Terms of Service
These Terms of Service ("Terms") constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("User," "you," or "your") and Shizune Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Shizune," "we," "us," or "our"). These Terms govern your access to and use of the Shizune platform, including our website, application, investor database, matching algorithm, and all related services (collectively, the "Service").
By creating an account, accessing, or using the Service, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms. If you are accepting these Terms on behalf of a company or other legal entity, you represent that you have the authority to bind that entity. If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not access or use the Service.
1. Definitions
- "Account" means the user account you create to access the Service.
- "Customer Data" means any information, content, or data you provide, upload, or submit through the Service, including startup profile information.
- "Subscription Plan" means the paid access tier you select, as described in Section 6.
- "Subscription Term" means the duration of your paid subscription (monthly or annual).
- "Investor Data" means the investor profiles, contact information, and related data made available through the Service.
2. Eligibility
2.1. You must be at least eighteen (18) years of age to use the Service.
2.2. You must have the legal capacity to enter into a binding contract in your jurisdiction.
2.3. You may not use the Service if you have previously been suspended or removed from the Service by Shizune.
3. Account Registration and Security
3.1. Account Creation. To access the Service, you must create an Account by providing a valid email address or by authenticating through a supported third-party provider (Google, Apple, or X/Twitter). During onboarding, you will also be asked to provide information about your startup, including industry, stage, and country.
3.2. Accuracy of Information. You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and to keep your Account information updated. Shizune reserves the right to suspend or terminate any Account that contains materially inaccurate or misleading information.
3.3. Account Security. You are solely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activity that occurs under your Account. You must notify Shizune immediately at hello@shizune.co if you become aware of any unauthorized use of your Account.
3.4. One Account Per User. Each individual may maintain only one Account. Creating multiple accounts to circumvent restrictions or abuse the Service is prohibited.
4. The Service
4.1. Description. Shizune provides a platform that helps startup founders discover and connect with potential investors. The Service includes a curated database of investor profiles, search and filtering tools, and a smart matching algorithm that suggests relevant investors based on your startup's profile.
4.2. No Guarantee of Outcomes. Shizune is a discovery and research tool. We do not guarantee that you will secure meetings, introductions, or funding from any investor listed on the platform. We are not a broker, financial advisor, or investment intermediary, and we do not participate in or facilitate any financial transactions between you and investors.
4.3. Accuracy of Investor Data. While we make reasonable efforts to maintain accurate and up-to-date Investor Data, we do not warrant the completeness, accuracy, or reliability of any investor profile, contact information, or investment criteria displayed on the platform. You should independently verify any information before relying on it.
4.4. Service Availability. We strive to keep the Service available at all times but do not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free operation. The Service may be temporarily unavailable due to maintenance, updates, or circumstances beyond our control.
4.5. Modifications to the Service. Shizune reserves the right to modify, update, or discontinue any feature or aspect of the Service at any time. If we make material changes that significantly reduce the functionality of a feature you are actively paying for, we will provide reasonable advance notice.
5. Free Trial
5.1. Shizune may offer a free trial period of one (1) day to new users. The trial provides access to the Service so you can evaluate its features before subscribing.
5.2. Unless you subscribe to a paid Subscription Plan before the trial expires, your access to premium features will be suspended at the end of the trial period.
5.3. Shizune reserves the right to modify, shorten, or discontinue the free trial offer at any time without prior notice.
5.4. Free trial eligibility is limited to one trial per user. Creating multiple accounts to obtain additional trials is a violation of these Terms.
6. Subscription Plans, Fees, and Payment
6.1. Plans and Pricing. Shizune offers the following Subscription Plans:
- Monthly Plan: $99 per month.
- Annual Plan: $299 per year (billed as a single payment).
6.2. Payment Processing. All payments are processed by our third-party payment processor, Paddle (Paddle.com Market Limited). By subscribing, you agree to Paddle's terms of service and authorize Paddle to charge your selected payment method for the applicable fees.
6.3. Billing Cycle. Monthly subscriptions are billed on a recurring monthly basis. Annual subscriptions are billed as a one-time payment at the beginning of the annual Subscription Term.
6.4. Automatic Renewal. Your subscription will automatically renew at the end of each Subscription Term unless you cancel before the renewal date. You may cancel auto-renewal at any time through your Account settings.
6.5. Price Changes. Shizune may adjust pricing at any time. Price changes for existing subscribers will take effect at the start of the next Subscription Term. We will notify you of any price increase at least thirty (30) days in advance via email.
6.6. Taxes. All fees are exclusive of applicable taxes, levies, or duties. You are responsible for paying any such taxes that may apply to your subscription. Paddle may collect applicable taxes on our behalf based on your location.
7. Refund Policy
7.1. Monthly Subscriptions. Monthly subscription fees are non-refundable. You may cancel your monthly subscription at any time, and you will retain access to the Service until the end of your current billing period.
7.2. Annual Subscriptions. If you cancel an annual subscription, you are entitled to a pro-rata refund for the unused portion of your annual Subscription Term. The refund will be calculated based on the number of full months remaining in the term at the time of cancellation.
7.3. Refund Process. All refund requests must be submitted by contacting us at hello@shizune.co. Approved refunds will be processed through Paddle and returned to your original payment method within a commercially reasonable timeframe.
8. License and Intellectual Property
8.1. License Grant. Subject to your compliance with these Terms and payment of applicable fees, Shizune grants you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicensable, revocable license to access and use the Service during your Subscription Term for your internal business purposes only.
8.2. Shizune IP. All right, title, and interest in and to the Service — including the software, algorithms, database structure, design, trademarks, and all related intellectual property — are and shall remain the exclusive property of Shizune Inc. These Terms do not grant you any ownership interest in the Service.
8.3. Customer Data Ownership. You retain all right, title, and interest in your Customer Data. By using the Service, you grant Shizune a limited, non-exclusive license to use, process, and store your Customer Data solely for the purposes of providing and improving the Service.
8.4. Feedback. If you provide suggestions, ideas, or feedback about the Service ("Feedback"), you agree that Shizune may freely use, implement, and incorporate such Feedback without any obligation or compensation to you.
9. Acceptable Use
9.1. You agree not to:
(a) Use the Service for any purpose that is unlawful, fraudulent, or harmful.
(b) Scrape, crawl, harvest, or extract Investor Data or any other data from the Service by automated means (including bots, scripts, or spiders) or in bulk.
(c) Copy, redistribute, sell, license, or otherwise make Investor Data available to any third party.
(d) Reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, or attempt to derive the source code, algorithms, or underlying structure of the Service.
(e) Interfere with or disrupt the integrity, security, or performance of the Service or its infrastructure.
(f) Impersonate any person or entity, or misrepresent your identity or affiliation.
(g) Use the Service to send unsolicited communications (spam) to investors or any other parties.
(h) Circumvent, disable, or tamper with any security, access control, or usage-limiting features of the Service.
(i) Use the Service in a way that violates the rights of any third party, including privacy and intellectual property rights.
9.2. Shizune reserves the right to investigate suspected violations and to suspend or terminate your Account without notice if a violation is confirmed.
10. Privacy and Data
10.1. Your use of the Service is also governed by our Privacy Policy. The Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, and protect your personal information, including data collected through Google Analytics and Amplitude.
10.2. By using the Service, you acknowledge and consent to the data practices described in our Privacy Policy.
11. Third-Party Services
11.1. The Service integrates with or relies on third-party services, including:
- Authentication providers: Google, Apple, and X/Twitter (for account login).
- Payment processing: Paddle.
- Analytics: Google Analytics and Amplitude.
11.2. Your use of these third-party services is subject to their respective terms and privacy policies. Shizune is not responsible for the availability, accuracy, or practices of any third-party service.
12. Disclaimer of Warranties
12.1. THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.
12.2. Shizune does not warrant that:
(a) The Service will be uninterrupted, timely, secure, or error-free.
(b) The Investor Data will be accurate, complete, or current.
(c) The results obtained from the Service (including investor matches) will meet your expectations or requirements.
(d) Any defects in the Service will be corrected.
12.3. You acknowledge that Shizune does not provide investment, legal, or financial advice, and that any decisions made based on information obtained through the Service are made at your own risk.
13. Limitation of Liability
13.1. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL SHIZUNE, ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, OR AFFILIATES BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF PROFITS, REVENUE, DATA, BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES, GOODWILL, OR ANTICIPATED SAVINGS, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THESE TERMS OR YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE, REGARDLESS OF THE THEORY OF LIABILITY (CONTRACT, TORT, NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE), EVEN IF SHIZUNE HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
13.2. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, SHIZUNE'S TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THESE TERMS OR THE SERVICE SHALL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE TOTAL FEES YOU PAID TO SHIZUNE DURING THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM, OR (B) ONE HUNDRED U.S. DOLLARS ($100).
13.3. The limitations in this section apply even if any limited remedy set forth in these Terms fails of its essential purpose.
14. Indemnification
14.1. You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Shizune Inc., its officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to:
(a) Your use or misuse of the Service.
(b) Your violation of these Terms.
(c) Your violation of any applicable law or regulation.
(d) Your infringement of any third-party rights.
(e) Any Customer Data you submit through the Service.
15. Term and Termination
15.1. Term. These Terms take effect when you first access or use the Service and remain in effect until terminated.
15.2. Termination by You. You may terminate your Account at any time by canceling your subscription through your Account settings and contacting us at hello@shizune.co. Cancellation of a monthly plan takes effect at the end of the current billing period. Cancellation of an annual plan is subject to the refund terms in Section 7.
15.3. Termination by Shizune. Shizune may suspend or terminate your Account and access to the Service at any time, with or without cause, upon notice to you. If we terminate your Account without cause, you will receive a pro-rata refund for any prepaid, unused portion of your Subscription Term.
15.4. Effect of Termination. Upon termination:
(a) Your license to use the Service immediately ends.
(b) You must cease all use of the Service.
(c) Shizune may delete your Customer Data within thirty (30) days after termination. You are responsible for exporting any data you wish to retain before termination.
15.5. Survival. Sections 8 (License and Intellectual Property), 12 (Disclaimer of Warranties), 13 (Limitation of Liability), 14 (Indemnification), 16 (Dispute Resolution), and 17 (General Provisions) shall survive any termination or expiration of these Terms.
16. Dispute Resolution
16.1. Governing Law. These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, United States, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.
16.2. Informal Resolution. Before filing any formal proceeding, you agree to first contact Shizune at hello@shizune.co and attempt to resolve the dispute informally for at least thirty (30) days.
16.3. Binding Arbitration. Any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Service that cannot be resolved informally shall be resolved by binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") under its Commercial Arbitration Rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in the State of Delaware. The arbitrator's decision shall be final and binding and may be entered as a judgment in any court of competent jurisdiction.
16.4. Class Action Waiver. YOU AND SHIZUNE AGREE THAT EACH MAY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST THE OTHER ONLY IN YOUR OR ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY CLASS, CONSOLIDATED, OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING.
16.5. Opt-Out. You may opt out of the arbitration and class action waiver provisions by sending written notice to hello@shizune.co within thirty (30) days of first accepting these Terms. The notice must include your name, Account email, and a clear statement that you wish to opt out.
16.6. Exceptions. Either party may seek injunctive or other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction to prevent the actual or threatened infringement or misappropriation of intellectual property rights.
17. General Provisions
17.1. Changes to These Terms. Shizune reserves the right to update or modify these Terms at any time. If we make material changes, we will notify you by email or by posting a prominent notice on the Service at least thirty (30) days before the changes take effect. Your continued use of the Service after the effective date of any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms. If you do not agree with the changes, you must stop using the Service and cancel your Account.
17.2. Entire Agreement. These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Shizune regarding the Service and supersede all prior agreements, understandings, and communications, whether written or oral.
17.3. Severability. If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, that provision will be enforced to the maximum extent permissible, and the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.
17.4. Waiver. The failure of Shizune to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.
17.5. Assignment. You may not assign or transfer your rights or obligations under these Terms without Shizune's prior written consent. Shizune may assign its rights and obligations under these Terms without restriction, including in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets.
17.6. No Third-Party Beneficiaries. These Terms are for the benefit of you and Shizune only. No third party shall have any right to enforce these Terms.
17.7. Force Majeure. Shizune shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performing its obligations under these Terms to the extent that such failure or delay results from events beyond its reasonable control, including natural disasters, acts of government, internet or infrastructure outages, pandemics, wars, or labor disputes.
17.8. Notices. All notices to Shizune must be sent to hello@shizune.co. Notices to you will be sent to the email address associated with your Account. Notices are deemed received when sent by email.
17.9. Headings. Section headings are for convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation of these Terms.
18. Contact Us
If you have questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us at:
Shizune Inc.
Email: hello@shizune.co
By using Shizune, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service.