Terms of Service — Mentova Expert Network

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using mentova.app, submitting any inquiry or application, or engaging Mentova's services in any capacity, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). Please read them carefully.

If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, please do not use our website or services. These Terms apply to all visitors, users, clients, and applicants — including startups, businesses, founders, and professionals applying to join as experts.

2. Service Overview

Mentova operates a curated expert network that facilitates connections between startups, growing businesses, and experienced senior professionals. Our services include:

Reviewing and processing startup and business requests for expert support
Identifying, reviewing, and onboarding qualified experts to the network
Facilitating curated introductions between businesses and suitable experts
Supporting flexible engagements including mentorship, advisory, consulting, fractional support, and project-based work
Providing access to structured consultation and advisory arrangements

Mentova is a service business, not a software platform. Access to our services is provided primarily through human-reviewed processes, not automated systems.

3. Mentova's Role

Mentova acts as a facilitator and curator. We are not a party to the working relationship between a startup or business and an expert. We do not employ experts on behalf of client businesses, and we do not act as an employment agency.

Our role is to review requests, identify suitable experts, make considered introductions, and support the engagement process. The actual working arrangement, including scope, duration, expectations, and any direct financial terms between a business and an expert, is agreed between those parties directly.

Mentova is not responsible for the outcomes of any engagement, the quality of advice provided by an expert, or the decisions made by a business based on any guidance received.

4. Responsibilities of Startups and Businesses

If you are using Mentova as a startup, founder, or business, you agree to:

Provide accurate, honest information about your business, your needs, and your circumstances when submitting any request or inquiry
Engage with experts and Mentova in a professional and respectful manner
Not misrepresent the nature, stage, or intentions of your business
Pay applicable fees as agreed before or during the engagement process
Not attempt to circumvent Mentova's role after an introduction has been made, in a manner that undermines the service relationship
Treat expert introductions and curated shortlists as confidential where indicated
Not use expert introductions or Mentova's services for any unlawful, harmful, or deceptive purpose

5. Responsibilities of Experts

If you are applying to or participating as an expert on Mentova, you agree to:

Submit accurate, honest information about your professional background, experience, skills, and availability
Not misrepresent your qualifications, seniority, or domain expertise
Engage with businesses and Mentova in a professional and respectful manner
Operate as an independent professional, not as an employee of Mentova
Not accept introductions with the intent to solicit Mentova's clients for unrelated services outside the scope of the engagement
Not use your position on the platform for any unlawful, misleading, or harmful purpose
Acknowledge that Mentova does not guarantee placement, introductions, or income from the network

6. Pricing & Payment

Mentova's published prices represent starting prices and are subject to variation based on the seniority and experience of the expert, the scope and complexity of the engagement, the duration and model of support requested, and any custom requirements.

All pricing is communicated clearly before payment is requested. You will not be asked to pay for a service without prior written confirmation of the applicable fee and scope.

Payment terms, methods, and timing will be agreed during the onboarding or confirmation process for each engagement. Fees are denominated in Indian Rupees (₹) unless otherwise agreed.

For refunds and cancellations, please refer to the Refund & Cancellation Policy.

7. Communications

When you use Mentova's services, you may receive email communications related to your inquiry, request, or engagement. These are service-related communications necessary to fulfil the service you have requested.

Automated notifications are sent from noreply@mentova.app and are not monitored for replies. For support or questions, please use support@mentova.app.

You agree to communicate with Mentova and with introduced parties in a professional, constructive, and respectful manner at all times.

8. Acceptable Use

You agree not to use mentova.app or Mentova's services to:

Engage in or facilitate any activity that is unlawful, harmful, fraudulent, or deceptive
Impersonate any person, entity, or business
Harass, abuse, or harm any other user, expert, or member of Mentova's team
Submit false, misleading, or fabricated information in any inquiry, request, or application
Attempt to gain unauthorised access to any part of the website or its systems
Distribute spam, unsolicited commercial messages, or malicious content
Circumvent, disable, or interfere with the proper functioning of the website

Mentova reserves the right to terminate or suspend access to its services, without notice, for any use that violates these Terms or that Mentova, at its reasonable discretion, considers harmful, abusive, or inappropriate.

9. Intellectual Property

All content on mentova.app — including text, design, layout, graphics, logos, and written materials — is the intellectual property of Mentova and is protected accordingly. You may not reproduce, distribute, or use this content without prior written permission.

Any materials, advice, or content shared by an expert during an engagement remain the intellectual property of the expert unless otherwise agreed in writing between the expert and the business receiving that advice.

Submitting an inquiry or application to Mentova does not transfer any intellectual property rights.

10. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Mentova shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or punitive damages arising from your use of our services, any engagement between a business and an expert, or any outcomes — positive or negative — resulting from guidance, advice, or work facilitated through Mentova.

Mentova's total liability to any party, for any claim arising under or in connection with these Terms or our services, shall not exceed the total amount paid by that party to Mentova in the three months preceding the event giving rise to the claim.

Nothing in these Terms limits liability for fraud, gross negligence, or any matter that cannot be excluded under applicable law.

11. No Guarantee of Acceptance, Matching, or Outcomes

Mentova does not guarantee:

That a submitted request will result in a match or introduction
That an expert application will be approved
That any particular expert will be available or willing to engage
That any engagement will produce a specific business result, outcome, or level of advice
That any timeline communicated will be met under all circumstances

We work hard to provide high-quality, timely service. We are honest about what we can deliver, and we communicate openly when circumstances change. However, curated matching involves human judgment and real-world constraints that we cannot always control.

12. Right to Decline or Reject

Mentova reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to decline any startup request, reject any expert application, or terminate any ongoing engagement where:

Information provided is found to be false, misleading, or incomplete
Conduct is found to be abusive, dishonest, or inappropriate
The request or engagement is not a suitable fit for the Mentova network
There is any violation of these Terms or applicable law

In such cases, Mentova will communicate its decision and, where appropriate, consider any applicable refund in accordance with the Refund Policy.

13. Updates to These Terms

Mentova may update these Terms of Service from time to time. Changes will be reflected by updating the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Material changes will be communicated where practicable.

Your continued use of mentova.app or Mentova's services after the updated Terms are posted constitutes your acceptance of those changes. We encourage you to review this page periodically.

14. Contact

For questions about these Terms, please contact:

Email: contact@mentova.app
Support: support@mentova.app
Business: Mentova, mentova.app
Operations: Remote-first, India-based