Terms of Service

1. Agreement to Terms

These Terms of Service ("Terms") constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Stratum Solutions Group, LLC ("Stratum Solutions," "Company," "we," "our," or "us"), governing your use of the Stratum Solutions platform, including all portals, services, and features available at stratum.solutions and any related applications (collectively, the "Platform").

By creating an account, accessing, or using the Platform, you agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated herein by reference. If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not use the Platform.

You represent that you are at least 18 years of age (or the applicable age of majority in your jurisdiction) and that you have the legal authority to enter into these Terms.

2. Platform Description

Stratum Solutions operates as an integrated business platform serving multiple user types across its divisions, including:

• Creative Collective Stars (CCS) — Creative talent marketplace connecting freelancers, gig professionals, and event crew with clients and organizers.
• Stratagem Solutions — Business consulting and advisory services connecting consultants with clients seeking strategic guidance.
• Praxen — Student career development platform connecting students with internship and entry-level opportunities.
• Investor Network — Investment matching and deal flow tools for accredited investors and startups seeking capital.
• Accelerator Program — Incubator and accelerator services for early-stage ventures.

The Platform enables connections between talent, businesses, students, consultants, organizers, investors, mentors, recruiters, and companies. We are a marketplace facilitator and do not employ freelancers or guarantee the quality of any services exchanged.

3. Account Registration and Security

To access most features of the Platform, you must register for an account. You agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and in your profile.
• Maintain and promptly update your account information to keep it accurate and current.
• Maintain the security and confidentiality of your account credentials.
• Notify us immediately at support@stratum.solutions of any unauthorized use of your account.
• Accept responsibility for all activities that occur under your account.

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that contain false, inaccurate, or misleading information, or that violate these Terms.

4. User Roles and Access Tiers

The Platform operates a tiered access system for talent and other users:

• Basic (Open Profile) — Standard marketplace access with public profile listing and gig browsing.
• Vetted (Application-Based) — Enhanced access granted after completing our vetting process, including identity verification and portfolio review. Vetted users receive priority placement and additional features.
• Invite-Only (Elite Marketplace) — Exclusive access to high-value, curated opportunities available by invitation only, based on demonstrated performance and reputation on the Platform.

Stratum Solutions reserves the right to modify, grant, or revoke tier access at our sole discretion.

5. Acceptable Use Policy

You agree not to use the Platform to:

• Violate any applicable federal, state, local, or international law or regulation.
• Transmit unsolicited communications, spam, or any form of automated bulk messaging.
• Impersonate any person or entity, or falsely represent your affiliation with any person or entity.
• Post false, inaccurate, misleading, defamatory, or libelous content.
• Collect or harvest personal information about other users without their explicit consent.
• Circumvent any access controls or security measures of the Platform.
• Reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble any portion of the Platform.
• Use the Platform to recruit users to competing services in a manner that harms our business relationships.
• Post content that infringes any third-party intellectual property rights.
• Engage in any discriminatory, harassing, threatening, or abusive conduct.

6. Payments and Subscriptions

The Platform offers both free and paid subscription tiers. For paid subscriptions:

• Subscriptions are billed in advance on a monthly or annual basis.
• All fees are non-refundable except as required by applicable law or as expressly set forth in these Terms.
• We may change subscription pricing with 30 days' advance notice. Continued use after a price change constitutes acceptance of the new pricing.
• You may cancel your subscription at any time; cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period.
• Transaction fees for marketplace gigs and placements are disclosed at the time of transaction.

All payment processing is handled by our third-party payment processors. We do not store payment card information on our servers. Payments are subject to our payment processor's terms of service.

7. Intellectual Property

The Platform, including its content, features, and functionality, is owned by Stratum Solutions Group, LLC and is protected by United States and international copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, and other intellectual property laws.

By posting content on the Platform ("User Content"), you grant Stratum Solutions a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, sublicensable, and transferable license to use, reproduce, modify, distribute, and display your User Content in connection with operating and improving the Platform.

You retain all ownership rights to your User Content. You represent that you own or have the necessary licenses to post your User Content and that it does not violate any third-party rights.

8. Third-Party Relationships

Stratum Solutions is a marketplace facilitator. We are not a party to agreements between users of the Platform. We do not guarantee:

• The quality, safety, or legality of any services offered or performed through the Platform.
• The accuracy of listings, profiles, or representations made by users.
• That any user will complete a project, fulfill a contract, or make a payment.
• The suitability of any talent, consultant, or professional for a specific role or project.

We encourage users to conduct their own due diligence before entering into any professional arrangement through the Platform.

9. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, STRATUM SOLUTIONS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS OR REVENUES, WHETHER INCURRED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, OR ANY LOSS OF DATA, USE, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES, RESULTING FROM YOUR USE OF THE PLATFORM.

IN NO EVENT SHALL OUR AGGREGATE LIABILITY FOR ALL CLAIMS RELATED TO THE PLATFORM EXCEED THE GREATER OF ONE HUNDRED U.S. DOLLARS ($100) OR THE AMOUNTS PAID BY YOU TO STRATUM SOLUTIONS IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM.

10. Dispute Resolution and Arbitration

For any dispute, claim, or controversy arising from or relating to these Terms or your use of the Platform, you and Stratum Solutions agree to first attempt to resolve the dispute informally by contacting us at legal@stratum.solutions. If the dispute cannot be resolved within 30 days, both parties agree to binding arbitration administered by JAMS under its Streamlined Arbitration Rules.

YOU AND STRATUM SOLUTIONS WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY AND AGREE THAT CLAIMS WILL BE RESOLVED ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS AND NOT IN A CLASS ACTION.

These Terms and any disputes are governed by the laws of the State of Arizona without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

11. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your account and access to the Platform, with or without notice and without liability, for any reason, including violation of these Terms. You may terminate your account at any time by contacting support@stratum.solutions.

Upon termination, all provisions of these Terms that by their nature should survive termination will survive, including ownership provisions, warranty disclaimers, indemnity, and limitations of liability.

12. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will notify you of material changes by email or through a prominent notice on the Platform at least 14 days before the changes take effect. Your continued use of the Platform after the effective date of the revised Terms constitutes your acceptance of the changes.

13. Contact Information