PARTICIPANT AGREEMENT & TERMS OF PARTICIPATION

This Participant Agreement (“Agreement”) sets out the terms and conditions for participation in the Sparks Accelerator (Inclusive Core Edition) (“the Program”), organised by Sparks Ventures Hub (“the Organiser”).

By enrolling in, paying for, and participating in the Program, you (“the Participant”) agree to the terms below.

 

  1. PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Sparks Accelerator is a 3-month business resilience and fundability accelerator designed to support early-stage entrepreneurs to improve business structure, financial discipline, operational resilience, and readiness for funding opportunities.

The Program:

  • Is educational and developmental in nature
  • Does not provide grants, loans, or guaranteed funding
  • Does not promise investment, partnerships, or financial returns

 

  1. ELIGIBILITY & PARTICIPATION

By enrolling, the Participant confirms that:

  • Their business is less than 5 years old OR generates less than ₦5 million in annual revenue
  • The business is actively operating
  • All information provided during application, onboarding, and assessments is true, accurate, and complete

Sparks Ventures Hub reserves the right to remove any participant found to have provided false or misleading information.

 

  1. FEES & PAYMENT TERMS
  • The participation fee for the Program is ₦53,750
  • Payment is required before access to:
    • Registration & onboarding forms
    • Baseline assessments
    • Participant communication groups
    • Program sessions and materials

Important:

  • Payment confirms commitment, not guaranteed outcomes
  • Fees are subject to the Refund & Withdrawal Policy (Annex A)
  • Participation is not confirmed until payment is verified

 

  1. PARTICIPANT COMMITMENTS

Participants agree to:

  • Attend scheduled sessions and clinics
  • Complete assessments and assigned activities
  • Meet onboarding and assessment deadlines
  • Engage honestly with financial and business data
  • Participate respectfully in all program spaces

Failure to meet participation requirements may result in:

  • Formal warnings
  • Restricted access to sessions or materials
  • Removal from the Program without refund

 

  1. ASSESSMENTS & COHORT PLACEMENT

Participants acknowledge that:

  • Baseline, midline, and endline assessments are mandatory
  • Assessment results are used for:
    • Cohort placement
    • Support intensity decisions
    • Monitoring, evaluation, and reporting

Cohort placement does not indicate superiority or inferiority and does not affect access to core program value.

 

  1. NO GUARANTEE OF FUNDING OR RESULTS

The Participant understands and agrees that:

  • The Program does not guarantee funding, grants, loans, or investment
  • Business outcomes depend on individual effort, implementation, and external factors
  • Sparks Ventures Hub is not liable for business losses, missed opportunities, or financial outcomes

 

  1. CONFIDENTIALITY & DATA USE

Sparks Ventures Hub commits to:

  • Treat participant information with confidentiality
  • Use participant data responsibly for:
    • Program delivery
    • Monitoring and evaluation
    • Donor and partner reporting (in anonymised or aggregated form)

Participants consent to the use of anonymised data for impact measurement and learning.

 

  1. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
  • All program materials remain the intellectual property of Sparks Ventures Hub
  • Participants may use tools and templates for their own business
  • Recording, reproducing, distributing, or selling program content is prohibited without written consent

 

  1. CODE OF CONDUCT

Participants must:

  • Communicate respectfully
  • Avoid harassment, discrimination, or disruptive behaviour
  • Respect facilitators, mentors, and fellow participants

Violation of the Code of Conduct may result in immediate removal from the Program.

 

  1. TERMINATION OF PARTICIPATION

Sparks Ventures Hub reserves the right to terminate participation if:

  • The Participant breaches this Agreement or Annex A
  • The Participant repeatedly fails to engage
  • The Participant disrupts program integrity

Termination does not entitle the Participant to a refund.

 

  1. PROGRAM MODIFICATIONS

Sparks Ventures Hub may adjust:

  • Session schedules
  • Delivery formats
  • Facilitators or speakers

Such changes will not materially reduce program value.

 

  1. GOVERNING PRINCIPLES

This Agreement is governed by principles of:

  • Fairness
  • Transparency
  • Accountability
  • Good faith participation

 

  1. ACCEPTANCE

By enrolling, making payment, and participating in the Program, the Participant confirms that they:

  • Have read and understood this Agreement and Annex A
  • Agree to abide by all terms
  • Commit to active participation for the full 3-month duration

☐ I agree to the Sparks Accelerator Participant Agreement & Annex A

ANNEX A

REFUND & WITHDRAWAL POLICY

This Annex forms an integral part of the Participant Agreement.

 

A1. GENERAL PRINCIPLE

The Sparks Accelerator is a capacity-building, commitment-based program with limited slots.
Resources are allocated per confirmed participant; therefore, refunds are strictly limited.

 

A2. COOLING-OFF PERIOD (LIMITED)

Participants may request a refund only if all conditions below are met:

  • Request is submitted within 48 hours of payment, AND
  • The participant has not:
    • Accessed onboarding forms
    • Completed any assessments
    • Joined the participant communication group
    • Attended any session

Refund Amount:

  • 80% of the participation fee will be refunded
  • 20% retained for administrative and processing costs

 

A3. NO REFUNDS AFTER PROGRAM COMMENCEMENT

No refunds will be issued once any of the following occurs:

  • Access to onboarding materials
  • Completion of baseline assessments
  • Entry into the participant group
  • Attendance at any session
  • Official program commencement date

 

A4. WITHDRAWAL WITHOUT REFUND

Participants may withdraw at any time by written notice. However:

  • Withdrawal does not entitle the participant to a refund
  • Participation fees are forfeited
  • Access to program materials may be revoked

 

A5. NON-TRANSFERABILITY

  • Participation fees are non-transferable
  • Program slots cannot be transferred to another person or business
  • Deferrals to future cohorts are not guaranteed and are granted solely at the discretion of Sparks Ventures Hub

 

A6. EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES

Refunds outside this policy may be considered only at the sole discretion of Sparks Ventures Hub in exceptional cases such as:

  • Verified medical emergencies
  • Force majeure events

All requests must be submitted in writing with supporting documentation.

 

A7. PROGRAM CANCELLATION

If Sparks Ventures Hub cancels the Program before commencement:

  • Participants will receive a full refund, OR
  • Be offered transfer to a future cohort

 

A8. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

By enrolling in the Program, the Participant acknowledges that:

  • They understand this Refund & Withdrawal Policy
  • They accept the limitations outlined
  • They agree that the policy is fair and reasonable

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