Clear terms for a curated room.

What Ascend is — and isn't

Ascend is a curated introduction marketplace. Founders of verified Indian startups publish a profile; investors, family offices and mentors browse and express interest; when both sides agree, Ascend introduces them. Ascend is operated by the company named in Governing law & disputes below — referred to throughout these Terms as “Ascend” or “we”.

Ascend is not a broker, investment adviser, fund, stock exchange or crowdfunding platform. We do not hold or move money, we do not recommend investments, and we are not a party to any deal you make. Nothing on the platform is financial, legal or tax advice.

Who can use it

• You must be at least 18 and able to enter a binding contract.
• Founders must be authorised to represent the company they submit, and the company must be an Indian entity (a DPIIT-recognised startup where that recognition is claimed).
• Investors and mentors represent that they act for themselves or an organisation they are authorised to bind, and that any investment they make is lawful for them.
• Membership is by invitation or application and we may decline without giving reasons.

Your account

Sign-in is passwordless: we send a one-time code to your verified mobile number. You are responsible for keeping that number and your email under your control and for everything done from your account. Tell us at once if you think it has been misused. You may hold one account per person; a person may hold more than one role (for example investor and mentor).

Verification

Before a startup profile is published, our admin team checks the company against the Ministry of Corporate Affairs register and reviews the profile. The “Verified by Ascend” mark means exactly this, and no more:

You must keep verified details accurate. If something changes (name, directors, status, recognition) update it; we may re-verify at any time and remove the mark if the record no longer matches.

No guarantee of funding, deals or outcomes

We curate, verify and introduce. We do not promise that any founder will receive an introduction, a meeting, an investment, a mentor or any particular outcome — nor that any investor will find a suitable company. Every decision to invest, accept investment, mentor or be mentored is yours alone, made on your own diligence.

Introductions & confidentiality

Interest is expressed privately and revealed only when both sides agree (the double-blind introduction described in our Privacy Notice). Once introduced, each party agrees to:

• use what the other side shared only to evaluate that opportunity;
• not forward, publish or scrape private fields (PAN, CIN, financials, contact details);
• not approach the other side’s team, customers or investors using information obtained here without consent;
• delete private material if either side withdraws or the conversation ends.

These obligations sit alongside — and do not replace — any NDA the parties sign directly.

Engagement / mandate agreement

Where Ascend provides services beyond the platform — for example a fundraising mandate, advisory support or a paid programme — those services are governed by a separate engagement agreement that you sign electronically. It sets out scope, fees, exclusivity (if any) and success terms. If it conflicts with these Terms, the engagement agreement prevails for those services only. Nothing in these Terms creates a fee obligation.

Your content

You keep ownership of everything you submit. You give Ascend a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to host, review, and — for the sections you choose to publish — display it on your profile and in platform search, for as long as it is published. We may make technical copies (backups, thumbnails) to run the service. You confirm your content is accurate, yours to share, and does not infringe anyone’s rights or confidentiality.

Acceptable use

Please do not:

• submit false, misleading or inflated information (including about traction, recognition or affiliation);
• impersonate anyone, or claim to represent a company you are not authorised to represent;
• scrape, bulk-download, index or mirror profiles, or use automated tools to access the platform;
• solicit outside the introduction flow, spam, or offer to sell access to counterparties;
• upload malware, probe our security, or attempt to access another account or the admin console;
• use the platform for anything unlawful, including any securities offering that requires a licence you do not hold.

Account controls

From your account you can, at any time:

• edit or unpublish any section of your profile;
• see which private fields were revealed, to whom and when, and sign out of every device — in-app controls are rolling out; until then, ask via the Data & privacy centre and we will do it for you;
• export your data, withdraw consent, or delete the account — see the Data & privacy centre.

Suspension & termination

You may close your account whenever you like. We may suspend or close an account that breaks these Terms, fails re-verification, is inactive for 24 months (after notice), or where the law requires it. Where practical we will tell you why and give you a chance to respond. On closure your profile is unpublished immediately and data is deleted as described in the Privacy Notice; sections that survive by their nature (confidentiality, liability, governing law) continue to apply.

Liability

The platform is provided “as is”. We work to keep it accurate and available but do not guarantee either. To the fullest extent the law allows, Ascend is not liable for any decision made in reliance on a profile, for the conduct of any member, or for indirect or consequential loss. Our total liability to you for anything arising from these Terms is limited to the greater of the fees you paid us in the preceding 12 months and ₹10,000. Nothing limits liability for fraud or for anything that cannot be limited by law.

You agree to indemnify Ascend against claims arising from content you submit or your breach of these Terms.

Governing law & disputes

These Terms are governed by the laws of India, and disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Indian courts of the seat named below. Before going to court, both sides agree to try to resolve the matter in good faith for 30 days.

Contracting entity

Avyxon AI Labs

Registered address

Will be published here once the registered office is filed.

Seat of jurisdiction

To be confirmed with the registered office, and published here before launch. Indian law governs either way.

Contact

privacy@ascend.in

Changes

We may update these Terms. Material changes are announced by email to account holders at least 14 days before they take effect, and the version and date at the top change. Continuing to use Ascend after that date means you accept the new Terms; if you don’t, close your account before then.