Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using THE SIGNAL platform — including the website thesignal.directory, the Telegram Mini App, and any related APIs or services — you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service and our Privacy Policy. If you disagree with any part of these terms, you may not access our service.

2. Description of Service

THE SIGNAL is a curated B2B platform connecting Web3 founders, service providers, Business Development (BD) representatives, and freelancers. The platform includes:

• Verified Partner Directory — a curated directory of verified Web3 service providers (Market Makers, VCs, Auditors, Tools, and more)
• Telegram Mini App — a mobile-first interface for browsing partners, managing deals, and receiving intelligence
• Freelancer Marketplace — a marketplace connecting Web3 freelancers with clients for project-based work
• BD Network — a network of Business Development representatives who refer and manage client relationships
• Deal CRM — a pipeline management system for tracking introductions, negotiations, and closed deals
• Escrow Payments — a secure payment system using Stripe to hold and release funds upon milestone completion
• AI Intelligence — AI-powered lead scoring, partner matching, and competitive intelligence using Gemini AI
• Daily Digest — automated daily briefings and newsletters summarising market intelligence
• Insights & Analytics — platform-level analytics and content performance tracking

3. User Accounts & Eligibility

To use THE SIGNAL, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old or the age of legal majority in your jurisdiction
• Provide accurate and truthful information during registration
• Authenticate via Telegram (Telegram Mini App users) or via the admin interface
• Maintain the security of your account credentials

You are responsible for all activity that occurs under your account. Notify us immediately at support@thesignal.directory if you suspect unauthorised access.

4. User Responsibilities

When using our service, you agree to:

• Provide accurate, truthful, and up-to-date information
• Not misrepresent your identity, credentials, or affiliation
• Use the service for lawful purposes only
• Respect the intellectual property rights of THE SIGNAL and all listed partners and freelancers
• Not scrape, harvest, or collect data from the platform without express written permission
• Not engage in spam, phishing, or fraudulent activity
• Not attempt to reverse-engineer, hack, or disrupt the platform
• Honour commitments made through introductions and deals facilitated by the platform

5. Partner Listings & Verification

THE SIGNAL curates and verifies partners based on reputation, credentials, and community feedback. Verification does not constitute endorsement of any partner. We reserve the right to approve, reject, suspend, or remove any listing at our sole discretion. Partners are responsible for keeping their information accurate and up to date.

6. Freelancer Marketplace

Freelancers listed on the platform are independent contractors, not employees of THE SIGNAL. By using the marketplace:

• Freelancers are solely responsible for the quality of their work and for complying with applicable laws
• Clients are responsible for clearly defining project scope and requirements
• THE SIGNAL facilitates introductions and payment processing but is not a party to any freelancer-client agreement
• All freelancer engagements are subject to separate project agreements between the parties

7. Escrow Payments

THE SIGNAL offers an escrow payment system powered by Stripe to secure transactions between clients and freelancers or partners:

• Funds are held in escrow until project milestones are confirmed as completed
• Releases are triggered by mutual confirmation or, in dispute cases, by THE SIGNAL's dispute resolution process
• THE SIGNAL charges a platform service fee on escrow transactions (displayed at time of payment)
• Refunds are subject to Stripe's policies and the terms agreed between the parties
• THE SIGNAL is not responsible for any losses resulting from disputes between parties

Payment processing services in the European Economic Area are provided by Stripe Technology Europe Limited ("STEL"), an electronic money institution authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland and passported across the EEA, including France. For users outside the EEA, payment services are provided by Stripe, Inc. THE SIGNAL operates as a platform and is not itself a licensed payment institution — regulated payment services are rendered by Stripe. By using escrow payments, you also agree to Stripe's Terms of Service.

8. Business Development (BD) Network

BD representatives operating on THE SIGNAL agree to additional obligations:

• Referrals must be made in good faith and represent genuine client opportunities
• BD representatives may not solicit clients on behalf of competing platforms without disclosure
• Commission structures and referral fees are defined in separate BD agreements
• Misrepresentation of client needs or partner capabilities may result in account termination

9. AI-Powered Features

THE SIGNAL uses artificial intelligence (Gemini AI by Google) for:

• Lead scoring based on publicly available data
• Automated partner matching and recommendations
• Competitive intelligence and market analysis
• Profile enrichment using public information
• Daily digest and newsletter generation

AI-generated content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional, financial, or legal advice. THE SIGNAL does not guarantee the accuracy of AI outputs. You should verify all AI-generated information before acting on it.

10. Newsletters & Communications

By subscribing to THE SIGNAL newsletter or daily digest, you consent to receiving regular email communications containing market intelligence, platform updates, and curated content. You may unsubscribe at any time via the link included in each email or by contacting support@thesignal.directory. Your consent is recorded with a timestamp and a proof of consent in accordance with GDPR requirements (Article 7).

11. Intellectual Property

All content, features, and functionality on THE SIGNAL — including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, scores, reports, and software — are the exclusive property of THE SIGNAL and are protected by applicable intellectual property laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works without our express written consent.

Partners and freelancers retain ownership of content they submit to the platform but grant THE SIGNAL a non-exclusive, worldwide licence to display and promote that content within the platform.

12. Privacy & Cookies

Your use of the platform is governed by our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy, which are incorporated into these Terms by reference. We comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). By using the platform, you acknowledge that you have read and understood our privacy practices.

13. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE SIGNAL provides information, introductions, and tools "as is" without warranties of any kind, express or implied. While we verify partners and freelancers to the best of our ability, we do not guarantee the quality, safety, or legality of any services provided by listed parties. You are solely responsible for evaluating all partners and freelancers before engaging their services.

14. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, THE SIGNAL shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages resulting from your use of the service, any interactions with listed partners or freelancers, or disputes arising from escrow transactions. This includes, but is not limited to, loss of profits, data, reputation, or business opportunities.

Our total liability to you for any claim arising out of or relating to these Terms shall not exceed the amount paid by you to THE SIGNAL in the 12 months prior to the claim.

15. Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account at any time, with or without cause, including for breach of these Terms. You may request deletion of your account at any time by contacting us. Upon termination, your right to use the service ceases immediately. Provisions that by their nature should survive termination (including intellectual property, limitation of liability, and governing law) shall survive.

16. Modifications to Service & Terms

We reserve the right to modify or discontinue the service, or update these Terms, at any time. Material changes will be communicated via email or platform notification at least 14 days in advance. Continued use of the platform after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

17. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the European Union and, where applicable, French law. Any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent courts in France, without prejudice to your rights as a consumer under local law.

18. Contact

For questions about these Terms of Service, contact us at support@thesignal.directory