to participate in class, collective, or representative actions, unless prohibited by law.

12.3 Exceptions & Injunctive Relief.
Notwithstanding the above, K1NDRED may seek injunctive or equitable relief in a court of competent jurisdiction to prevent or remedy intellectual property infringement, misuse of proprietary materials, or breaches of confidentiality and non-competition.

12.4 Severability & Survival.
If any provision of these Terms is held invalid or unenforceable, it shall be severed or limited to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect. Provisions intended to survive termination (e.g. Intellectual Property, Indemnification, Disclaimers, Limitation of Liability) shall so survive.

13. Term & Termination

13.1 Term.
These Terms begin when you accept them (e.g. by clicking “I Agree” or registering) and remain in effect as long as you are a Member (unless earlier terminated).

13.2 Termination by You.
You may terminate your membership and these Terms at any time via the account interface. Termination is effective at the end of your current billing period unless otherwise specified.

13.3 Termination by K1NDRED.
We may suspend, restrict, or terminate your account (and/or your access to the Services) at any time, with or without cause, including for violations of these Terms, nonpayment, fraud, suspected abuse, or inactivity. In some cases, we may provide notice; in other cases, we may suspend immediately.

13.4 Effects of Termination.
Upon termination:

Your right to access or use the Services ceases immediately;
We may disable or delete your account data (after a grace period as required by law);
You remain liable for any outstanding obligations, including fees or clawback of improperly awarded funds;
Sections that by their nature should survive (e.g., ownership, indemnification, liability, arbitration) will continue in effect.

14. Notices & Communications

14.1 Methods of Notice.
We may provide notices to you via email (to your registered address), via in-app or dashboard messages, or by posting on the Platform. Notice is considered effective when delivered (for email) or posted.

14.2 Your Communications.
You agree to receive communications electronically. You may be required to maintain a valid email address and monitor communications.

15. Changes to Terms & Updates

We may update these Terms at any time. If changes materially reduce your rights or increase your obligations, we will endeavor to provide you with at least 30 days’ advance notice (e.g., via email or dashboard). Your continued use of the Services after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms. If you disagree with the changes, you may terminate your membership before they become effective.

16. Miscellaneous Provisions

16.1 Assignment.
You may not assign or transfer your rights or obligations under these Terms (by operation of law or otherwise) without our prior written consent. We may freely assign, delegate, or transfer these Terms (in whole or part) and our rights or obligations without consent.

16.2 Entire Agreement.
These Terms, the Privacy Policy, all program rules, policies, and notices incorporated by reference, constitute the entire agreement between you and K1NDRED concerning the subject matter herein, superseding all prior or contemporaneous agreements, proposals, or communications, whether electronic, oral, or written.

16.3 No Waiver.
Our failure or delay to enforce any right or provision under these Terms does not constitute a waiver of that right. Any waiver must be explicit and in writing.

16.4 Force Majeure.
Neither party will be liable for delay or failure in performance due to events beyond its reasonable control (natural disasters, strikes, pandemics, governmental acts, etc.), provided the affected party uses reasonable efforts to mitigate the impact.

16.5 Interpretation Against Drafter.
In the event of ambiguity, these Terms shall not be construed against the drafter.