Effective date: August 22, 2026
These Terms of Use (“Terms”) govern access to and use of productstartup.com and related website content, podcast materials, communications, and online features operated by Product Startup (collectively, the “Site”). By accessing or using the Site, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Site.
1. About Product Startup
Product Startup provides hardware startup education, podcast content, general information, advisory information, and information about consulting services. References to “Product Startup,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Product Startup and its operators, successors, and assigns.
2. Informational Site; No Professional Relationship
Site and podcast content is provided for general educational and informational purposes. It is not a substitute for advice from qualified legal, accounting, tax, financial, investment, engineering, safety, regulatory, intellectual-property, manufacturing, or other professionals familiar with your circumstances.
Using the Site, sending a form, receiving a response, subscribing, or listening to content does not create a client, consultant, fiduciary, partnership, joint venture, employment, agency, or other professional relationship. A consulting engagement exists only under a separate written agreement signed by the applicable parties.
3. Eligibility
You must be legally capable of agreeing to these Terms. If you use the Site for an organization, you represent that you have authority to bind that organization. The Site is not directed to children under 16.
4. Ownership
The Site and its original content—including branding, names, logos, design, text, graphics, photographs, videos, audio, podcast recordings, episode materials, compilations, transcripts created by or for Product Startup, downloads, and software—are owned by Product Startup or its licensors and are protected by intellectual-property and other laws.
Except for the limited permission below, no right, title, or interest is transferred to you. “Product Startup” and associated branding may not be used without written permission.
5. Limited Permission to Use the Site
Subject to these Terms, Product Startup grants you a limited, revocable, non-exclusive, non-transferable permission to access and use the Site for lawful personal or internal business information purposes. You may share ordinary links to publicly available pages and may quote brief excerpts with clear attribution where permitted by law.
You may not, without prior written permission:
- Copy, republish, sell, license, syndicate, scrape, frame, mirror, or commercially exploit substantial Site content.
- Remove notices or misrepresent the source, authorship, sponsorship, or endorsement of content.
- Use Site content to train, fine-tune, ground, populate, or improve a commercial artificial-intelligence model or dataset, except where such restriction is prohibited by law or Product Startup has agreed in writing.
- Use automated means that impose an unreasonable load, bypass controls, or interfere with the Site.
- Attempt unauthorized access, introduce malicious code, probe security, or disrupt systems.
- Use the Site or content for unlawful, deceptive, infringing, defamatory, abusive, or privacy-invasive purposes.
6. User Submissions and Product Ideas
You may be able to submit messages, questions, reviews, comments, feedback, files, or other material (“Submissions”). You retain any ownership you already hold in your Submissions, including product ideas. Product Startup does not acquire ownership of your product idea merely because you submit a general inquiry.
However, general website channels are not confidential. Unless a separate written confidentiality or engagement agreement states otherwise:
- Product Startup has no duty to treat a Submission as confidential or proprietary.
- You should not submit trade secrets, patent-sensitive disclosures, detailed designs, or information belonging to another person.
- Product Startup may already know, independently develop, or receive similar ideas.
- No compensation, exclusivity, or obligation to pursue a Submission is created.
You grant Product Startup a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to host, store, reproduce, review, analyze, communicate, and otherwise use a Submission as reasonably necessary to respond to you, evaluate a possible relationship, provide requested features or services, operate and improve the business, maintain records, protect security and legal rights, and carry out purposes described in the Privacy Policy. This licence does not transfer ownership of a product idea.
For feedback or suggestions specifically about Product Startup, the Site, content, or services, you grant Product Startup a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free right to use and commercialize that feedback without restriction or compensation, provided we handle personal information in accordance with applicable law.
You represent that you have the rights needed to make a Submission and that it does not violate law, confidentiality, privacy, intellectual property, or another person’s rights.
7. Privacy
Our Privacy Policy describes how we handle personal information. It is incorporated into these Terms by reference where permitted. You agree not to submit another person’s personal information unless authorized and lawful.
8. Marketing, Advertising, Affiliates, and Sponsors
The Site may contain advertising, affiliate links, sponsored content, paid placements, referral arrangements, or information about third-party products and services. Product Startup may receive compensation, commissions, free products, access, or other value. Material relationships will be disclosed where required. Compensation does not guarantee a favourable opinion.
Third-party offers are provided by their respective providers. Product Startup is not the seller or guarantor unless expressly stated.
9. Podcast Guests, Interviews, and Testimonials
Statements by guests, interviewees, customers, reviewers, or other third parties are their own. Appearance on the Site or podcast does not necessarily constitute endorsement by Product Startup. Testimonials and examples reflect individual experiences and do not guarantee typical or future results.
10. Third-Party Links and Services
The Site may link to or embed services operated by others, including podcast platforms, social networks, booking tools, stores, payment providers, and partner websites. Product Startup does not control and is not responsible for their availability, content, terms, privacy, security, products, or conduct. A link does not imply endorsement unless expressly stated. Use third-party services at your own risk and review their terms.
11. Future Purchases, Bookings, and Paid Services
Additional terms may apply to purchases, downloads, shipping, returns, subscriptions, bookings, events, or consulting. Those terms will be presented before or at the transaction and will control if they conflict with these general Terms. Paid consulting is governed by the applicable signed engagement agreement.
12. No Warranties
To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Site and content are provided “as is” and “as available.” Product Startup disclaims express, implied, and statutory warranties, including warranties of accuracy, completeness, currency, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, availability, security, and error-free operation.
Hardware, product development, fundraising, manufacturing, marketing, distribution, and business activities involve uncertainty and risk. Product Startup does not warrant that any idea, strategy, supplier, investor approach, campaign, design, product, or business will be safe, compliant, patentable, fundable, manufacturable, profitable, or successful.
13. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Product Startup and its owners, personnel, contractors, affiliates, licensors, guests, and service providers will not be liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, special, exemplary, or punitive damages; lost profits, revenue, savings, business opportunities, goodwill, data, or use; or decisions made in reliance on the Site.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, the total aggregate liability arising from or relating to the Site or these Terms will not exceed the greater of (a) the amount you paid Product Startup specifically for the Site feature giving rise to the claim during the twelve months before the event, or (b) CAD $100. Separate signed service or transaction agreements may contain different limits.
Some jurisdictions do not allow certain exclusions or limits. In those jurisdictions, the provisions apply only to the maximum extent permitted. Nothing in these Terms excludes liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limits non-waivable consumer rights.
14. Indemnity
To the extent permitted by law, you agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Product Startup and its owners, personnel, contractors, affiliates, and licensors from claims, losses, liabilities, costs, and reasonable legal fees arising from your unlawful use of the Site, your Submissions, your violation of these Terms, or your infringement of another person’s rights. This does not require indemnification for Product Startup’s own conduct to the extent such an obligation is prohibited by law.
15. Enforcement and Suspension
We may investigate suspected misuse and may restrict or terminate access, remove content, preserve evidence, or cooperate with lawful authorities. We may discontinue or modify any Site feature without liability, subject to applicable law and transaction terms.
16. Changes
We may revise these Terms by posting an updated version with a new effective date. Material changes will receive additional notice when required. Continued use after the effective date constitutes acceptance where permitted by law.
17. Governing Law and Disputes
These Terms are governed by the laws of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable there, without regard to conflict-of-laws rules. Subject to non-waivable rights and any different written agreement, the courts of Ontario located in or nearest to Toronto will have exclusive jurisdiction. Nothing prevents Product Startup from seeking urgent or protective relief in another appropriate court.
18. General
These Terms and incorporated policies are the entire agreement concerning general Site use. If a provision is unenforceable, it will be modified to the minimum extent necessary or severed, and the remainder will continue. Failure to enforce a provision is not a waiver. You may not assign these Terms without consent; Product Startup may assign them in connection with a reorganization, financing, merger, acquisition, sale, or transfer of the business or relevant assets.
19. Contact
Product Startup
103 Carmichael Cres.
King City, Ontario L7B 0N2
Canada
privacy@productstartup.com