These Volunteer Participation Terms apply to individuals contributing their time and skills to IgniteAI on an unpaid basis (“Volunteers”).

By agreeing to volunteer within the Programme, you accept the following terms.

1. Nature of Volunteer Engagement

1.1 Volunteers contribute time, skills, and support to IgniteAI activities, including (but not limited to):

• Event assistance
• Administrative support
• Community coordination
• Technical or operational assistance
• Demo Day support

⠀
1.2 Volunteer participation is unpaid unless explicitly agreed otherwise in writing.

1.3 Nothing in this arrangement creates:

• Employment
• Contractor status
• Partnership
• Agency authority

⠀
Volunteers are not authorised to enter into agreements or make representations on behalf of IgniteAI unless expressly permitted.

2. Conduct & Professional Standards

2.1 Volunteers must behave professionally, respectfully, and in alignment with IgniteAI’s values and community standards.

2.2 Volunteers must:

• Treat Founders, Coaches, Investors, and staff with respect
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries
• Follow reasonable instructions from IgniteAI staff

⠀
2.3 Harassment, discrimination, misuse of access, or disruptive behaviour may result in immediate removal from the Programme.

2.4 Volunteers must not represent themselves as decision-makers, advisors, or official spokespersons for IgniteAI unless authorised.

3. Confidentiality

3.1 Volunteers may be exposed to confidential information, including:

• Founder business plans
• Pitch materials
• Financial or strategic information
• Internal operational documents

⠀
3.2 Volunteers agree to:

• Keep all non-public information confidential
• Use such information solely for Programme-related purposes
• Not disclose confidential information to external parties

⠀
3.3 Confidentiality obligations continue after volunteer participation ends.

4. Intellectual Property Boundaries

4.1 Founders retain ownership of their startup intellectual property at all times.

4.2 Volunteers do not gain ownership or equity rights in Founder businesses by virtue of access, exposure, or contribution unless separately agreed in writing.

4.3 Any materials, documents, templates, or content created by Volunteers specifically for IgniteAI in the course of volunteering may be used by IgniteAI for Programme purposes.

4.4 Volunteers must not copy, distribute, or reuse proprietary materials belonging to Founders or IgniteAI without permission.

5. Conflicts of Interest

5.1 Volunteers must disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest, including:

• Personal financial interests in Founder startups
• Competitive business involvement
• Close personal relationships affecting neutrality

⠀
5.2 IgniteAI may reassign or restrict volunteer access where conflicts arise.

6. Non-Solicitation & Non-Exploitation

6.1 During volunteer participation or within 6 months following Programme completion, Volunteers must not:

• Solicit Founders for paid services based on Programme access
• Attempt to recruit Founders into competing programmes
• Use insider knowledge to gain unfair business advantage

⠀
6.2 Volunteers may engage with Founders independently only where:

• The Founder initiates contact outside Programme settings
• If privileged access through IgniteAI, dont misuse it

⠀

7. Data Protection

7.1 Volunteers may have access to personal information of participants.

7.2 Volunteers must:

• Handle personal data responsibly
• Follow IgniteAI’s Privacy Policy
• Avoid downloading, copying, or storing personal data unnecessarily
• Data misuse may result in immediate removal and possible legal consequences.

⠀

8. Health, Safety & Wellbeing

8.1 Volunteers must comply with reasonable health and safety requirements during in-person events.

8.2 IgniteAI may set guidelines for safe event conduct.

8.3 Volunteers participate at their own risk and are responsible for their own personal insurance coverage unless otherwise stated.

9. Termination of Volunteer Participation

IgniteAI may suspend or terminate volunteer involvement at its discretion for:

• Breach of confidentiality
• Misconduct
• Non-solicitation violations
• Conduct harmful to the Programme
• Volunteers may also withdraw at any time by providing reasonable notice.

⠀

10. No Expectation of Future Benefit

Volunteer participation does not guarantee:

• Employment
• Paid contracts
• Equity
• Preferential access to investment

⠀