Terms of Use

Effective as of: April 17,2025

Introduction

Welcome to DeckNode. These Terms of Use (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of the DeckNode website and services. DeckNode (“we,” “us,” or “our”) is a funding intelligence platform that uses AI and expert curation to connect high-potential Web3 projects with aligned investors, launchpads, and capital partners. By accessing or using our website or services, you agree to be bound by these Terms and all applicable laws and regulations. If you do not agree, you must not use DeckNode. We may update these Terms from time to time by posting the revised version on our website, and your continued use of the site constitutes acceptance of any changes. Any attempt to replicate, redistribute, or reverse-engineer the structure, scoring logic, submission system, or routing mechanisms developed by DeckNode constitutes IP infringement.

Services Overview

Nature of Services

DeckNode provides a matchmaking and discovery layer that routes vetted startups to capital sources such as VCs, angels, accelerators, launchpads, and ecosystem partners. Through forms, AI logic, and curated events, we help identify signal in the noise. All investment decisions, transactions, and advisory relationships take place off-platform between the parties involved.

No Broker-Dealer Activities

DeckNode is not a broker-dealer, investment advisor, exchange, or custodian. We do not offer or sell securities or tokens, transact on behalf of users, or take custody of funds or crypto assets. Any introductions or recommendations are informational only. DeckNode is not licensed by the CMVM (Portugal), SEC (U.S.), FINRA, or any other financial regulator.

No Securities or Token Sales

DeckNode does not facilitate or participate in any token sales, public or private investment rounds, or securities offerings. We are not involved in ICOs, TGEs, or IDOs. Any transactions or fundraising outcomes are negotiated independently by the participating projects and investors.

Advisory & Referral Agreements

If you engage DeckNode for services beyond basic matchmaking—such as strategic advisory, go-to-market planning, or investment support—such engagements will be governed by a separate, signed agreement. These Terms do not govern the scope or terms of any such agreement.

Referral-Based Compensation

DeckNode may receive referral or success-based fees when a connection leads to a successful partnership. These fees are structured as consulting payments and not commissions on financial transactions. This structure is designed to remain outside the scope of regulated brokerage activity.

User Eligibility & Responsibilities

Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old and legally authorized to represent yourself or your organization. By using DeckNode, you confirm that you have the capacity to agree to these Terms.

Accurate Information

You agree to provide accurate, complete, and current information when using our services. This includes all submission forms, communications, or disclosures made to DeckNode. Misrepresentation may result in removal or restricted access.

User Accounts

If account-based features are made available, you are responsible for safeguarding your credentials. Notify us immediately in case of unauthorized use. We are not responsible for any loss resulting from compromised access.

Compliance with Laws

You agree to comply with applicable laws in your jurisdiction, including those related to securities, KYC/AML, and cross-border capital formation. DeckNode does not verify investor accreditation or legal compliance of projects. All parties are responsible for their own due diligence.

Prohibited Uses

You agree not to:

• Use DeckNode for unlawful or fraudulent activities

• Misrepresent yourself or your organization

• Submit misleading or false information

• Use bots, scrapers, or harvest platform data

• Circumvent security or spam users

• Reuse proprietary logic or trademarks without consent
  
  
  

Violations may result in immediate termination and legal action.

Use of Outreach Aliases

DeckNode may use branded aliases (e.g., “Alex from DeckNode”) for outreach on platforms like Telegram to streamline communication. These aliases are managed by authorized team members and are used for informational purposes only.

Only communications from an official @decknode.com email or signed agreement are legally binding. By engaging with a branded alias, you acknowledge that:

• No guarantees or offers are being made

• The alias is not a legal actor

• Any statements are exploratory in nature
  
  
  

All alias communications remain subject to the confidentiality and usage policies in these Terms.

AI Scoring and Automated Routing

DeckNode may use proprietary scoring logic and AI systems to help assess, rank, and route project submissions to relevant investors or capital partners. These tools operate based on data inputs and predefined logic—not human investment decisions or financial advice.

By submitting information through DeckNode, you consent to the automated processing of your data for internal vetting, matchmaking, and routing purposes. The presence or absence of any introduction or outcome does not imply endorsement, approval, or rejection by DeckNode or its partners.

No Financial Advice or Fiduciary Relationship

DeckNode provides informational curation—not investment advice. We do not offer legal, tax, financial, or strategic advice unless separately contracted. No user relationship creates any fiduciary obligation, advisory responsibility, or representation.

All decisions related to investment or fundraising are made independently by users. DeckNode is not responsible for the success or outcome of any introduction or opportunity surfaced through the platform.

Jurisdictional Access Limitation

DeckNode reserves the right to restrict or deny access to its services in jurisdictions where such use would require regulatory registration, licensing, or authorization not currently held by the company. This includes, but is not limited to, users in the United States or other countries with stringent securities regulations. All users are responsible for ensuring that use of the platform is lawful in their respective jurisdiction.

Submission Non-Exclusivity

Submitting a pitch, deck, or project through DeckNode does not create an exclusive relationship between the founder and DeckNode, nor between the founder and any capital source introduced via DeckNode. Users remain free to engage with other partners, platforms, or investors independently of the DeckNode platform.

Intellectual Property

All DeckNode content, logos, graphics, logic, and frameworks are protected intellectual property. You may not reuse, scrape, clone, or represent DeckNode branding or product architecture without prior written consent.

Third-party logos or references remain the property of their respective owners and are included for context only. No endorsement is implied unless stated.

Confidentiality

Information shared via DeckNode may be confidential (e.g., pitch decks, investor strategies). You agree to:

• Maintain confidentiality

• Use shared information solely for its intended purpose

• Not disclose without prior written consent
  
  
  

This includes pitch data submitted by founders and investment information submitted by capital sources.

Third-Party Links & Services

DeckNode may include links to submission tools (e.g., Tally), event partners, or outside platforms. We are not responsible for their accuracy, performance, or data handling. Use of third-party services is at your own risk and governed by their terms.

Disclaimer of Warranties

DeckNode is provided as-is and as-available, with no guarantees:

• No guarantee of fundraising or investor outcome

• No guarantee of uptime, data accuracy, or service continuity

• No representations about third-party truthfulness or outcomes

Use of DeckNode is at your own discretion and risk.

Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, DeckNode shall not be liable for:

• Indirect or consequential damages

• Lost data, investment loss, or reputational harm

• Any claim exceeding EUR €100 or the total fees paid to DeckNode in the prior six months (whichever is greater)
  
  
  

Exceptions apply for gross negligence or fraud.

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless DeckNode, its affiliates, and representatives from any claims, damages, or disputes arising from:

• Violation of these Terms

• Infringement of IP or data rights

• Disputes with third parties introduced via DeckNode

We reserve the right to assume exclusive defense of any matter you indemnify us for.

Regulatory Compliance

Not a VASP

DeckNode does not engage in virtual asset custody, trading, or exchange and is not required to register as a VASP under Portuguese AML Law No. 83/2017. We do not facilitate or hold virtual assets.

MiCA Readiness

We monitor developments under the EU’s MiCA regulation. As of now, our activities fall outside regulated crypto-asset services. If that changes, we will comply accordingly.

U.S. Compliance

DeckNode does not actively solicit U.S. investors or market offerings in ways that would trigger U.S. broker-dealer registration. All U.S. users are responsible for their own regulatory compliance.

Termination

You may stop using DeckNode at any time. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate access for any reason, especially if Terms are violated or legal concerns arise.

Certain clauses—such as IP, disclaimers, and liability—survive termination.

Governing Law & Disputes

These Terms are governed by Portuguese law. You agree to submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of Portugal unless otherwise agreed in writing.

DeckNode may offer binding arbitration on a case-by-case basis, subject to mutual consent.

Governing Language

These Terms of Use are originally written in English. In the event of any discrepancy between translated versions and the English version, the English version shall prevail.

Miscellaneous

• Severability: If one clause is unenforceable, others remain valid.

• No Waiver: Failure to enforce a provision is not a waiver.

• Entire Agreement: These Terms + Privacy Policy + Disclaimer are the full agreement.

• Assignment: You may not assign rights without our written consent.

• Headings: Section titles are for clarity only.

Contact

If you have questions regarding these Terms:
📩 Info@decknode.com

Subject line: Terms of Use Inquiry