Official Contest Rules

NONPROFIT PITCH COMPETITION OFFICIAL RULES


ARTICLE 1: CONTEST TERMS

The “Comerica Bank X DiscoverHer Worldwide Incorporated: Nonprofit Pitch Competition” (the “Contest”) begins at 8:00 AM (ARIZONA) on October 1, 2020 and ends at 11:59 PM (ARIZONA) on November 30th, 2020 (“the Contest Period”) through the web page: https://www.discoverher.org/ComericaBusinessSenseBootcamp

5 finalists will be chosen on December 31st at 5pm (ARIZONA).


ARTICLE 2: SPONSOR

The Contest is co-sponsored by Comerica Bank and presented by DiscoverHer Worldwide Incorporation (“DiscoverHer”), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Arizona. This Contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Instagram Facebook, or YouTube.


ARTICLE 3: ELIGIBILITY

The Contest is open only to, (who may enter as individuals or as a team) (i) legal residents of the United States or the United Kingdom, and (ii) are at least 18 years of age at the time of entry (“Participant” or “Participants”). This Contest is governed exclusively by the laws of the United States. Employees of the Sponsor, their respective affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies, suppliers and their immediate family members and/or those living in the same household of each are not eligible to participate in the Contest. Sponsor reserves the right to conduct all necessary checks concerning the identity, postal address and/or email address of the participants, as outlined below.


ARTICLE 4: HOW TO ENTER

During the Contest Period, each eligible Participant must:

 

(1) Complete the application on www.discoverher.org/ComericaBusinessSenseBootcamp with truthful and factual information.

 

(2) Participant will upload a YouTube/Vimeo video under three minutes answering the following questions:


  • Tell us about your organization. What problem does your business solve? What led you to start this business? What is your business model?
  • Who do you serve?
  • What is the short-term and long-term goals of your organizations? What do you plan to achieve in the next 12 months and 3 years and beyond?
  •  How do you currently generate income for your organization?
  •  How would you invest the $1000 into your organization?
  •  What impact do you want your organization to be known for in your community?

 

Videos which cannot be viewed or properly loaded by Sponsor will not be seen or judged. Sponsor will not contact Participant to request additional video, his or her entry will be discarded as incomplete.

 

(3) Follow the Instagram accounts @discoverHerWorldwideINC and @amargotblair.

 

One (1) entry into the Contest will consist of:

(1) a completed application with IRS determination letter and video in proper format, viewable by judges; and

(2) following the Instagram accounts specified above.

 

Participants may enter as many times as they’d like, as long as each video is distinct, and each business idea is different. If Participant does not have an Instagram or YouTube account, he or she must create one for free by following the instructions on www.instagram.com and www.youtube.com respectively. Only online entries will be accepted.

 

5 finalists will be chosen on December 31st at 5pm (ARIZONA). If chosen as a finalist, Participant’s video will be used in a video montage that will be revealed on Sponsor social media platforms. By submitting his or her video, Participant acknowledges that he or she gives consent for Sponsor to use his or her pitch that was submitted during the second round of entries.


ARTICLE 5: ENTRY RESTRICTIONS

Each Participant agrees to DiscoverHer Worldwide, Incorporated privacy policies and website terms & conditions by submitting an application and video. Each submission must comply with all laws, including without limitation, that it must consist of original work of the Participant, and the business idea must be original and not infringing on another business’s intellectual property, including but not limited to titles, names, brand names, slogans, or logos of any third parties without written permission to use; content must not be inappropriate, offensive, libelous or defamatory, unlawful, or include excessive profanity, nudity, hate speech, criminal acts or suggested criminal acts, excessive violence, or other forms of speech considered repugnant, in Sponsor’s sole discretion. It may not violate or encourage others to violate any applicable laws, statutes, ordinances or regulations, involve physical harm to any person or animal, include any viruses or other forms of corrupt code or content that may harm Sponsor’s services.
Sponsor reserves the right to verify the validity of any Participant or entry and disqualify any Participant who submits an entry in violation with these Official Rules, or otherwise does not follow or tampers with the entry process. In the event Sponsor discovers any violation of these Official Rules, Participant will be disqualified, entry will be removed and will not be judged, and any prize awarded may be canceled.


ARTICLE 6: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, CONFIDENTIALITY

Participant hereby understands and agrees he or she will retain all copyrights and ownership rights in the submitted video. If selected as the winner, Participant hereby agrees to grant Sponsor an irrevocable, international, exclusive license to post the video on the Contest entry website, on any Sponsor’s website social media pages, and any other website owned by Sponsor and deemed appropriate in the sole discretion of Sponsor.


ARTICLE 7: PARTICIPANT WARRANTIES

Each Participant warrants and agrees as follows: The entry submitted is Participants’ original work, and represents his or her original idea, which does not infringe on the intellectual property rights of any third-party, nor is the entry prohibited from being submitted due to any agreements held with any third parties, including but not limited to investors. The entry does not include any content that violates these Official Rules. Any persons other than Participant featured or seen in video has been advised of Contest, and given Participant express, written permission for his/her likeness to be included in the entry. Participants hold Sponsor harmless from and against any and all claims made by any third party arising from a breach of this warranty.


ARTICLE 8: WINNER SELECTION, NOTIFICATION AND DELIVERY OF PRIZES

8.1 The Contest is not based on chance or random selection. Chances of winning depend on the number and quality of eligible entries, the ability to articulate the vision and impact of the organization and its longevity.

8.2 Finalists selection and notification. After close of Contest, a panel of judges comprised of both corporate and business professionals will review all eligible entries and will select the finalists according to the following criteria:

  1. Does the proposed business have meaning that aligns with the image and values of Sponsor?
  2. Has Participant clearly addressed a problem or pain point business would solve?

iii. How well does Participant know his/her market?

  1. Does Participant’s business model make sense and is feasible?

The judges will select five (5) finalists on or about December 31st at 5pm (ARIZONA)..

 

All finalists will be notified of their selection via email to the email address if they are chosen.

 

8.3 Potential Winner selection and notification. Following all Participant pitches, the Participant with the highest overall score (“Potential Winner”) of the Contest will be selected by the Contest judges.

 

The Potential Winner will be announced on December 31st and will be directly notified via email to the email address they used to enter the Contest. Winner will be announced on the Instagram accounts @discoverHerWorldwideINC, @eventpartnershipacademy and @amargotblair.


8.4 Sponsor shall have no liability for the finalists or Potential Winner’s failure to receive notices due to the finalists or Potential Winner’s spam or any other security settings or for the finalists or Potential Winner’s provision of incorrect or otherwise non-functioning contact information. If the selected Potential Winner cannot be contacted, is ineligible, fails to complete and return the Affidavit of Eligibility, Liability Release, Publicity Release, and W9 (outlined below), fails to comply with any portion of these Contest terms, or fails to claim the prizes within 15 days from the time the notification was sent, the Potential Winner will be deemed to have waived their prizes and Sponsor will select the entry with the second-highest overall score as the new Potential Winner. No compensation shall be given upon price forfeiture. If the second-place winner is ineligible, does not claim his or her prize, or otherwise is unable to be declared the winner, Sponsor shall move to the entry with the third highest score. Sponsor shall continue this process until it has reached the Participant with the fifth (5th) highest score. If after these five (5) Participants, Sponsor still does not have an eligible confirmed winner due to failure to respond, ineligibility, failure to complete the Affidavit, or declines the prize, the prizes will remain property of the Sponsor and Sponsor shall have no further liability in connection with this Contest.

8.5. In order to become the confirmed winner, Potential Winner will be required to execute an Affidavit of Eligibility, a Liability Release, W-9, and where lawful, a Publicity Release within fourteen (14) days of the prize notification. The Potential Winner acknowledges and agrees that, in cases of contest prizes of $600 or more, the IRS mandates that the value of such prize be included in the winner’s gross income. Therefore, should the Potential Winner accept his or her prizes, Potential Winner must complete the provided W9 form and supply Sponsor with their social security number for tax purposes. Sponsor will issue a Form 1099 with the IRS in the amount of the prize and send a copy to the winner during the appropriate time of year.

8.6 Once confirmed as the “Confirmed Winner”, he or she will receive all information regarding prize collection via email, to the email address provided upon Contest submission within 15 days (excluding weekends and public holidays) from the announcement of the winner. The prizes will then be made available to the Confirmed Winner via wire transfer (for monetary prizes), certified mail (for tangible prizes such as products and magazines) or via email (for digital prizes such as online courses and subscriptions).

8.7 By accepting their prize, the Confirmed Winner authorizes the Sponsor to use their full name, city and/or state name, and department of residence in any public-promotional event on the Contest’s website and on any affiliated website or support, and such use without the possibility to claim any right and remuneration other than the prize won. The Participants authorize all checks regarding their identity, their age, their postal details or the loyalty and sincerity of their participation. In this context, the Sponsor reserves the right to request a copy of the Confirmed Winner’s ID prior to the sending of the endowment. Any false declaration, identity indication or address results in the immediate elimination of the participant and if necessary, the reimbursement of the prizes already sent.


ARTICLE 9: PRIZES

9.1 Grand Prize Winner.

The confirmed grand prize winner shall be eligible to receive the following prizes:

  • one (1) wire transfer of fifteen thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) toward funding the business idea/initiative;
  • one (1) ticket to DiscoverHer Worldwide Incorporated’s annual “Woman In Action Conference 2021” (valued at $475);
  • one (1) access to A. Margot Blair’s “Profitable Founder Academy™” Course (valued at $3997);
  • one (1) access to A. Margot Blair’s “Grow Your Partnership Portfolio ” Class (valued at $99);
  • one (1) access to A. Margot Blair’s “Self-Care Practices for Founders” workbook (valued at $37);
  • one (1) access to Woman In Action private community (no monetary value);
  • one (1) article on www.amargotblair.com featuring winner and his or her business initiative (no monetary value).
  • one (1) “I Am Woman In Action” T-shirt ($25)

9.2 Runner-Up. The confirmed second place, “runner-up” to the Contest shall be eligible to receive the following prizes:

  • one (1) ticket to DiscoverHer Worldwide Incorporated’s annual “Woman In Action Conference 2021” (valued at $475);
  • one (1) access to A. Margot Blair’s “Profitable Founder Academy™” Course (valued at $3997);
  • one (1) access to A. Margot Blair’s “Grow Your Partnership Portfolio ” Class (valued at $99);
  • one (1) access to A. Margot Blair’s “Self-Care Practices for Founders” workbook (valued at $37);
  • one (1) access to Woman In Action private community (no monetary value);
  • one (1) article on www.amargotblair.com featuring winner and his or her business initiative (no monetary value).
  • one (1) “I Am Woman In Action” T-shirt ($25)

9.3 High Scorers (3rd-5th place). The confirmed winners coming in at 3rd, 4th, and 5th place shall each be eligible to receive the following prizes:

  • one (1) access to A. Margot Blair’s “Grow Your Partnership Portfolio ” Class (valued at $99);
  • one (1) access to A. Margot Blair’s “Self-Care Practices for Founders” workbook (valued at $37);
  • one (1) access to Woman In Action private community (no monetary value);
  • one (1) article on www.amargotblair.com featuring winner and his or her business initiative (no monetary value).
  • one (1) “I Am Woman In Action” T-shirt ($25)


9.5 Each Participant acknowledges and agrees, in case they decided to enter into the Contest as a team, that the prizes above will be awarded to the team and not to each member of the team. Sponsor shall not be held responsible for the prizes’ allocation among the members of the team, and shall not provide additional prizes to accommodate a team.


ARTICLE 10: LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

By entering the Contest, Participant agrees to release and hold harmless Sponsor and its subsidiaries, affiliates, advertising and promotion agencies, partners, representatives, agents, successors, assigns, employees, officers and directors from any liability, illness, injury, death, loss, litigation, claim or damage that may occur, directly or indirectly, whether caused by negligence or not, from (i) such entrant’s participation in the Contest and/or their acceptance, possession, use, or misuse of any prize or any portion thereof, (ii) technical failures of any kind, including but not limited to the malfunctioning of any computer, cable, network, hardware or software; (iii) the unavailability or inaccessibility of any transmissions or telephone or Internet service; (iv) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the entry process or the Contest; (v) electronic or human error which may occur in the administration of the Contest or the processing of entries.


ARTICLE 11: GENERAL CONDITIONS

12.1 The Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. By participating in the Contest, entrants agree fully and unconditionally to these Official rules and Sponsor’s decisions, which are final and binding in all matters related to the Contest. Non-compliance of the mentioned regulation results in the automatic cancellation of any participation and of any allocation of gratuities.
12.2 The Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest should (in its sole discretion) a virus, bugs, non-authorized human intervention, fraud or other causes beyond its control corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness or proper conduct of the Contest. In such case, Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion to disqualify any individual who tampers or attempts to tamper with the entry process or the operation of the S Contest or website or violates these Official rules. Sponsor can’t be liable in any way to the participants for any fraud which may have been committed. Particularly, using one or more fictitious straw names or borrowed from one or more third parties will be considered as fraud. Each participant is required to participate in the Contest under its own and unique name. Any fraud results in the elimination of the participant.
12.3 The Sponsor may substitute prizes of equivalent value, amend the rules, or discontinue the Contest at any time for any reason. The Sponsor disclaims any responsibility to notify entrants of any aspect related to the conduct of the Contest.


ARTICLE 12: PRIVACY POLICY

Information submitted with an entry to the Contest is subject to the Privacy Policy stated on DiscoverHer Worldwide Incorporated’s website at the following address: www.discoverher.org/ComericaBusinessSenseBootcamp and Privacy Policy on Comerica Bank’s website located at https://comerica.com. Moreover, Participant acknowledges and agrees that all Contest entries, other than the winner, will be kept confidential, and will not be shared, viewed, or otherwise seen by any third parties, other than the Contest judges. All non-winning entries will be
destroyed, with the exception of Participants’ names and email addresses, which, if allowed by privacy laws, will be added to Sponsor’s email list. Those located in the United States may be prompted to provide permission to be added to Sponsor’s email lists, and may continue to receive emails from Sponsor that are reasonably related to Contest and when Sponsor has a legitimate interest in and basis for in doing so.


ARTICLE 13: GOVERNING LAW AND DISPUTES

The Contest is governed by the laws and regulations of the United States, with any and all disputes being governed by the laws and regulations of the State of Arizona, and Arizona law applying to any and all disputes with respect to these Official Rules and this Contest. As a condition of participating in this Contest, participants agree that any and all disputes which cannot be resolved between the parties, and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Contest, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, exclusively before a court located in Arizona.

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