Terms of Service

1. Agreement to Terms

Welcome to Sproutern. These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of Sproutern's website, platform, and services (collectively, the "Services"). By accessing or using our Services, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use our Services.

Sproutern reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will notify users of any material changes by posting the updated Terms on our website. Your continued use of the Services after such changes constitutes your acceptance of the new Terms.

2. Eligibility

To use Sproutern, you must:

• Be at least 16 years of age
• Have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement
• Not be prohibited from using the Services under applicable laws
• Provide accurate and complete registration information
• Maintain the security and confidentiality of your account credentials

For startup or employer accounts, you must have the authority to bind your organization to these Terms.

3. User Accounts

3.1 Account Creation

To access certain features of our Services, you must create an account. You agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration
• Maintain and update your information to keep it accurate and current
• Keep your password secure and confidential
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account
• Accept responsibility for all activities that occur under your account

3.2 Account Types

Sproutern offers two primary account types:

• Student Accounts: For students and job seekers looking for internship opportunities
• Startup/Employer Accounts: For companies posting internship opportunities and recruiting talent

3.3 Account Termination

You may terminate your account at any time through your account settings. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms or engage in fraudulent, abusive, or illegal activities.

4. Acceptable Use Policy

4.1 Permitted Uses

You may use our Services for lawful purposes only, including:

• Searching and applying for internship opportunities (students)
• Posting legitimate internship positions (employers)
• Building and optimizing professional profiles
• Networking with other users within the platform's intended purpose
• Using AI-powered tools for resume optimization and career guidance

4.2 Prohibited Activities

You agree NOT to:

• Post false, misleading, or fraudulent information
• Impersonate any person or entity
• Harass, abuse, or harm other users
• Post spam, advertisements, or solicitations unrelated to internships
• Scrape, crawl, or harvest data from the platform without permission
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems or other users' accounts
• Use the platform for any illegal activities
• Circumvent or manipulate our AI matching algorithms
• Post discriminatory job listings or engage in discriminatory practices
• Share or distribute viruses, malware, or harmful code
• Violate any applicable laws or regulations

5. Content and Intellectual Property

5.1 User Content

You retain ownership of any content you post on Sproutern, including resumes, profiles, job postings, and other materials ("User Content"). By posting User Content, you grant Sproutern a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, display, reproduce, and distribute your content for the purpose of providing and improving our Services.

You represent and warrant that:

• You own or have the necessary rights to post your User Content
• Your User Content does not violate any third-party rights
• Your User Content complies with these Terms and applicable laws

5.2 Platform Content

All content provided by Sproutern, including text, graphics, logos, software, and AI-generated content, is owned by Sproutern or its licensors and is protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. You may not copy, modify, distribute, or create derivative works from our platform content without our express written permission.

5.3 Content Moderation

We reserve the right to review, monitor, and remove any User Content that violates these Terms or is otherwise objectionable. However, we are not obligated to monitor all content and assume no liability for User Content.

6. Internship Postings and Applications

6.1 For Employers

Employers posting internships agree to:

• Post only legitimate, genuine internship opportunities
• Provide accurate and complete job descriptions
• Comply with all applicable employment and labor laws
• Not discriminate based on race, gender, religion, age, disability, or other protected characteristics
• Respond to applications in a timely and professional manner
• Honor any commitments made in job postings

6.2 For Students

Students applying for internships agree to:

• Provide truthful and accurate information in applications
• Not misrepresent qualifications, experience, or credentials
• Communicate professionally with potential employers
• Honor commitments made during the application process

6.3 Platform Role

Sproutern is a platform that connects students with employers. We are not a party to any agreements between students and employers. We do not guarantee the quality, safety, or legality of internships posted or the qualifications of applicants. Users are responsible for their own due diligence and decision-making.

7. AI-Powered Features

Sproutern offers AI-powered features including resume optimization, candidate matching, and personalized recommendations. These features are provided "as is" for informational purposes. While we strive for accuracy, AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies. You should review and verify all AI-generated content before relying on it.

By using AI features, you understand that:

• AI suggestions are automated and may not always be perfect
• You retain full responsibility for your final resume and application materials
• AI matching is based on algorithms and may not capture all nuances
• We continuously improve our AI models but cannot guarantee specific outcomes

8. Payment Terms

Currently, Sproutern offers free services to both students and employers. If we introduce paid features in the future, we will clearly communicate pricing and payment terms. Any paid features will be subject to additional terms and conditions.

9. Privacy and Data Protection

Your privacy is important to us. Our collection and use of personal information is governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. By using our Services, you consent to our Privacy Policy.

10. Disclaimers and Limitations of Liability

10.1 Service Disclaimer

THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICES WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR SECURE. WE DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

10.2 Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, SPROUTERN SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOST PROFITS, DATA LOSS, OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF THE SERVICES.

IN NO EVENT SHALL OUR TOTAL LIABILITY EXCEED THE AMOUNT YOU PAID TO US IN THE TWELVE MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM, OR $100, WHICHEVER IS GREATER.

10.3 Third-Party Content

We are not responsible for User Content, job postings, or any third-party content on our platform. Users interact with each other at their own risk.

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Sproutern, its affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, arising from:

• Your use of the Services
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any third-party rights
• Your User Content
• Your interactions with other users

12. Dispute Resolution

12.1 Informal Resolution

If you have a dispute with Sproutern, please contact us at support@sproutern.com to attempt to resolve it informally before pursuing formal legal action.

12.2 Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

12.3 Jurisdiction

Any legal action or proceeding arising from these Terms shall be brought exclusively in the courts located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, and you consent to the personal jurisdiction of such courts.

13. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

14. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Sproutern regarding the use of our Services and supersede all prior agreements and understandings.

15. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms or to report violations, please contact us at: