1. Introduction
Welcome to Shiva. These Terms of Service ("Agreement") govern your participation in the Shiva ecosystem, including our online platforms, physical collaborative spaces, and mentorship programs. By applying for or participating in the Shiva community, you agree to be bound by these terms.
Shiva is more than a platform; it is a high-performance environment designed for AI entrepreneurs. This agreement ensures that all members operate with the same baseline of integrity and ambition.
2. Eligibility
Participation in Shiva is strictly curated. To be eligible, you must:
- Be a founder or core executive of an AI-centric startup or project.
- Demonstrate "high-growth potential," defined by technical feasibility and market scalability.
- Possess the legal capacity to enter into binding contracts in your jurisdiction.
- Maintain a professional standing within the tech community.
Environment
The Shiva Research Lab
3. Community Participation
Membership in Shiva begins with a mandatory 3-month testing period. During this phase, your engagement, technical progress, and collaborative spirit are evaluated.
Mentorship Conduct: Mentors at Shiva provide high-value, proprietary insights. Members must respect the time and boundaries of mentors. Harassment, unprofessional conduct, or persistent unresponsiveness are grounds for immediate review.
Collaboration: We encourage "obstinate ambition." However, collaboration must be consensual. Members are prohibited from "talent poaching" within the network without explicit permission from the original project lead.
4. Intellectual Property
Founder Ownership: Shiva firmly believes in founder autonomy. You retain 100% ownership of any prototypes, codebases, or business models you bring into or develop within the community, unless a separate investment agreement is signed.
Shiva Resources: Shiva provides access to proprietary datasets, AI models, and internal frameworks. These remain the sole property of Shiva. Use of these resources is granted via a non-transferable license that terminates upon exit from the community.
5. Investment Process
Successful completion of the 3-month testing phase does not guarantee investment. However, high-performing startups will be invited to the "Runway Phase," which involves:
- Financial audit and technical due diligence.
- A structured term sheet presentation for seed or bridge funding.
- Access to Shiva's "Deep Runway" network of secondary VCs and partners.
6. Confidentiality
The Shiva network operates on a "Circle of Trust" basis. You will likely be exposed to sensitive, pre-market technical data from other startups. You agree to:
- Maintain strict confidentiality regarding the internal operations of peer startups.
- Not use, disclose, or distribute any non-public information obtained through Shiva for personal gain or competitive advantage.
- Notify Shiva immediately if you suspect a breach of confidentiality within your team.
7. Termination
Either party may terminate this agreement at any time. Shiva reserves the right to remove members who fail to meet the "performance and participation" standards of the community.
Upon termination, your access to Shiva's private digital hubs and physical labs will be revoked within 24 hours. Confidentiality obligations survive the termination of this agreement indefinitely.