VC26: The Datumra Venture Competition

1. Promoter

The promoter of the competition is Datumra Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales.

Company number: 16772608

Registered office: Datumra Ltd, Cotton Court Business Centre, Church Street, Preston, England, PR1 3BY

Website: www.datumra.com

Contact email: vc26@datumra.com

In these Terms and Conditions, “Datumra”, “we”, “us” and “our” means Datumra Ltd.

2. Competition name

The competition is called VC26: The Datumra Venture Competition.

The competition may also be referred to as “VC26”, “the Datumra Venture Competition” or “the Competition”.

3. Purpose of the competition

VC26 is a global venture competition designed to recognise ambitious founders, startups and early stage companies building significant businesses, systems, products, services or positive impact ventures.

The competition is intended to provide recognition, visibility, founder support, community access, selected opportunities and prizes to successful entrants.

VC26 is a skill based competition. Winners will be selected by reference to judging criteria, the quality of the application, the strength of the venture and the decision of the judging process. Winners will not be selected at random.

4. Eligibility

The competition is open to applicants from the United Kingdom, United States, Europe and other international territories, unless entry is prohibited by local law.

To enter, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Have legal capacity to enter the competition.
• Be the founder, co founder, authorised representative or lawful owner of the business, project or venture being entered.
• Submit an application in English.
• Comply with these Terms and Conditions.
• Ensure that entering the competition is lawful in your country, state, region or territory.

Datumra may refuse, remove or disqualify any entry where we reasonably believe that participation would breach applicable law, sanctions rules, export controls, regulatory restrictions, platform rules or these Terms and Conditions.

Employees, contractors, judges, advisers, sponsors, partners or immediate family members of Datumra may not enter unless we have expressly confirmed in writing that they are eligible. Where any potential conflict of interest exists, it must be declared.

5. International entry

VC26 is intended to be accessible to a global, English language audience.

However, laws differ between countries. It is your responsibility to ensure that entering the competition is lawful where you live, work or operate.

The competition is void where prohibited or restricted by law.

Datumra reserves the right to limit, suspend or exclude entries from any country, state, region or territory where we reasonably consider that participation may create legal, regulatory, tax, sanctions, operational or compliance issues.

6. No purchase necessary

No purchase is required to enter VC26.

Purchasing any Datumra product, service, membership, subscription or paid offer will not guarantee entry, shortlisting, finalist selection, winning, investment, funding, publicity or any other competition outcome.

Where access to Datumra OS or another Datumra tool is made available as part of the competition, that access may be subject to separate platform terms, privacy terms, usage limits, technical availability and eligibility checks.

7. Competition categories

VC26 may include the following categories:

• The New Idea
• Solo Builders
• Lean Teams
• Future Giants
• Capital Ready
• Purpose Ventures
• The Wildcard

Datumra may add, remove, rename, combine or amend categories where reasonably necessary.

You may select the category that best fits your business, venture, stage and ambition. Datumra may move an entry into a different category if we reasonably believe it is better suited to another category.

Unless otherwise stated, only one entry is permitted per company, venture or founder team.

8. Entry period

The opening date, closing date and key competition dates will be published on the VC26 website or in official VC26 communications.

Datumra may extend, shorten, pause or amend the entry period where reasonably necessary, including for technical, operational, legal, judging, security or fairness reasons.

Entries submitted after the closing date may not be accepted.

9. How to enter

To enter the competition, you must complete the official VC26 application process through the competition website, platform or approved entry method.

You may be asked to provide information including:

• Founder name and contact details.
• Company, project or venture name.
• Country or territory.
• Business summary.
• Category selection.
• Website, product link, demo, pitch deck or supporting materials.
• Answers to application questions.
• Evidence of progress, traction, market understanding or impact.
• Confirmation that you are authorised to submit the entry.
• Consent to these Terms and Conditions.

Incomplete, inaccurate, fraudulent, offensive, unlawful, misleading, late, duplicated, automated or non compliant entries may be rejected.

Datumra is not responsible for lost, delayed, incomplete, misdirected or corrupted entries, or for technical issues that prevent an entry from being received.

10. Nominations

VC26 may allow people to nominate founders, companies, projects or ventures.

A nomination does not create an automatic entry. A nominated person, company or venture may still need to complete the official application process and accept these Terms and Conditions.

By submitting a nomination, you confirm that:

• The information you provide is accurate to the best of your knowledge.
• You have a lawful basis to provide the nominee’s details.
• Your nomination is not abusive, misleading, malicious or unlawful.

Datumra may contact nominees using the details provided, where permitted by applicable law.

11. Application content

You are responsible for all content, information, claims, materials, documents, images, videos, links and other materials submitted as part of your entry.

You confirm that:

• Your entry is truthful and accurate to the best of your knowledge.
• You have the right to submit all materials included in your entry.
• Your entry does not infringe the rights of any third party.
• Your entry does not contain unlawful, defamatory, discriminatory, offensive, harmful or misleading material.
• Your entry does not breach any confidentiality obligation, employment obligation, investor agreement, client agreement or other legal duty.
• Your entry does not contain viruses, malware, spyware or harmful code.

Datumra may request evidence to support any claims made in an application.

12. Confidential information

You should not submit confidential information, trade secrets or highly sensitive commercial information unless you are comfortable sharing it for the purposes of the competition.

Applications may be reviewed by Datumra team members, judges, advisers, sponsors, investors, partners, service providers or other people involved in running, assessing or promoting VC26.

Unless separately agreed in writing, Datumra and competition judges are not entering into a non disclosure agreement with entrants.

You should only submit information that you are willing to share for competition assessment, judging, administration, publicity and related purposes.

13. Intellectual property and use of application materials

14. Publicity

By entering VC26, you agree that Datumra may publish or announce your name, company name, project name, country, category, short profile, public website, public social media handles, founder photograph, company logo and non confidential application summary if you are shortlisted, selected as a finalist, named as a winner, featured in VC26 content or otherwise highlighted as part of the competition.

You may object to certain publicity uses by contacting Datumra, but publicity may be a condition of receiving certain prizes, recognition or competition benefits.

Datumra will not knowingly publish highly sensitive personal information or confidential commercial information without permission.

15. Judging process

Entries will be assessed by Datumra, judges, advisers, partners or a judging panel appointed by Datumra.

Judging may take place in one or more stages, including application review, scoring, shortlisting, interviews, demos, finalist selection, public showcase, internal review or final judging.

The judging criteria may include:

• Strength of the idea, product, service or venture.
• Market opportunity.
• Founder or team capability.
• Evidence of progress.
• Customer understanding.
• Commercial model.
• Distribution potential.
• Use of systems, technology, AI, automation or operating discipline.
• Positive impact, where relevant.
• Scalability.
• Originality.
• Execution quality.
• Category fit.
• Long term potential.

Category specific judging criteria may also apply and will be published or communicated by Datumra.

Judging is based on the information available to Datumra and the judges at the time of assessment.

Datumra may use scoring systems, qualitative review, interviews, due diligence checks and judge discussion to support the judging process.

The judges’ decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into regarding individual scoring, rankings or unsuccessful applications.

16. Shortlisted entrants, finalists and winners

Datumra may announce shortlisted entrants, finalists and winners through the VC26 website, email, social media, events, press, partner communications or other channels.

If you are shortlisted, selected as a finalist or selected as a winner, you may be required to:

• Confirm your identity.
• Confirm your eligibility.
• Provide further information about your company or venture.
• Attend an interview, call, showcase, demo, event or recording.
• Provide publicity materials.
• Sign additional documents relating to prizes, publicity, platform access, partner offers or investor introductions.
• Respond within a stated timeframe.

If you do not respond within the required timeframe, fail eligibility checks, breach these Terms and Conditions or cannot accept a prize, Datumra may select another entrant or withhold the prize.

17. Prizes

VC26 prizes may include cash, software access, Datumra OS access, community access, advisory sessions, mentoring, partner offers, profile features, investor exposure, event opportunities, publicity, founder resources, services, credits or other benefits.

The exact prize package, prize value, prize providers and applicable conditions will be published or communicated by Datumra.

Prizes are subject to availability, eligibility, usage restrictions, third party terms, technical requirements and any applicable laws.

Prizes are non transferable unless Datumra agrees otherwise in writing.

No cash alternative is available unless expressly stated.

Datumra may substitute a prize with another prize of equal or greater value where reasonably necessary.

Any taxes, duties, reporting obligations, exchange costs, travel costs, visa requirements, equipment, internet access, professional fees or other expenses relating to prize acceptance or use are the responsibility of the recipient unless expressly stated otherwise.

18. Investor exposure and introductions

VC26 may provide selected entrants, finalists or winners with investor exposure, investor showcase opportunities or potential introductions to investors or ecosystem partners.

No investment, funding, loan, grant, partnership, customer contract, sponsorship, acquisition, commercial opportunity or investor introduction is guaranteed.

Nothing in VC26 is financial advice, investment advice, legal advice, tax advice, fundraising advice or an offer of securities.

Entrants are responsible for taking their own professional advice before raising investment, sharing investor materials or entering into any commercial arrangement.

Investors, sponsors, partners and judges are independent third parties. Datumra is not responsible for their decisions, actions, omissions, advice, offers or conduct.

19. Datumra OS access and platform use

Where competition participation includes access to Datumra OS or any Datumra product, tool, platform, report, workspace or community, that access is subject to separate Datumra terms, privacy notices, acceptable use rules, security requirements, technical limits and availability.

Datumra may suspend or withdraw access where necessary for security, misuse, legal compliance, product changes, account issues or breach of terms.

Access to Datumra OS does not guarantee competition success.

20. Accuracy of information

You must keep your application information accurate and up to date.

Datumra may disqualify an entry if we reasonably believe that the entrant has provided false, incomplete, misleading, exaggerated or unverifiable information.

You must notify Datumra if there is any material change to your business, ownership, legal status, eligibility, funding status, product status or other information relevant to your entry.

21. Disqualification

Datumra may reject, suspend or disqualify any entrant, nomination or application if we reasonably believe that:

• These Terms and Conditions have been breached.
• The entrant is not eligible.
• The entry is fraudulent, misleading or unlawful.
• The entrant has attempted to manipulate the competition.
• The entrant has submitted automated, bulk, duplicate or fake entries.
• The entrant has behaved abusively, dishonestly or inappropriately.
• The entrant has infringed third party rights.
• The entrant has breached confidentiality, data protection, intellectual property, employment, sanctions or other legal obligations.
• Participation could harm Datumra, VC26, judges, sponsors, partners, other entrants or the reputation of the competition.
• Disqualification is reasonably necessary to protect the integrity, security or fairness of the competition.

22. Changes, suspension or cancellation

Datumra may amend, suspend, extend, shorten, cancel or withdraw VC26, any category, any prize or any part of the competition where reasonably necessary.

This may include changes caused by technical issues, platform failure, legal or regulatory concerns, fraud, security risks, judge availability, partner changes, prize availability, operational issues, force majeure events or circumstances outside Datumra’s reasonable control.

Where practical, changes will be published on the VC26 website or communicated to affected entrants.

23. Third party platforms and services

VC26 may be promoted, hosted or supported through third party platforms, including social media platforms, email providers, form tools, video platforms, CRM systems, payment providers, analytics tools, cloud providers, event tools or community platforms.

Third party platforms may have their own terms, policies and privacy notices.

VC26 is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with LinkedIn, Instagram, X, TikTok, Meta, Google, Microsoft or any other third party platform unless expressly stated.

You release those platforms from liability in connection with the competition to the fullest extent permitted by law.

24. Data protection and privacy

Datumra will process personal data provided in connection with VC26 for purposes including:

• Competition registration.
• Application administration.
• Nomination handling.
• Eligibility checks.
• Judging.
• Communication with entrants and nominees.
• Prize administration.
• Publicity and announcements.
• Community access.
• Security, fraud prevention and legal compliance.
• Marketing communications where permitted by law or consent.
• Internal reporting and competition improvement.

Personal data may include names, email addresses, company details, job titles, country, social media handles, application answers, nomination details, uploaded materials, judging notes, communication records and related information.

Datumra will process personal data in accordance with its Privacy Policy.

Where required, Datumra will rely on lawful bases such as performance of a contract, legitimate interests, consent, legal obligation or other lawful bases available under applicable data protection law.

Personal data may be processed in the United Kingdom and other countries where Datumra, its service providers, partners, judges or systems operate. Where required, appropriate safeguards will be used for international transfers.

Entrants may have rights under applicable data protection law, including rights to access, correct, delete, restrict or object to certain processing of their personal data.

To exercise privacy rights, contact: privacy@datumra.com

25. Marketing communications

By entering VC26, you agree that Datumra may send you administrative messages relating to the competition.

We may also send marketing communications about Datumra, VC26, Datumra OS, founder resources, events, community opportunities and related products or services where permitted by law or where you have given consent.

You can unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time.

Unsubscribing from marketing emails will not stop essential competition administration messages.

26. Warranties from entrants

By entering VC26, you warrant that:

• You are eligible to enter.
• You have authority to enter on behalf of the company, project or venture.
• Your application is truthful and accurate to the best of your knowledge.
• You have all rights needed to submit the application materials.
• Your entry does not breach any third party rights or legal obligations.
• Your participation does not breach any law, regulation, contract, policy or duty that applies to you.
• You will comply with these Terms and Conditions.

27. Liability

Nothing in these Terms and Conditions excludes or limits liability where it would be unlawful to do so, including liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation or any other liability that cannot be excluded by law.

Subject to the above, Datumra is not responsible for:

• Loss of profits, revenue, business, opportunity, goodwill or anticipated savings.
• Loss or corruption of data.
• Indirect or consequential loss.
• Technical failure, platform downtime or internet issues.
• Third party acts or omissions.
• Entrant errors, incomplete entries or missed deadlines.
• Decisions made by judges, investors, partners or sponsors.
• Any failure to receive funding, investment, customers, publicity or commercial results.
• Any tax, legal, regulatory or financial consequences of entering or receiving a prize.

Datumra’s total liability in connection with VC26 shall be limited to £100 or the value of the prize awarded to the relevant entrant, whichever is greater, to the fullest extent permitted by law.

28. Indemnity

You agree to indemnify Datumra, its directors, employees, contractors, judges, advisers, sponsors, partners and service providers against any claims, losses, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses arising from:

• Your breach of these Terms and Conditions.
• Your breach of any law or regulation.
• Your infringement of third party rights.
• Your application materials.
• False, misleading or inaccurate information provided by you.
• Your misuse of Datumra systems, platforms, community spaces or competition processes.

29. Tax and professional advice

You are responsible for any tax, reporting, accounting, legal, immigration, securities, fundraising, employment or regulatory obligations arising from entry, prize acceptance, publicity, investment discussions or participation in VC26.

You should take independent professional advice where appropriate.

Datumra does not provide legal, tax, accounting, investment or regulated financial advice through VC26.

30. Equality, conduct and respectful participation

Datumra aims to run VC26 in a fair, respectful and inclusive way.

Entrants must not submit or publish content, or behave in a way, that is discriminatory, abusive, threatening, harassing, hateful, sexually explicit, violent, defamatory, unlawful or otherwise inappropriate.

Datumra may remove entrants from the competition, community, events or platform access if their behaviour is inconsistent with these standards.

31. Sanctions and restricted parties

You must not enter VC26 if you are subject to sanctions, trade restrictions, export controls or other restrictions that would make your participation unlawful.

You must not submit an entry on behalf of any person, entity, country or organisation that is subject to applicable sanctions or restrictions.

Datumra may carry out checks and may refuse or remove entries where required or appropriate.

32. Force majeure

Datumra will not be liable for any failure or delay in running VC26 where that failure or delay is caused by events outside its reasonable control, including technical failure, cyberattack, platform outage, legal change, regulatory action, natural disaster, war, terrorism, civil unrest, pandemic, labour dispute, supplier failure or serious operational disruption.

33. Severance

If any part of these Terms and Conditions is found to be invalid, unlawful or unenforceable, the remaining parts will continue in full force and effect.

34. No waiver

If Datumra does not enforce any part of these Terms and Conditions immediately, that does not prevent Datumra from enforcing it later.

35. Governing law and jurisdiction

These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales.

The courts of England and Wales shall have jurisdiction over disputes arising in connection with VC26, subject to any mandatory rights you may have under applicable local law.

36. Contact