Terms of Service

Effective Date: December 5, 2025

Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Welcome to One Million Small Startups Inc. ("we," "us," or "our"). We are a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization (EIN: 88-1253404) that operates an all-or-nothing event crowdfunding platform. By accessing or using our platform, you agree to these Terms of Service ("Terms").

Our nonprofit exists to support low-income founders as they fight poverty through entrepreneurship. We run mentorship circles, a startup launch program, and we are raising capital to open a network of low-cost office space and incubators. The event crowdfunding platform fuels those programs and helps other charities test interest, secure sponsors, and raise the money to host events before spending precious resources.

PLEASE READ THESE TERMS CAREFULLY. BY USING OUR PLATFORM, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THESE TERMS.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By creating an account, making a donation, purchasing tickets, or using any part of our platform, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy.

2. Eligibility

• You must be at least 18 years old to use our platform
• You must provide accurate and complete information
• You must comply with all applicable laws in your jurisdiction
• You may not use our platform if we have previously banned you

3. Account Registration

3.1 Account Creation

• You must create an account to make donations or purchase tickets
• You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your password
• You are responsible for all activities under your account
• You must notify us immediately of any unauthorized access

3.2 Account Types

• Supporters: Can donate to campaigns and purchase event tickets
• Organizers: Can create fundraising campaigns and host events (requires verification)

4. Platform Services

4.1 All-or-Nothing Funding Model

Our platform uses an all-or-nothing funding model:

• For Donations: Payment methods are authorized but not charged until the campaign reaches its goal
• For Ticket Purchases: Payment methods are saved but not charged until the event reaches its minimum ticket sales goal
• If Goal Not Met: No charges are made, and all reservations are cancelled
• If Goal Met: All payment methods are charged within 24-48 hours

4.2 Donations

• All donations are processed through our nonprofit (EIN: 88-1253404)
• Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law
• We provide IRS-compliant donation receipts via email
• Donations over $250 require substantiation for tax purposes
• We take a 5% platform fee to cover operational costs
• Stripe payment processing fees apply (~2.9% + $0.30)

4.3 Ticket Purchases

• Ticket purchases are reservations until the event reaches its funding goal
• You will only be charged if the event is fully funded
• If the event is not funded by the deadline, no charge is made
• Ticket sales are final once the event is funded
• Event organizers set refund policies for their events

5. Payment Processing

5.1 Payment Methods

• We use Stripe for secure payment processing
• You authorize us to save your payment method for future charges
• We do not store your credit card details on our servers
• You are responsible for maintaining valid payment information

5.2 Payment Authorization

• When you donate or reserve tickets, we authorize your payment method
• The authorization may appear as a pending charge on your account
• If the campaign/event is not funded, the authorization is released
• If the campaign/event is funded, we capture the authorized amount

5.3 Fees

• Platform Fee: 5% of total donation/ticket amount
• Payment Processing Fee: ~2.9% + $0.30 per transaction (charged by Stripe)
• All fees are clearly disclosed before you complete a transaction

5.4 Refunds

• Campaign/Event Not Funded: No charge is made, no refund needed
• Donation Refunds: Contact the event organizer; refunds are at their discretion
• Ticket Refunds: Subject to the event organizer's refund policy
• Platform Fee: Non-refundable once the campaign/event is funded
• Refund requests must be made within 30 days of the charge

6. Event Organizer Terms

6.1 Eligibility

To become an event organizer, you must:

• Provide accurate organization information
• Verify your Stripe Connect account
• Comply with all applicable laws and regulations
• Have the authority to bind the organization

6.2 Campaign/Event Creation

• You are responsible for the accuracy of all campaign/event information
• You must deliver on all promises made in your campaign/event description
• You must set realistic funding goals and deadlines
• You cannot create fraudulent or misleading campaigns

6.3 Payouts

• Payouts are processed via Stripe Connect
• Payouts occur within 7-14 days after campaign/event funding succeeds
• Platform fees and payment processing fees are deducted before payout
• You are responsible for all taxes on funds received

6.4 Compliance

• You must comply with all local, state, and federal laws
• You are responsible for obtaining necessary permits and licenses
• You must comply with tax reporting requirements
• You must handle donor/attendee data in compliance with privacy laws

7. Prohibited Conduct

You may not:

• Use the platform for illegal purposes
• Create fraudulent or misleading campaigns/events
• Impersonate another person or organization
• Upload malicious code or viruses
• Scrape or harvest user data
• Interfere with platform operation or security
• Use automated tools to access the platform (bots, scrapers)
• Sell, transfer, or sublicense your account
• Create multiple accounts to circumvent restrictions
• Post offensive, harassing, or discriminatory content

8. Intellectual Property

8.1 Our Rights

• We own all rights to the platform, including design, code, and trademarks
• You may not copy, modify, or create derivative works without permission
• "One Million Small Startups" and our logo are our trademarks

8.2 Your Content

• You retain ownership of content you post (campaign descriptions, images, etc.)
• You grant us a license to use, display, and distribute your content on our platform
• You represent that you have rights to all content you post
• You are responsible for ensuring your content does not infringe third-party rights

9. Privacy and Data Protection

Your privacy is important to us. Please review our Privacy Policy to understand how we collect, use, and protect your information.

10. Disclaimers and Limitations of Liability

10.1 Platform "As Is"

THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND. We do not warrant that:

• The platform will be uninterrupted or error-free
• Defects will be corrected
• The platform is free of viruses or harmful components
• Results from using the platform will be accurate or reliable

10.2 Third-Party Services

• We rely on third-party services (Stripe, Supabase, etc.)
• We are not responsible for third-party service failures
• You agree to comply with third-party terms of service

10.3 Campaign/Event Verification

• We do not verify the accuracy of campaign/event information
• We do not guarantee that organizers will fulfill their promises
• You donate or purchase tickets at your own risk
• Disputes with organizers must be resolved directly with them

10.4 Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, WE ARE NOT LIABLE FOR:

• Indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages
• Loss of profits, revenue, data, or business opportunities
• Damages exceeding the amount you paid to us in the past 12 months

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold us harmless from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses (including attorney fees) arising from:

• Your use of the platform
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any laws or third-party rights
• Content you post on the platform

12. Dispute Resolution

12.1 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to conflict of law principles.

12.2 Arbitration

Any disputes arising from these Terms will be resolved through binding arbitration, except for:

• Small claims court actions (under $10,000)
• Intellectual property disputes
• Injunctive relief requests

12.3 Class Action Waiver

YOU AGREE TO RESOLVE DISPUTES INDIVIDUALLY, NOT AS PART OF A CLASS ACTION.

13. Term and Termination

13.1 Term

• These Terms remain in effect while you use our platform
• Some provisions survive termination (liability, indemnification, dispute resolution)

13.2 Termination by You

• You can delete your account at any time
• Contact us at support@oms2.org to request deletion
• We must retain donation records for 7 years for IRS compliance

13.3 Termination by Us

We may suspend or terminate your account if:

• You violate these Terms
• You engage in fraudulent or illegal activity
• Your account has been inactive for 2+ years
• Required by law or regulatory authorities

14. Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by:

• Posting the new Terms with an updated "Last Updated" date
• Sending an email to your registered email address
• Displaying a prominent notice on our platform

Your continued use of our platform after changes indicates acceptance of the updated Terms.

15. Miscellaneous

15.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms, along with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and us.

15.2 Severability

If any provision is found invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in effect.

15.3 No Waiver

Our failure to enforce any provision does not waive our right to enforce it later.

15.4 Assignment

You cannot assign these Terms without our consent. We may assign these Terms to a successor organization.

15.5 Force Majeure

We are not liable for delays or failures due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control (natural disasters, pandemics, war, etc.).

16. Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns about these Terms, contact us: