terms & conditions.

1. Eligibility and registration

Age requirements. Our programs are designed for young people aged 15 to 24. You must be at least 15 to use our platform or register for events. If you are under 18, you must have parental or legal guardian consent to participate. We collect this consent through a digital form during registration and notify the parent/guardian by email. We do not knowingly collect data from children under 13 from any jurisdiction.

Accurate information. You agree to provide truthful, current, and complete information during registration and in all interactions with us. You represent that you have the right and authority to agree to these Terms, including any required parental consent if you are a minor.

Account security. If you create an account, you are responsible for keeping your login credentials confidential. You must notify us immediately of any unauthorized use. We are not liable for any loss resulting from your failure to safeguard your account.

Acceptance. By registering or using our Services, you enter into a binding agreement to follow these Terms and any program-specific rules provided by the Organizer. We reserve the right to accept or decline any application at our discretion.

2. Program participation and conduct

Behaviour expectations. You agree to behave respectfully and inclusively toward all participants, mentors, staff, and partners. Harassment, discrimination, bullying, or any abusive behaviour is strictly prohibited across all interaction channels — in-person events, video calls, chats, forums, and social media associated with Moonshot Pirates.

Communication channels. Communication between adults (mentors, staff) and minor participants must occur through official Moonshot Pirates channels as specified in our Safeguarding Policy. Use of unmoderated third-party platforms (WhatsApp, Instagram DM, personal email, etc.) for one-on-one communication with minors is not permitted. Group communication on third-party platforms is allowed at the discretion of the Safeguarding Officer.

Compliance with rules and law. You agree to follow all program guidelines, schedules, and applicable laws. You must not use the Services to engage in fraudulent, unlawful, harmful, or offensive conduct, including (but not limited to):

• Impersonating others or misrepresenting your age or identity
• Sending spam or unwanted solicitations
• Sharing content that is illegal, violent, hateful, sexually explicit, or otherwise inappropriate
• Disrupting sessions or platforms
• Attempting to hack or gain unauthorized access to systems
• Recording other participants without their consent
• Doxxing or sharing personal information of other participants
• Submitting AI-generated work as your own without disclosure when disclosure is requested

Platform use. Do not introduce malware, scrape content without authorization, or attempt to bypass platform protections. We reserve the right (but have no obligation) to monitor compliance with these Terms and our Policies.

Mentorship and collaboration. Mentor guidance is provided in good faith for educational purposes. It does not constitute professional consulting, and Moonshot Pirates does not guarantee any particular outcome. You are responsible for decisions made in your projects.

3. Fees and cancellations

Free participation. Moonshot Pirates programs are free to participants and have been since 2019. We are funded by foundations, corporate partners, and grants — not by participant fees.

Exceptions. In rare cases — particularly in-person events with significant logistical costs — a refundable deposit or fee may apply. Where this is the case, it will be clearly communicated during registration. You agree to pay any applicable amounts in full by the specified deadlines.

Cancellation by participant. If you register for a paid event and need to cancel, contact [email protected] as early as possible. Refund eligibility depends on the event's specific policy, which will be communicated at registration. Late cancellations or no-shows may forfeit deposits.

Cancellation by Organizer. We may cancel, postpone, or modify an event due to low enrollment, venue issues, health/safety concerns, or unforeseen circumstances. If we cancel a paid event, you will receive a full refund or credit toward an alternative. We are not responsible for other costs you incur (travel, visa fees, etc.) — see Section 5 for insurance recommendations.

Event admission. We may refuse admission to or remove from an event any participant who violates these Terms, the Safeguarding Policy, or applicable laws. Removal for misconduct does not entitle you to a refund.

4. Intellectual property and content

Moonshot Pirates content. All curricula, presentations, videos, articles, logos, designs, and software provided by Moonshot Pirates are owned by us or our licensors and protected by copyright and trademark law. You may access and use this content for personal, educational, and non-commercial purposes as a participant. You may not reproduce, distribute, or commercially exploit our content without prior written permission.

Your content remains yours. Ownership of your original project ideas, pitches, text, images, videos, and other materials you create or submit ("User Content") remains with you (and your team, if applicable).

License to Moonshot Pirates. By submitting User Content in connection with a Moonshot Pirates program, you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, reproduce, publish, display, and distribute that content for the purposes of operating the program and promoting our work. We will credit you where feasible. If you do not want us to use specific content for promotional purposes, notify us at [email protected] before submitting.

Sharing with partners. We may share project ideas and submissions with our partners and sponsors for evaluation, feedback, or collaboration. Moonshot Pirates' provision of a platform or mentorship does not constitute legal endorsement, co-ownership, or formal partnership in your intellectual property. You are solely responsible for protecting your IP through appropriate legal means (patents, copyrights, trademarks).

Program-specific IP terms. For BUILD, accelerator programs, or other initiatives with defined funding or partnership structures, additional IP protection provisions may apply through program-specific agreements. Where these conflict with these general Terms, the program-specific agreement governs.

Content standards. You are solely responsible for content you submit. You warrant that your User Content is your own creation, or that you have obtained all necessary rights and permissions. Content must not infringe on third-party IP, violate laws, or breach our conduct standards. We reserve the right to remove any content that violates these Terms.

5. Safety, liability, and insurance

Personal responsibility. Participation in Moonshot Pirates events is voluntary. You assume responsibility for risks associated with participation and agree to take reasonable precautions for your own safety and property.

Insurance. The Organizer is not responsible for medical, travel, or personal insurance for participants. For in-person events, we strongly recommend obtaining appropriate health, travel, and personal insurance. Any medical expenses, emergency evacuation, or property losses are your (or your guardian's) responsibility.

Travel and visas. If you are traveling to an event in another country, you are responsible for obtaining valid travel documents and any required visas. We can provide invitation letters or supporting documentation, but cannot guarantee visa approval. We are not liable if you are unable to attend due to documentation issues.

Special accommodations. Please inform us in writing of any dietary restrictions, allergies, or accessibility needs at the time of registration or well in advance. We will make reasonable efforts to accommodate documented needs but cannot guarantee every requirement can be met.

Release of liability. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Moonshot Pirates (the Foundation, beapirate GmbH, and all staff, mentors, and affiliates) is not liable for any loss, damage, illness, or injury arising from your participation, except where caused by our gross negligence or intentional misconduct. This includes liability for loss of personal property, financial losses, personal injury, or indirect damages.

Views expressed by guest speakers, mentors, or other participants are their own. We are not responsible for advice given by third parties during our programs.

In the event of force majeure (natural disaster, epidemic, war, government action, or similar), the Organizer is not responsible for resulting losses to participants.

No warranty. All Services are provided "as is" and "as available" without warranty of any kind. We do not guarantee that participation will lead to investment, business success, or any particular outcome.

Indemnification. Participants aged 18 and over (or the parent/guardian of participants under 18) agree to indemnify and hold harmless Moonshot Pirates and its officers, employees, mentors, and agents from any claims, liabilities, damages, or expenses arising out of their violation of these Terms or misuse of the Services.

6. Privacy and data protection

Your personal data is processed in accordance with our Privacy Policy, which forms part of these Terms by reference. The Privacy Policy describes:

• What data we collect and why
• How we use it
• Who we share it with (including all data processors)
• How long we retain it
• Your rights under GDPR and how to exercise them
• International data transfers and safeguards
• Cookies and tracking practices
• Children's privacy and parental consent

Please read the Privacy Policy in full before agreeing to these Terms. If there is any inconsistency between these Terms and the Privacy Policy on a privacy matter, the Privacy Policy governs. For privacy questions or formal GDPR requests, contact [email protected].

7. Media, recording, and opt-out

Photography and video. Moonshot Pirates documents its programs through photography, audio, and video. By attending our events (in-person or virtual), you acknowledge that you may be photographed or recorded. These materials may be used on our websites, social media, promotional materials, donor reports, or shared with program partners to highlight our work. We never use media in a derogatory manner. Images are used to showcase participants and program impact.

Virtual session recordings. Online workshops, webinars, and mentorship sessions may be recorded for safeguarding, quality assurance, internal evaluation, and (with separate consent) promotional use. Recording is announced at the start of sessions.

Opt-out for adults. If you do not wish to appear in photos or videos, email us at [email protected] before the event or notify a staff member on site. We will make reasonable efforts to accommodate, including asking photographers to avoid you or removing existing images on request.

Opt-out for minors. For participants under 18, additional media consent requirements apply as set out in our Safeguarding Policy, including parental opt-out and restrictions on identifying details. Where these conflict with the general media provisions above, the Safeguarding Policy governs.

Media by other participants. We cannot fully control photos or screenshots taken by other participants. All participants are expected to respect others' privacy and honour any requests not to be photographed. Moonshot Pirates is not liable for media captured by other participants, but will address misuse that violates our Policies.

8. Termination

By participant. You may stop using our Services or withdraw from a program at any time. If you delete your account, we will handle your data according to our Privacy Policy. Mid-program withdrawal may affect eligibility for completion benefits.

By Organizer. We may suspend or terminate your access to the Services at any time for reasons including:

• Violation of these Terms, the Safeguarding Policy, or any other policy
• Unlawful, unsafe, or disruptive conduct
• Providing false information about your age, identity, or qualifications
• Technical or security issues requiring suspension
• Legal or governmental requirements

For minor violations, we may issue warnings or impose temporary restrictions first. For serious violations or safety concerns, immediate removal applies. Termination for cause does not entitle you to a refund.

Effect on programs and IP. In the event of termination, ongoing program benefits and any associated funding will be handled according to the specific program agreement. Participant intellectual property remains the participant's at all times — termination does not transfer IP rights to Moonshot Pirates.

Surviving provisions. Clauses that by their nature survive termination (liability disclaimers, IP licenses already granted, governing law, etc.) remain in effect after termination.

9. Mentor-specific terms

In addition to the general Terms above, mentors agree to:

Identity verification. Complete identity verification before joining program activities. For roles involving direct one-on-one engagement with minors, a recent police record check (Strafregisterbescheinigung in Austria, or equivalent in other jurisdictions) is required and non-negotiable.

Safeguarding compliance. Read, understand, and abide by our Child Safeguarding & Protection Policy at all times when interacting with participants, particularly those under 18.

Communication channels. Use only official Moonshot Pirates channels for one-on-one communication with minor participants. Unmoderated third-party platforms are not permitted for one-on-one communication with minors. Group communication on third-party platforms is allowed at the discretion of the Safeguarding Officer.

Confidentiality. Keep all participant personal data and project content strictly confidential. Participant intellectual property remains solely with the participant. Mentors may not use, disclose, or commercially exploit participant data or project content without the participant's explicit written consent.

Session recording. Consent to the recording of mentoring sessions where applicable, for safeguarding, quality assurance, and internal evaluation. Promotional use of recordings requires separate consent.

Code of conduct. Adhere to the conduct standards in Section 2 and the additional Code of Conduct in our Safeguarding Policy.

Termination. Failure to comply with safeguarding, conduct, or communication requirements may result in immediate removal from the mentor network and, where appropriate, reporting to relevant authorities.

10. Changes to these terms

We may update these Terms from time to time as our organization and services evolve. For material changes (those that affect your rights or obligations), we will:

• Update the version number and effective date at the top of this document
• Notify registered participants by email at least 30 days before changes take effect
• Request active re-acceptance for material changes

Non-material changes (clarifications, wording adjustments) take effect upon posting. Continued use after the new effective date constitutes acceptance of non-material changes only. You can request prior versions at any time.

11. Miscellaneous provisions

Governing law and jurisdiction. These Terms are governed by the laws of Austria, without regard to conflict-of-law principles. Disputes arising from these Terms or your participation that cannot be resolved amicably are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent courts in Vienna, Austria. EU consumer residents may also bring proceedings in their country of residence under applicable consumer protection law. This clause does not deprive you of mandatory protections under the law of your country of habitual residence.

Severability. If any provision of these Terms is held invalid or unenforceable, that provision will be interpreted to achieve its intended purpose to the maximum extent permitted, and the remaining provisions will remain in full force.

No waiver. Failure to enforce a provision in a given situation does not waive our right to enforce it in the future. Any waiver must be explicit and in writing.

Independent participation. Nothing in these Terms creates a partnership, employment relationship, or formal endorsement between you and Moonshot Pirates.

Entire agreement. These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, Child Safeguarding & Protection Policy, and any program-specific agreements, constitute the entire agreement between you and Moonshot Pirates regarding the Services.

Assignment. You may not assign or transfer rights or obligations under these Terms. Moonshot Pirates may assign rights and obligations to a successor entity, with prior notification to you.

12. Contact

General

[email protected]

Legal & Terms

[email protected]

Privacy & GDPR

[email protected]

Safeguarding

[email protected]

Post

Co-Innovation Factory, Absberggasse 27/1/3, 1100 Vienna, Austria

Phone

+43 670 507 9815