Grant Official Terms and Conditions

OFFICIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE GRANT PROGRAM OF PEPPER BODY INC.

General:

These terms and conditions apply to Pepper’s Startup Grant for Black, woman-owned businesses (the “Grant Program”) sponsored by Pepper Body Inc. (“Pepper”). By entering the Grant Program and accepting the terms herein, you agree to be bound by the following terms and conditions, which constitute a binding agreement between you and Pepper.

Application Period:

The Grant Program application period commences on July 19, 2023 and closes on August 23, 2023 at 11:59pm MT (the “Application Period”).

How to Apply:

To apply to the Grant Program, submit the online application form  available here (the “Application”) during the Application Period. Applications will be accepted by online entry only. No other method of entry will be accepted. All entries must be received by the end of the Application Period to be valid. Limit 1 entry per person/email address/business. Applicants must fully complete, submit, and upload all information requested in the Application, as directed, during the Application Period in order to be eligible. All entries must include a valid e-mail for the applicant. Applicants must acknowledge their agreement to these terms and conditions by clicking in the relevant box in the Application. Applicants are solely responsible for Internet connectivity, software and/or hardware that may be required in order to create and/or submit their Application, including any files. Applications, including attachments, that do not comply with these terms and conditions and/or are incomplete or inaccurate will be void, eliminated and not eligible for consideration. By submitting an Application, you represent that the materials submitted are original and have been created by you and/or that all necessary rights have been secured and disclosed in the event they were developed by others.

Eligibility:

To be eligible for the Grant Program, you and your business must meet all of the following criteria:

  • You are 18 years of age or older as of the date the Application is submitted;
  • You are a United States citizen or permanent resident physically residing in the United States;
  • You are an owner of the business;
  • You identify as Black or African American;
  • You identify as female or non-binary;
  • At least 50% of the business must be owned, controlled or operated and managed by Black or African American, female or non-binary owners;
  • Business must be based in the United States and incorporated as a legal entity under the laws of any states within the United States; and
  • Business must qualify as an early stage business that has received less than $500,000 of equity financing or funding from investors.

Employees of Pepper and their respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, and any other party involved in the development or administration of the Grant Program, and their immediate family members or household members are not eligible to apply or receive the Grant Program. Past recipients may not apply for additional Grant Program awards.

Pepper may determine, in its sole discretion, whether an applicant meets the eligibility criteria to participate in the Grant Program. Pepper’s decisions regarding eligibility are final and binding.

No Purchase Necessary:

There is no requirement to purchase Pepper’s products or payment of any kind required to apply to the Grant Program. A purchase of Pepper’s products will not improve your chance of selection.

The Award:

The final recipient (the “Recipient”) will be awarded $5,000 (the “Grant”). In addition to the Grant, the Recipient will also have the opportunity to participate in advisory, community and amplification initiatives, which will at minimum consist of the following:

  • 1-hour mentorship calls directly with the 2 founders of Pepper, Jaclyn Fu and Lia Winograd; 
  • Dedicated promotion on Pepper’s social media accounts;
  • Access to workshops and events in the realms of fundraising, finance, marketing, and others (collectively with the “Grant”, the “Award”)

Pepper may, at its sole discretion, offer Recipients benefits in addition to the Award, such as additional advisory support, community, and amplification opportunities, but Pepper does not guarantee, and makes no commitments to provide, any prize beyond the Award.

The Grant will be sent to the Recipient in the form of ACH wire transfer or such other mechanism as Pepper shall choose. All federal, state and local or other tax liabilities, and other expenses relating to the acceptance of an Award, or arising from the Award, including the Grant, are the sole and exclusive responsibility of each Recipient. Recipients may be issued a 1099 tax form for the actual value of the Grant. Limit of one Award per applicant. By applying for the Grant Program, you agree that, if selected as a Recipient, you will use the Award solely for legitimate business expenses and for the purposes expressed in your application.

The Award is subject to the terms and condition of a grant agreement. By applying for the Grant Program, you acknowledge that receipt of the Award is conditional on execution of the grant agreement. The Award is non-transferable and non-assignable. Pepper reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to increase the value of any Award. If no or an insufficient number of Applications meet the minimum eligibility criteria, some or all of the Award may not be awarded. Pepper reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to substitute a prize of equal or greater value if advertised Award becomes unavailable. All details of the Award not specified herein shall be determined solely by Pepper.

How Finalists and Recipients are determined:

Eligible Applications will be reviewed by members of the selection committee consisting Pepper founders, Jaclyn Fu and Lia Winograd, and Startup Girl Foundation founder Shilpa Yarlagadda. The Semi-finalists (“Finalists”), and ultimately the Recipient, will be selected from among all eligible applicants based on the following criteria:

  • Demonstrates passion and creativity for solving the specific problem (40%)
  • Demonstrates viable business opportunity with clear plans (30%)
  • Demonstrates financial need (20%)
  • Ability for Pepper to support and add value (10%)

Pepper may contact you with requests for additional information regarding your Application. Pepper will notify Finalists by email by October 9, 2023. Being selected as a Finalist does not guarantee you will receive an award. Finalists will be asked to submit a video and will be promoted on Pepper’s social media accounts. After review, Pepper will notify Finalists whether they are selected as a potential Recipient. Prior to receiving the award, the potential Recipient will be required to (1) provide a W-9 tax form verifying their business tax identification number and other requested tax and banking information necessary for payment of the award and (2) sign and return a grant agreement, properly executed, within 3 days of receipt of same. If Pepper (1) is unable to contact the potential Recipient within 3 days from first notification attempt, (2) if the potential Recipient fails to promptly provide, complete and return all requested documentation by the specified date, or (3) if the potential Recipient fails to comply with any of the requirements in these terms and conditions, it may result in a Recipient’s disqualification, the forfeiture of its interest in the award, and, at Pepper’s discretion, the presentation of the award to a substitute recipient. An award not claimed by a potential Recipient and not awarded to a substitute Recipient by Pepper in accordance with these terms and conditions will remain the property of Pepper. All decisions of Pepper and the selection committee with respect to Finalists and the Recipient, and all other matters pertaining to the Initiative are final and binding and cannot be appealed or challenged.

Privacy:

Any information provided by you as part of the Application process or otherwise in connection with the Initiative will be processed in accordance with Pepper’s privacy policy. By applying to the Initiative, you agree to Pepper’s privacy policy and consent to receive communications and other materials from Pepper regarding the Initiative. If you provide us with personal information of a reference or any other individual as part of your application, it is your responsibility to obtain consent from that individual prior to providing such information to us.

Confidentiality and Publicity:

All non-public business and financial information you provide as part of the Application will be kept confidential. By submitting an Application and participating in the Initiative, you acknowledge and agree that if you are selected as a potential Finalist or Recipient, you will not disclose to any person or third party the fact that you were selected until notified by Pepper that such disclosure is permitted or until made public by Pepper. Pepper will coordinate all publicity and press announcements regarding the Initiative and will provide the Recipient with as much advance notice of such announcements as possible. Pepper may refuse any media opportunity in its sole discretion.

You acknowledge that Pepper may currently or in the future be developing information internally, or receiving information from third parties, that is similar to or competitive with the information disclosed by you as part of the application process. Accordingly, you acknowledge and agree that nothing in these terms and conditions will be construed as a representation, warranty, covenant or agreement of Pepper or its affiliates that it will not develop, or have developed on its behalf, products, processes, concepts, systems or techniques that are similar to or competitive with the products, processes, concepts, systems or techniques contemplated by or embodied in such application. For clarification and the removal of doubt, Pepper will not use, or rely on, any information provided in the Application in connection with such development.

Limitations of Liability:

Pepper, its respective subsidiaries, and its respective officers, directors, shareholders, employees, agents, insurers, and any and all Internet servers and access provider(s) are not responsible for: any incorrect or inaccurate entry information; human error; technical malfunctions; failures, omission, interruption, deletion, or defect of any telephone network, computer online systems, computer equipment, server providers, or software, including any injury or damage to your or any other person’s computer relating to or resulting from participation in the Grant Program; inability to access Pepper’s website or application form; theft, tampering, destruction, or unauthorized access to, or alteration of entries; transactions that are processed late or incorrectly or are incomplete or lost due to computer or electronic malfunction or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any web site; printing or human or other errors; and any Applications which are late, lost, incomplete, misdirected, stolen, or any combination thereof. Online submission is not considered proof of delivery or receipt. Pepper reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Award at any time and without notice.

By entering, you agree to release, discharge, indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Pepper and its subsidiaries and its and their respective employees, officers, directors, shareholders, insurers and agents from and against all claims and damages or liability arising in connection with your participation and/or entry in the Initiative and/or your receipt or use of the Award, including the Grant, or due to any injuries, damages or losses to any person (including death) or property of any kind resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from acceptance, possession, misuse or use of the Award or participation in the Initiative or any Initiative-related activity or your breach of these terms and conditions. Pepper is not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by technical or human error or otherwise which may occur in the processing of applications for the Award or in the running of the Grant Program. Pepper will not be responsible for typographical, printing or other errors in these terms and conditions or in other materials relating to the Grant Program.

General Terms and Conditions:

Any advice obtained in connection with the Initiative including during any advisory support or networking opportunities or otherwise from Pepper, is for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing specific business, accounting, or legal advice. Opinions expressed by mentors or others are the opinions of the individuals and may not reflect the opinions of Pepper.

By participating in the Initiative, you accept and agree to be bound by these terms and conditions, including all eligibility requirements, Pepper’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including the jurisdictional provisions contained therein. All applicable federal, state, territory, provincial and local laws and regulations apply. In the event that the Grant Program is challenged by any legal or regulatory authority, Pepper reserves the right to discontinue or modify the Grant Program, or to disqualify applicants residing in the affected geographic areas. In such event, Pepper shall have no liability to any applicants who are disqualified due to such an action. Failure by Pepper to enforce any term of these terms and conditions shall not constitute a waiver of that provision. Pepper reserves the right to disqualify any applicant that in its sole judgment violates the letter or the spirit of the Initiative or could reflect negatively on Pepper’s image and/or reputation.

You represent and warrant that your Application material (1) does not contain any computer virus (as applicable), is otherwise uncorrupted, is wholly original with entrant, and as of the date of submission, is not the subject of any actual or threatened litigation or claim; (2) does not and will not violate or infringe upon the intellectual property rights or other rights of any third party; and (3) does not and will not violate any applicable laws, and is not and will not be defamatory or libelous.

All decisions regarding the Grant Program’s terms and conditions, procedures, and processes are at the sole discretion of Pepper. By submitting an Application, you agree not to seek any financial damages from Pepper for any claim, dispute or cause of action in connection with or arising out of the Initiative, including the Award. If the Grant Program is not capable of running as planned for any reason, including, without limitation, as a result of infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, cancellation of Grant Program, or any other causes which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of the Grant Program, Pepper reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Grant Program. Pepper may disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process, and, if terminated, to determine an alternative Recipient, if any, from among all eligible, non-suspect Applications submitted up to the point of termination.

All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these terms and conditions or the rights and obligations of applicants or Pepper in connection with the Grant Program shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the state of New York without giving effect to any choice of law of conflict of law rules or provisions that would cause the application of any other state’s laws.

Sponsor

Pepper Body, Inc. 263 South 4th Street, PO Box 169, Brooklyn, NY, 11211