1. Acceptance of Terms
By accessing or using StepUpiq ("the Platform"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree, please do not use the Platform. These terms apply to all users — candidates, employers, freelancers, creators, and visitors.
2. Eligibility
You must be at least 18 years old and a resident of India to use StepUpiq. By creating an account, you represent that you meet these requirements and that the information you provide is accurate.
3. Account Responsibilities
- You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials
- You are responsible for all activity that occurs under your account
- You must provide accurate and complete information during registration
- You must notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account
- One person may not maintain multiple accounts
4. Platform Services
StepUpiq provides the following services:
- Job listings and applications — connecting candidates with employers
- Freelance marketplace — matching freelancers with project requirements
- Collab marketplace — connecting brands with creators and influencers
- Steps — user-created career and life guides
- Insights — community-written articles and opinion pieces
- Explore — crowd-sourced local intelligence and travel planning
- Referral system — earning bonuses by referring candidates, jobs, and services
We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any service at any time.
5. Referral System & Earnings
- Referral bonuses are set by employers and candidates independently
- StepUpiq takes a 20% platform fee from all referral bonuses and earnings
- Earnings are credited after the referred candidate is marked as "Hired" by the employer
- Payouts are processed manually
- Referral limits vary by subscription plan
- Fraudulent referrals (fake accounts, self-referrals, spam) will result in earnings forfeiture and account suspension
6. Content Guidelines
When creating Steps, Insights, Explore posts, or any content on StepUpiq:
- You retain ownership of your original content
- You grant StepUpiq a non-exclusive license to display, distribute, and promote your content on the platform
- Content must be original, accurate, and not misleading
- Content must not contain hate speech, harassment, explicit material, or illegal content
- Content must not infringe on third-party intellectual property rights
- We reserve the right to remove content that violates these guidelines
7. Employer Responsibilities
- Job listings must be for real, legitimate positions
- Job descriptions must be accurate regarding role, compensation, and requirements
- Employers must not discriminate based on caste, religion, gender, disability, or other protected characteristics
- Referral bonuses, once set and triggered (candidate hired), must be honored
- Employer subscription fees, when applicable, are non-refundable after the billing period begins
8. Freelance & Collab Terms
- StepUpiq facilitates connections between freelancers/creators and clients/brands but is not a party to their agreements
- Payment disputes between freelancers and clients should be resolved between the parties
- StepUpiq takes a 20% platform fee from freelance and collab earnings processed through the platform
- Quality of deliverables is the responsibility of the freelancer/creator
9. Subscription & Payments
- During the launch period (Year 1), all features are free with no restrictions
- After the free period, free and paid subscription plans will be available
- Paid plans may be cancelled at any time; access continues until the billing period ends
- Prices are in Indian Rupees (₹) and inclusive of applicable taxes
- Payment processing will be handled by Razorpay (when implemented)
10. Prohibited Activities
- Creating fake accounts or profiles
- Scraping or automated collection of data from the platform
- Spamming users with unsolicited messages
- Attempting to circumvent referral limits or earning caps
- Impersonating another person or entity
- Using the platform for any illegal purpose
- Interfering with the platform's security or functionality
11. Termination
We may suspend or terminate your account if you violate these Terms. You may also delete your account at any time through Settings → Danger Zone. Upon termination, your data will be handled as described in our Privacy Policy.
12. Limitation of Liability
StepUpiq is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind. We are not liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from your use of the platform. Our total liability is limited to the amount you have paid us in the 12 months preceding the claim.
13. Governing Law
These Terms are governed by the laws of India. Any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
14. Changes to Terms
We may update these Terms from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes via email or a notice on the platform. Continued use of StepUpiq after changes constitutes acceptance.
15. Contact
For questions about these Terms, contact us at support@stepupiq.com or visit our Contact page.