Terms and Conditions

01Who we are

Tapwi is a founder-led company based in Alberta, Canada. We provide People and Culture advisory, Growth and Scale support, mentorship, workshops, educational content and, over time, a platform designed to create pathways to leadership, capital and ownership for non-traditional founders and business leaders. Named after the Cree word tâpwê, meaning truth, Tapwi exists to close the access gap in entrepreneurship.

02Eligibility

The Services are intended for adults. You must be at least 18 years old and able to enter into a binding contract to use the Services. If you use the Services on behalf of a business or organization, you represent that you have authority to bind that business or organization to these Terms, and "you" includes that business or organization.

03Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in our Services, our business or the law. When we do, we will post the updated Terms on the Site and change the date at the top. If a change is material, we will give you reasonable advance notice by email or through a prominent notice on the Site. Your continued use of the Services after the updated Terms take effect means you accept them. If you do not accept a change, you may stop using the Services and, where you have a paid engagement in progress, the Terms in effect when that engagement began will continue to apply to it.

04Our Services

The Services currently include:

• The Site and its content, including articles, resources and thought leadership.
• The Fire Report, our email newsletter, and the Tapwi waitlist.
• Advisory services, including People and Culture advisory (HR foundations, assessments, fractional Head of People and Culture support), Growth and Scale support (revenue modeling, organizational design, pricing strategy) and one-to-one strategic advisory.
• Workshops, speaking engagements and educational programs.
• Digital products, including policy templates, HR templates and other downloadable tools.

As the Tapwi platform launches, the Services may also include features such as an AI Co-Founder, advisor and mentor matching through the Tapwi Network, grant and funding matching, a personalized founder dashboard, advisory briefs, Founder Pathways and Tapwi University learning content. Some features may be released in beta or by invitation, and we may add, change, suspend or discontinue any part of the Services at any time. Where a change affects a paid engagement or subscription, we will honour the commitments in your proposal or order or offer a fair alternative or refund.

05Waitlist, accounts and communications

Joining the waitlist or subscribing to The Fire Report does not create a paid relationship or guarantee access to any future feature. When accounts become available, you agree to provide accurate information, keep your login credentials confidential, and notify us promptly of any unauthorized use. You are responsible for activity under your account.

By subscribing to The Fire Report or opting in to marketing, you consent to receive commercial electronic messages from Tapwi in accordance with Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation. You may unsubscribe at any time using the link in any email or by contacting us. We may still send you transactional or service messages related to your engagements or account.

06Engagements, proposals and payment

Advisory services, workshops, speaking engagements and other paid work are delivered under a written proposal, statement of work, order or invoice (each, a "Proposal") that sets out the scope, deliverables, timeline, fees, payment schedule, revision allowance and any other specific terms.

Each Proposal forms part of these Terms. If a Proposal conflicts with these Terms, the Proposal governs for that engagement.

Fees are quoted in Canadian dollars and exclude GST and any other applicable taxes, which will be added to invoices.

Unless a Proposal says otherwise, invoices are due within 15 days of the invoice date, and a deposit may be required before work begins. We may pause work on overdue accounts and charge interest on overdue amounts at 1.5% per month (19.56% per year).

Digital products are licensed, not sold, and payment is due at the time of purchase.

Requests outside the agreed scope, or revisions beyond the allowance in the Proposal, may be quoted separately and are not included in the original fee.

Prices for future work may change without notice. A quoted price in a signed Proposal will not change for that engagement.

Cancellations and refunds

Either party may cancel an engagement on written notice as set out in the Proposal. Fees for work completed to the date of cancellation, and any non-refundable deposits identified in the Proposal, remain payable. Because digital products are delivered immediately, they are non-refundable once downloaded, except where required by law or where the product is defective. Workshop and event tickets follow the cancellation terms published for that event.

07Deliverables and intellectual property

What Tapwi owns

The Site, the Services and all content, materials, methods, frameworks, assessments, templates, curricula, software, trademarks, logos and other intellectual property that Tapwi creates or licenses ("Tapwi Materials") are owned by Tapwi or its licensors and are protected by Canadian and international copyright, trademark and other intellectual property laws. Nothing in these Terms transfers ownership of Tapwi Materials to you. Tapwi reserves all rights not expressly granted.

Your licence to use deliverables and products

When you have paid in full for an engagement or product, Tapwi grants you a non-exclusive, non-transferable licence to use the deliverables and any digital products for the internal purposes of your business. You may adapt templates and policy products for your own organization. You may not resell, sublicense, share, publish or distribute Tapwi Materials, including templates and frameworks, to third parties, or use them to build a competing product or service, without our prior written consent. Any transfer of copyright or expanded licence must be agreed in writing and may be subject to an additional fee set out in a Proposal.

What you own

You retain ownership of the information, documents, data, trademarks and other materials you provide to us ("Client Materials"). You grant Tapwi a licence to use Client Materials as needed to deliver the Services. You represent that you have the rights to share Client Materials with us and that doing so does not violate any law or third-party right.

Feedback and testimonials

If you provide feedback, suggestions or ideas about the Services, you agree that we may use them without restriction or compensation. We will only publish your name, likeness or testimonial with your permission.

Portfolio and case studies

Unless you tell us otherwise in writing, we may identify you or your business as a client and describe the nature of our work together in general terms. We will not disclose confidential information or specific results without your consent.

08Confidentiality

Each party agrees to keep confidential any non-public information it receives from the other in connection with the Services, to use it only for the purposes of the Services, and to protect it with at least reasonable care. This obligation does not apply to information that is or becomes public through no fault of the receiving party, was already known to it, is independently developed, or must be disclosed by law. Confidentiality obligations survive the end of any engagement. Where a Proposal includes a separate non-disclosure agreement, that agreement governs.

09Your responsibilities

You agree to use the Services lawfully and in a way that respects others. You will provide accurate and complete information, respond to requests within reasonable timeframes so that engagements can proceed on schedule, and make your own decisions about whether and how to act on our advice. You agree not to:

• Copy, scrape, reproduce, modify, distribute, publicly display or create derivative works from the Site or Tapwi Materials except as these Terms allow.
• Use the Services to harass, discriminate against, defame or harm any person, or to upload content that is unlawful, infringing or offensive.
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Site, platform, accounts or systems, introduce malicious code, or interfere with the operation or security of the Services.
• Use automated tools to access the Services, or use the Services to build, train or improve a competing product.
• Enter personal information about other people into the Services unless you have the authority to do so.
• Misrepresent your identity, business or eligibility, including for programs, grants or advisor matching intended for specific communities.

We may suspend or terminate your access to the Services if we reasonably believe you have breached these Terms.

10Advice, results and professional services disclaimer

Tapwi provides strategic, people, culture and growth advisory based on experience and the information you share with us. Our advice, content, templates and platform outputs are for general guidance and educational purposes. They are not legal, accounting, tax, financial, investment or immigration advice, and they do not replace advice from a licensed professional who knows your specific circumstances. HR and policy templates are starting points and must be reviewed for compliance with the employment and human rights laws that apply to your business and jurisdiction.

Building a business involves risk, and outcomes depend on many factors outside our control. We do not guarantee any particular result, including revenue growth, successful hires, funding, grant approval, investor introductions, acquisition outcomes or business success. You are responsible for the decisions you make and the actions you take.

11Platform features and artificial intelligence

Some platform features, including the AI Co-Founder, advisory briefs and matching tools, use artificial intelligence and automated processing to generate suggestions, content and recommendations from the information you provide. You acknowledge that:

• AI-generated outputs may be inaccurate, incomplete, outdated or biased, and may not reflect your circumstances. You should review and verify outputs before relying on them, and you use them at your own risk.
• AI outputs are not a substitute for human judgment or professional advice, and Tapwi is not responsible for decisions you make based on them.
• You are responsible for the content you enter into platform features, and you must not enter confidential information of third parties, personal information you are not authorized to share, or unlawful content.
• You grant Tapwi a licence to use the content you enter to provide, secure and improve the Services. We do not use your content to train third-party AI models without your express consent, as described in our Privacy Policy.
• Platform features may be offered in beta, may change, and may be unavailable from time to time. Beta features are provided as is.
• Subject to applicable law, you own the outputs generated for you by platform features, and Tapwi does not claim ownership of them. Similar or identical outputs may be generated for other users.

12Advisors, mentors, grants and other third parties

The Tapwi Network connects founders with independent operators, advisors, mentors and investors. These individuals are not employees or agents of Tapwi unless we say otherwise in writing. Tapwi facilitates introductions and, where applicable, session scheduling, but the advice, opinions and conduct of network members are their own. You are responsible for evaluating any advisor, mentor, investor or partner before engaging with them, and any agreement you make with them is between you and them.

Grant and funding information is provided for convenience and is sourced from third parties, including government programs and private funders. We do not administer those programs, we do not guarantee that information is complete or current, and we do not decide who receives funding. Always confirm eligibility, deadlines and requirements directly with the funder.

The Site may link to third-party websites, tools and resources. We do not control or endorse them and are not responsible for their content, products, privacy practices or terms.

13Affiliates and referral partners

Tapwi may work with affiliates, referral partners and community partners who introduce founders to the Services. If you participate in a Tapwi affiliate or referral program, the following applies in addition to any separate affiliate agreement:

• You are an independent party, not an employee, agent or representative of Tapwi. You may not make commitments, offer discounts, give guarantees or contract on Tapwi's behalf.
• You will familiarize yourself with the Services, describe them accurately, and represent the Tapwi brand respectfully and professionally, in keeping with our values and our commitment to underrepresented founders.
• You will only use Tapwi's name, logo and materials as we permit in writing, and you will comply with Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation and applicable privacy laws when promoting the Services.
• Referral fees or commissions, if any, are set out in a separate written agreement and are payable only on the terms in that agreement.

We may end your participation at any time if you breach these Terms or act in a way that could harm Tapwi, its clients or its community.

14Disclaimer of warranties

Except as expressly stated in a Proposal, the Site and Services are provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Tapwi disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement. We do not warrant that the Site or platform will be uninterrupted, error-free or secure, that defects will be corrected, or that content and outputs are accurate or complete. Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties, so some of these exclusions may not apply to you.

15Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Tapwi and its founders, directors, officers, employees, contractors and network members will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential or punitive damages, or for any loss of profits, revenue, business, opportunity, data or goodwill, arising out of or related to the Services or these Terms, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.

Tapwi's total liability for all claims arising out of or related to a paid engagement or product will not exceed the fees you paid to Tapwi for that engagement or product in the twelve months before the claim arose. Tapwi's total liability arising from your use of the Site, the newsletter, the waitlist or any free feature will not exceed one hundred Canadian dollars ($100 CAD).

If a deliverable fails to materialize or an engagement cannot be completed for reasons beyond Tapwi's control, our liability is limited to a refund of the fees paid for the portion of the work not delivered. Nothing in these Terms limits liability for fraud, wilful misconduct, or any liability that cannot be limited under applicable law, including under Alberta consumer protection legislation where it applies.

You agree not to bring any claim personally against Tapwi's founders, directors, officers, employees or contractors in respect of losses you suffer in connection with the Services. Any claim must be brought against Tapwi.

16Indemnity

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Tapwi and its founders, directors, officers, employees and contractors from any claims, losses, damages, costs and expenses, including reasonable legal fees, arising from your breach of these Terms, your Client Materials or content, your use of deliverables or outputs in a way not permitted by these Terms, or your violation of any law or third-party right.

17Force majeure

Neither party is liable for delay or failure to perform caused by events beyond its reasonable control, including natural disasters, fire, flood, severe weather, pandemic, labour disputes, internet or utility failures, cyberattacks, or acts of government. The affected party will notify the other and resume performance as soon as reasonably possible. Payment obligations for work already delivered are not excused.

18Termination

You may stop using the Site or unsubscribe from communications at any time. Paid engagements end according to their Proposal. We may suspend or terminate your access to the Services, with notice where practical, if you breach these Terms, if required by law, or if we discontinue a Service. On termination, the licences granted to you for paid deliverables continue, your obligations to pay outstanding fees remain, and the sections of these Terms that by their nature should survive, including intellectual property, confidentiality, disclaimers, limitation of liability, indemnity and governing law, will survive.

19Governing law and disputes

These Terms and any dispute arising out of or relating to the Services are governed by the laws of the Province of Alberta and the federal laws of Canada applicable in Alberta, without regard to conflict of law rules. You agree that the courts of Alberta have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute, and you consent to their jurisdiction. Before starting a legal proceeding, each party agrees to give the other written notice of the dispute and to make a good-faith effort to resolve it through direct discussion for at least 30 days. Nothing in this section prevents either party from seeking urgent injunctive relief or prevents you from exercising rights under consumer protection laws that apply to you.

20General

1. Entire agreement: These Terms, the Privacy Policy and any applicable Proposal are the entire agreement between you and Tapwi regarding the Services and replace any earlier terms.
2. Severability: If any part of these Terms is found unenforceable, the rest remains in effect and the unenforceable part will be modified to the minimum extent needed.
3. Waiver: A failure or delay by either party to enforce a provision, or a waiver of one breach, is not a waiver of any other breach or of the right to enforce that provision later.
4. Assignment: You may not assign these Terms without our written consent. Tapwi may assign these Terms to a successor or affiliate, including in connection with a merger, acquisition or reorganization.
5. Notices: Notices to Tapwi should be sent to bobbie@tapwi.com. Notices to you may be sent to the email address you provided.
6. Relationship: The parties are independent contractors. Nothing in these Terms creates a partnership, joint venture, employment or agency relationship.
7. Language: These Terms are written in English. If a translated version is provided, the English version governs to the extent permitted by law. For residents of Quebec, a French version may be requested.
8. Accessibility: We are committed to making the Services accessible. If you have difficulty accessing any part of the Site or Services, please contact us and we will work with you to provide the content or service in an accessible way.

21Contact us

Questions about these Terms can be sent to: