Program Participation Agreement
Network-to-Capital Initiative
Grand Founders Foundation — 501(c)(3), EIN 92-3725118
1. Program Overview
Grand Founders is a New York–based 501(c)(3) non-profit public foundation dedicated to strengthening national security and advancing economic development through impact investments and global entrepreneurial support.
Network-to-Capital is Grand Founders' flagship initiative supporting emerging entrepreneurs through equity-free, cost-free capital pathways. The program is a 90-day structured engagement connecting founders from underestimated communities — including veterans, immigrants, women founders, and other underrepresented groups — with curated investor access, mentorship, platform infrastructure, and ongoing alumni benefits to accelerate their path to capital readiness, without taking equity or charging fees.
2. Program Contributions
Grand Founders shall provide the following contributions to the Participant at no cost and in exchange for no equity:
Curated business breakfasts with institutional investors and Fortune 500 C-suite executives — 12 weekly sessions including venue, hospitality, guest curation, scheduling, and logistics
Mentor matching and advisory sessions — 1–2 matched mentors per participant, 1–2 structured sessions each, with institutional investors, C-suite executives, and domain experts
Private salon dinner access — one curated dinner with Fortune 500 C-suite executives, family office principals, and institutional investors, including venue, hospitality, security, and relationship coordination
Structured investor introductions — 5–10 qualified, warm introductions to pre-qualified institutional investors, family offices, and fund managers, with follow-up coordination
Demo Days, Tech Week Reception and program events — access to Grand Founders receptions during key convening moments
Alumni quarterly receptions and annual summit — 4 quarterly receptions plus annual Grand Founders summit, ongoing and permanent post-program
Post-program capital plan — fundraising strategy engagement identifying target investors, sequencing introductions, and defining terms
3. Participant Commitments
Network-to-Capital is built on a foundational principle: every participant is both a beneficiary and a builder. The commitments below are the architecture of a self-sustaining community where each cohort strengthens the next, each introduction compounds, and the collective network becomes more valuable with every member who contributes to it.
3.1. Recommended Technology Platform and Community Development
The Participant shall create and maintain an active, verified profile on the platform for the duration of the program and for twenty-four (24) months thereafter, maintaining a minimum of 90% profile completeness as required by the AI matchmaking engine. The Participant is free to use any other platforms of their choosing; however, the Network-to-Capital community — including all current and alumni participants, mentors, institutional investors, and program partners — operates on the platform. The Participant commits to actively building and developing a community of prospective clients and investors on the platform for the duration of their participation.
3.2. Active Program Engagement
The Participant commits to actively engage with the program by attending curated business breakfasts, responding to investor introductions in a timely and professional manner, and participating in assigned events including the private salon dinner and program receptions. Grand Founders reserves the right to withdraw program support if the Participant fails to maintain meaningful engagement over any consecutive 30-day period.
3.3. Social Media and Public Visibility
The Participant shall publish a minimum of one post per week on their professional social media platforms during the 90-day program period, highlighting their participation, insights, or experiences within the Network-to-Capital program. Following the conclusion of the program, the Participant shall publish a minimum of one post per month for a period of 12 months. Within the first 30 days of program participation, the Participant shall add the designation "Grand Founders Fellow" to their professional social media profiles. Failure to meet these requirements shall affect Active Standing status under Section 4, but shall not constitute a material breach of this Agreement under Section 8.
3.4. Reporting and Impact Data
The Participant agrees to provide Grand Founders with quarterly updates on business progress, fundraising milestones, revenue growth, and other relevant outcomes during and for 24 months following the program period. This data is used solely for Grand Founders' nonprofit reporting, grant compliance, executive reporting, and impact assessment, and will not be shared with third parties without the Participant's written consent.
3.5. Mentorship of Future Participants
Upon completing the program, the Participant commits to serving as a mentor to at least two participants in a future Network-to-Capital cohort, including participating in at least two structured mentorship sessions per program cycle.
3.6. Recruitment of Future Participants
The Participant agrees to actively support the growth of the Network-to-Capital program by identifying and referring qualified founders from underestimated communities for future cohorts.
3.7. Knowledge Sharing and Community Contribution
The Participant commits to actively contributing to the Network-to-Capital community by sharing knowledge, experience, lessons learned, and professional connections with other current and alumni participants.
3.8. Peer Network Commitment
The Participant commits to operating as a connector and resource within the cohort and across alumni generations by: (a) making good-faith warm introductions to fellow participants and alumni; (b) giving priority consideration to fellow participants and alumni for procurement, partnerships, and professional referrals where commercially reasonable; (c) responding to reasonable requests for advice or peer review within a reasonable timeframe; (d) participating in at least one peer advisory or cohort working session per month during the program period and at least one per quarter as an alumnus; and (e) treating fellow participants' business information with confidentiality and discretion. No participant is obligated to make an introduction or referral that the Participant considers inappropriate or not in the best interest of their own business relationships.
3.9. Professional Conduct
The Participant shall conduct all interactions facilitated through the program with professionalism and integrity. The Participant shall not misrepresent their business, financials, or background. Grand Founders reserves the right to immediately terminate program participation for any material misrepresentation or conduct that reflects negatively on the program or its stakeholders.
3.10. Acknowledgment of Program Support
The Participant agrees to acknowledge Grand Founders and the Network-to-Capital program in fundraising materials, pitch decks, and public communications where program support is referenced, for the duration of the program and 12 months thereafter.
3.11. No Equity or Fee Obligation
Participation in the Network-to-Capital program is entirely equity-free and cost-free to the Participant. Grand Founders does not take equity, revenue share, convertible notes, or any other financial interest in the Participant's company as a condition of program participation. No fees of any kind are charged to the Participant.
4. Active Standing and Alumni Benefits
Upon completion of the 90-day program, the Participant becomes a permanent Network-to-Capital alumnus. Alumni in Active Standing receive ongoing access to quarterly alumni receptions, the annual Grand Founders summit, curated investor and client introductions from future cohorts, and invitations to private salon dinners and high-profile convenings.
Active Standing is maintained by fulfilling the ongoing commitments set forth in this Agreement, including quarterly business reporting, monthly social media visibility, mentorship of future participants, community contribution on the platform, peer network engagement, and recruitment support. Alumni who do not maintain Active Standing will remain part of the community but will not receive invitations to curated events, private dinners, or future investor introductions. Active Standing may be reinstated at any time by resuming the commitments described above.
5. Data and Record-Keeping
All program data captured through the platform shall be retained by Grand Founders indefinitely for nonprofit reporting, grant compliance, executive reporting, and impact assessment. Grand Founders shall maintain reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards consistent with the requirements of the New York SHIELD Act and other applicable data protection laws. Grand Founders' Privacy Policy governs the collection, use, storage, and disclosure of personal information and is incorporated herein by reference.
6. Confidentiality
Both parties agree to treat as confidential any proprietary business information, financial data, or strategic plans shared during the course of the program. Grand Founders shall not disclose the Participant's confidential information to third parties without prior consent, except as required for program operations. The Participant shall not disclose confidential information about other program participants, Grand Founders' internal operations, or investor details obtained through the program.
7. Use of Name and Likeness
The Participant grants Grand Founders permission to use the Participant's name, company name, logo, and testimonials (with prior approval) for promotional, reporting, and fundraising purposes.
8. Term and Termination
This Agreement governs the Participant's enrollment in a single 90-day program cycle. Grand Founders may withdraw program support immediately if the Participant breaches any material commitment. The Participant may withdraw at any time by providing written notice. Termination does not affect alumni benefits already earned, subject to Active Standing requirements.
9. Disclaimer of Outcomes
Grand Founders makes no representation or warranty that participation will result in investment, funding commitments, partnerships, revenue, contracts, or any particular business outcome. All introductions, mentorship, and program activities are facilitative in nature and do not constitute guarantees of capital, deal flow, or commercial success.
10. Intellectual Property Ownership
Grand Founders claims no ownership interest in any intellectual property developed, owned, or controlled by the Participant before, during, or after the program. All intellectual property created by the Participant remains the sole and exclusive property of the Participant. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as an assignment, license, or transfer of any intellectual property rights.
11. Participant Representations and Warranties
The Participant represents and warrants that: (a) the Participant has full legal authority to enter into this Agreement; (b) all information provided is true, accurate, and complete; (c) the Participant is the lawful owner of any intellectual property presented; (d) the Participant is not subject to any contractual restriction that would prevent participation; (e) the Participant's company is in good standing; (f) neither the Participant nor any of its principals is identified on any OFAC or restricted party list; (g) the Participant shall not violate the FCPA or any applicable anti-bribery law; (h) neither the Participant nor its founders has been convicted of any felony involving fraud, dishonesty, or moral turpitude; (i) the Participant is not subject to any material pending or threatened criminal investigation or regulatory enforcement action; and (j) the Participant shall promptly notify Grand Founders if any of these representations become inaccurate.
12. Limitation of Liability
Neither party shall be liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, special, exemplary, or punitive damages. Nothing in this section shall limit liability for fraud, willful misconduct, or gross negligence.
13. Indemnification
The Participant shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Grand Founders, its officers, directors, employees, agents, mentors, advisors, and program partners from and against any claims arising out of: (a) any breach of this Agreement; (b) the Participant's interactions with parties introduced through the program; (c) any violation of applicable law; or (d) any third-party claim arising from the Participant's use of intellectual property presented during the program.
14. Insurance
Grand Founders does not provide insurance coverage of any kind. The Participant is solely responsible for maintaining adequate insurance for its own business operations.
15. Non-Solicitation, Non-Circumvention, and Non-Disparagement
During the program period and for 24 months following, the Participant shall not circumvent Grand Founders by engaging contacts introduced through the program for unrelated purposes without consent, solicit Grand Founders staff or mentors, or use program relationships to compete with Grand Founders' mission. Neither party shall make disparaging statements about the other, subject to standard legal exceptions including truthful statements in legal proceedings and confidential feedback.
16. Conflict of Interest and Governance
Grand Founders maintains a written conflict of interest policy in accordance with applicable federal and state nonprofit regulations. Governance documentation is available upon reasonable request.
17. Force Majeure
Neither party shall be liable for failure or delay resulting from circumstances beyond reasonable control. In such events, Grand Founders shall use reasonable efforts to provide equivalent alternative programming.
18. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution
This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York. Disputes shall first be submitted to mandatory mediation administered by JAMS in New York County for a minimum of 60 days, followed by binding arbitration if unresolved. Each party shall bear its own costs; mediator and arbitrator fees shared equally.
19. Notices
All formal notices shall be in writing and deemed effective upon personal delivery, confirmed email receipt, or one business day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier.
20. Survival
The following provisions survive termination: No Equity or Fee Obligation, Data and Record-Keeping, Confidentiality, Use of Name and Likeness, Intellectual Property Ownership, Limitation of Liability, Indemnification, Non-Solicitation, Conflict of Interest, Governing Law, and this Survival section.
21. Severability
If any provision is held invalid, the remaining provisions continue in full force.
22. Assignment
The Participant may not assign this Agreement without prior written consent. Grand Founders may assign to any successor organization that assumes its obligations.
23. Waiver of Jury Trial
EACH PARTY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT.
24. Electronic Signatures and Counterparts
This Agreement may be executed electronically and in counterparts, each deemed an original, in accordance with the ESIGN Act, New York ESRA, and applicable electronic signature laws.
25. Entire Understanding
This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the parties. Any amendments must be in writing and signed by both parties.