Terms & Conditions

1. Eligibility Criteria

• The business entity must be registered as a Private Limited Company or Limited Liability Partnership (LLP).
• The business entity should have a minimum of six (6) months of operational history prior to the date of application.
• The business entity must have a registered office or active operational workspace within the state where they are participating in the pitching event.
• The business entity must have minimum of three (3) full-time employees, excluding its founders.
• The business entity must have a clear and defined Mission and Vision statement that aligns with ethical business principles.
• The business entity should be involved in a legally permissible business activity and comply with all applicable laws, licenses, and regulatory frameworks.
• The business entity must have completed a serious and documented feasibility study of the business and should submit the Feasibility Report at the time of registration.
• The Directors and Promoters must not be involved in any criminal, fraudulent, or illegal activities and must not have any ongoing criminal proceedings.
• The business entity should have serious and active involvement of its Directors in day-to-day operations and strategic decision-making.
• The business entity should demonstrate a record of financial discipline and must submit a valid CIBIL report for all Directors and the company entity (if applicable).
• The business entity should be in a operational mode and having regular income generation.
• The business entity must not have any outstanding legal disputes or litigations.
• The Directors must have relevant industry knowledge in the business domain.
• The business entity should have a scalable business model with clear revenue streams.
• The business entity must comply with all legal, environmental and labor laws applicable in their jurisdiction.

2. Financial Requirements

• The business entity must submit an audited Profit & Loss Statement certified by a practicing Chartered Accountant, during their last six month operational period.
• The business entity should provide a projected balance sheet for next two financial year.
• The minimum seed fund investment seeking amount should be Rs.2,00,000 (Two Lakhs) and maximum seed fund investment seeking amount should be Rs.10,00,000 (Ten Lakhs).
• The business entity should disclose any existing investors, funding rounds, or outstanding loans.
• The business entity should maintain proper financial records and updated accounting statements up to the last month-end.
• The business entity must provide a projected cash flow statement and funding utilization plan for at least the next 24 months.

3. Documentation Requirements

The following documents must be submitted along with the application:

• Certificate of Incorporation
• PAN, TAN, and GST Registration
• Director Identification Numbers (DIN) of All Directors
• Articles & Memorandum of Association (AOA/MOA)
• Feasibility Report
• Mission and Vision Statement
• Business Plan / Pitch Deck (detailed with financial projections)
• Employee List with last Three Months Salary Slip
• Proof of Office Address (rental agreement/ownership proof)
• Video of office premise with company name board (below 02 minutes, professional quality)
• Latest CIBIL Reports of All Directors
• Bank Statements (last three months)
• Copy of Income Tax Return (if applicable)
• Insurance Policies (if applicable)
• Trademark/Intellectual Property registrations (if any)
• Partnership/Collaboration agreements (if any)
• Customer contracts or MOUs (if applicable)
• Quality certifications (if applicable)

Incomplete, falsified, or unverifiable documentation will result in automatic disqualification and potential legal action.

4. Participation Terms

• Shortlisted business entities shall attend mandatory online or offline pre-event orientation and mentoring sessions arranged by the organizers.
• Each business entity must present their pitch within the allocated time slot (maximum 10 minutes presentation + 10 minutes Q&A) and adhere strictly to event guidelines.
• Founders must personally participate in the pitching session; representation by intermediaries is strictly prohibited.
• The business entity agrees that investment decisions are solely at the discretion of investors, and participation does not guarantee funding.
• The business entity shall not solicit funds directly from attending investors outside the event without prior written consent from the organizers.
• The business entity must maintain professional conduct and uphold confidentiality during and after the event.
• Participants must arrive at least 30 minutes before their scheduled pitching time.
• The business entity must bring all necessary presentation materials and backup documents.
• Recording of pitches may be done for promotional purposes with prior consent.

5. Evaluation and Selection

• The business entity will be evaluated on parameters including innovation, market potential, financial performance, team strength, feasibility, scalability, ethical standards, and social impact.
• The decision of the Selection and Investment Committee shall be final and binding.
• The organizers reserve the right to reject or disqualify any startup without assigning a reason.
• Shortlisting will be done in multiple rounds including document verification, preliminary screening, and final selection.
• The organizers may conduct background verification and reference checks on selected business entities.

6. Confidentiality and Data Usage

• All information shared by business entities shall be treated as confidential; however, the organizers and investors may use submitted information for evaluation purposes.
• By participating, business entities consent to the use of their business name, logo, and brief profile for promotional and event-related activities.
• Business entities are advised not to disclose trade secrets or proprietary technology during public sessions.
• The organizers will implement appropriate data protection measures as per applicable laws.
• Business entities retain ownership of their intellectual property and confidential information.

7. Post-Investment & Reporting Obligations

• Selected startups shall enter into a formal investment agreement with the respective investor(s) within 30 days of selection.
• The company must provide quarterly progress and financial reports to the investor(s) and organizer for at least two years post-investment.
• The funds received shall be used strictly for business development as per the approved funding utilization plan.
• Misuse or diversion of funds will lead to cancellation of investment and possible legal action.
• The business entity must maintain transparency with investors regarding business progress and challenges.
• Exit options and valuation metrics should be discussed and agreed upon during investment agreement.
• The Company should participate in follow-up mentoring sessions organized by FoundersCash.

8. Service Charges to FoundersCash

• The business entity shall pay a service charge equivalent to 3% (Three percent) of the total investment amount received to FoundersCash, towards facilitation and investment processing costs.
• This service charge shall be transferred within seven (7) working days of receiving the investment amount by company cheque or online transfer with GST.
• A participation fee will be applicable to each entity for event participation.
• The participation fee includes pitching session entry, mentorship, video production, event branding, marketing support, hospitality during the event, and post-event follow-up.
• The participation fee and service charge are non-refundable under any circumstances once paid.

9. Legal and General Conditions

• The organizers reserve the right to cancel, postpone, or modify the event date, event structure, jury panel due to unforeseen circumstances.
• Submission of false or misleading information will result in immediate disqualification and blacklisting from all future FoundersCash programs.
• Participants agree to maintain ethical business practices and fair competition principles throughout the event.
• The organizers shall not be held liable for any financial losses, claims, or damages arising during or after the investment process.
• All disputes shall be subject to the jurisdiction of courts in Kochi, Kerala.
• The organizers reserve the right to amend these terms and conditions with prior notice to participants.
• Participants are responsible for their own travel, accommodation, and other personal expenses.
• The organizers may partner with third-party service providers for event management and logistics.
• Any intellectual property created during the event shall be owned by the respective creators.