Community Terms

Handshake by Backkr. Effective Date: 16 August 2026.

These Terms of Service and Community Guidelines ("Terms") govern your participation in Handshake by Backkr ("Handshake" or "Platform"), a free professional community operated by Backkr Limited ("Backkr", "we", "us", or "our"). By joining Handshake, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the Platform.

1. About Handshake

Handshake is a free, open professional community for consultants, freelancers, service providers, business owners, and entrepreneurs to:

Network and build professional relationships
Share expertise and insights
Discuss business challenges and solutions
Discover collaboration and referral opportunities
Create meaningful professional connections

Participation in Handshake is voluntary and at your own initiative. Backkr does not screen members, verify credentials, or endorse any member's services or representations.

2. Membership and Eligibility

You may join Handshake if you:

Are 18 years of age or older
Agree to provide accurate, truthful information about yourself and your business
Agree to use the Platform for legitimate professional networking only
Are not a competitor attempting to gather competitive intelligence

Backkr reserves the right to deny membership or remove members at its sole discretion.

3. Community Guidelines – What's Expected

Handshake is built on mutual respect and professionalism. Members agree to:

3.1 Professional Conduct

Treat other members with respect, courtesy, and professionalism
Use their real name or a professional pseudonym (not anonymous or misleading usernames)
Provide accurate information about your credentials, experience, and services
Disclose any conflicts of interest or material limitations transparently
Conduct yourself in a manner consistent with professional standards in your industry

3.2 No Spam, Scams, or Solicitation

Do not post unsolicited promotional content, advertisements, or affiliate links
Do not engage in multi-level marketing (MLM) recruitment or schemes
Do not solicit members for unrelated platforms, products, or services without permission
Do not post the same message repeatedly across channels (spam)
Do not engage in deceptive practices, false claims, or misrepresentation
Do not attempt scams, fraud, or schemes targeting other members

3.3 Respect for Privacy and Confidentiality

Do not share other members' contact information without permission
Do not share confidential information revealed in private conversations
Do not name-drop clients, customers, or partners without explicit permission
Do not publish private messages or discussions without consent
Respect the intellectual property and work of other members

3.4 Appropriate Content

Do not post illegal content, including pirated material or illegal services
Do not post sexually explicit, obscene, or graphic content
Do not post hate speech, slurs, or content targeting protected groups
Do not post violent, threatening, or harassing content
Do not post content that infringes on others' intellectual property rights
Do not post malware, viruses, phishing links, or other malicious content

3.5 Engagement in Good Faith

Respond to inquiries and connections in good faith
Do not ghost, mislead, or waste other members' time
If you decline an opportunity, be honest and respectful
Follow through on professional commitments and introductions you make

4. Member-to-Member Interactions

Handshake facilitates connections but does not:

Verify the credentials, experience, or legitimacy of members
Guarantee the quality of services, products, or business opportunities
Mediate disputes, conflicts, or disagreements between members
Provide legal or business advice regarding transactions

Members engage with each other at their own risk. Exercise due diligence when:

Evaluating a member's credentials or expertise
Considering a business partnership or client relationship
Sharing sensitive business information
Making financial commitments or entering contracts

Backkr is not responsible for member-to-member disputes, fraud, misrepresentation, or breach of contract.

5. Content You Post

You retain ownership of all content (posts, comments, files, images) you create and post on Handshake. By posting, you grant Backkr and other Handshake members a non-exclusive license to view, access, and reference your content within the Platform for professional purposes.

You warrant that:

All content you post is original or properly licensed
Your content does not infringe third-party intellectual property rights
Your content does not contain confidential information belonging to others
You have the right to post the content and grant the rights described above

You are responsible for all content you post. Do not post information you would not want publicly associated with your professional reputation.

6. Moderation and Enforcement

Backkr may, at its sole discretion:

Remove posts, messages, or content that violate these Guidelines
Suspend or terminate a member's access for violations
Remove members engaging in harassment, scams, or illegal activity
Report serious violations (fraud, threats, illegal activity) to appropriate authorities

Moderation is not real-time. Members are encouraged to report violations by contacting team@backkr.com with details.

7. No Liability for User Content

Backkr is not responsible for content posted by members, including inaccuracy, offensive material, or infringement. While we aim to maintain a professional community, we do not review all content before posting. You are responsible for evaluating the credibility and appropriateness of content you encounter.

8. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law:

Handshake is provided 'as is' without warranties of any kind
Backkr is not liable for business outcomes, lost opportunities, or disputes arising from connections made on the Platform
Backkr is not liable for fraud, misrepresentation, or illegal activity by members
Backkr is not liable for data loss, unauthorised access, or third-party platform failures
Backkr's total liability shall not exceed NZ$100

Some jurisdictions do not allow disclaimers of liability, so this limitation may not apply to you.

9. Termination of Membership

You may leave Handshake at any time by requesting account deletion. Backkr may terminate your membership for:

Violation of these Terms or Community Guidelines
Illegal or harmful activity
Fraud or misrepresentation
Spam or harassment of other members
Inactivity (no login for 12 months or more)

Upon termination, your access will be removed. Your profile and past contributions may remain in archived form.

10. Intellectual Property

All materials owned by Backkr (including the Platform design, functionality, logos, and branding) are protected by copyright and intellectual property laws. You may not copy, modify, or use Backkr's intellectual property without permission. However, you may share links to Handshake and recommend the Platform to others.

11. Third-Party Platforms

If Handshake operates via a third-party platform (Slack, Circle, Discord, etc.), the third-party's terms of service and privacy policy also apply to your use. You are responsible for complying with both Backkr's Terms and the third-party platform's terms.

12. Data Privacy

Your use of Handshake is also governed by the Backkr Privacy Policy, which details our practices regarding data collection, usage, storage, and protection. By using Handshake, you acknowledge and agree to the terms of the Backkr Privacy Policy.

13. Disclaimers and Warranties

Handshake is provided "as is" and "as available" without any warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement. Backkr does not warrant that the Platform will be uninterrupted, error-free, secure, or that any defects will be corrected. No advice or information, whether oral or written, obtained by you from Backkr or through the Platform shall create any warranty not expressly stated in these Terms.

14. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Backkr, its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents, and licensors from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, expenses, or fees (including reasonable legal fees) arising from or relating to your violation of these Terms, your use of the Platform, or your violation of any rights of another.

15. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unlawful, void, or for any reason unenforceable, then that provision shall be deemed severable from these Terms and shall not affect the validity and enforceability of any remaining provisions.

16. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with any other legal notices or guidelines published by Backkr on the Platform, constitute the entire agreement between you and Backkr concerning your use of Handshake.

17. Dispute Resolution

Disputes between members are member-to-member issues and not the responsibility of Backkr. For serious violations, safety concerns, or illegal activity, contact team@backkr.com with details. Backkr will investigate and take appropriate action but cannot mediate commercial disputes.

18. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of New Zealand. Any legal action or proceeding relating to Handshake must be brought exclusively in the courts of New Zealand.

19. Changes to These Terms

Backkr may update these Terms and Community Guidelines at any time. Material changes will be communicated via email or posted on the Platform. Continued use of Handshake after updates constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

20. Community Standards

Handshake thrives when members:

Contribute valuable insights and support
Ask thoughtful questions and help answer others' questions
Share generously without expecting immediate returns
Build trust through consistent, professional behaviour
Refer work and opportunities to members they genuinely believe in

We encourage a culture of mutual support and professional generosity. The best opportunities in Handshake come from genuine relationships built over time.

Contact Us

If you have questions about these Terms, encounter violations, or need support, please contact us:

Backkr Limited
Ministry of Awesome, Christchurch, New Zealand
Email: team@backkr.com
Phone: +64 27 766 4199
Website: https://www.backkr.com

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