The following terms and conditions ("Official Rules") govern your participation in the AI Fusion Summit 2025 Startup Competition (the “Competition”). By submitting an entry, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Official Rules. If you are submitting an entry on behalf of a startup entity (as defined in Section 3.1 below), you represent and warrant that you have full legal authority to bind that entity to these Official Rules. In such a case, all references to “you” or “your” herein shall be deemed to refer to that startup.

We reserve the right to update or modify these Official Rules at any time. Any material changes will be communicated in advance via the official competition website or other appropriate channels.

In addition to the $100 submission fee, all startups selected as finalists will be required to pay a non-refundable participation fee of $990 USD to exhibit at the AI Fusion Summit on November 20, 2025. This fee must be paid to confirm exhibition space and event visibility.

1.1 Competition Period. The AI Fusion Summit 2025 Startup Competition (the “Competition”) officially begins on January 1, 2025 at 12:00 AM Eastern Standard Time (EST) and concludes with the final live pitch session on November 21, 2025. The Organizer’s internal server clock will serve as the official timekeeping device. The Competition consists of three stages: the Submission Period, the Judging and Selection Period, and the Final Event in Miami. The Organizer reserves the right to update these dates as needed and will provide notice through the Competition website or by email.

1.2 Submission Period.
Startups may submit entries beginning January 1, 2025, with the Submission Period closing on October 30, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST. Submissions must be completed in full, and the $100 non-refundable entry fee must be paid in order for entries to be eligible. For full instructions, see Section 4 (How to Enter).

1.3 Judging and Selection Period.
Submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis starting from January 1, 2025. Each project will be evaluated within 14 calendar days of receipt. All finalists will be selected and notified no later than November 10, 2025.

2.1 Eligible Startups. The AI Fusion Summit 2025 Competition is open to startup entities that meet the following requirements: (a) The entity must be legally registered and in good standing under the laws of its home country or jurisdiction;

(b) The entity must be authorized to conduct business and enter competitions within its jurisdiction.

(c) The startup must comply with all applicable laws and regulations and meet the submission criteria outlined in Section 4 (Entry Requirements).

The Competition is best suited for early-stage startups, typically ranging from pre-seed to Series A. Later-stage AI ventures may also be considered if their solutions align closely with the event’s innovation goals.

2.2 Ineligible Participants. The following individuals and entities are not eligible to enter or participate in the Competition:

(a) Employees, officers, or directors of Global Grand Consulting LLC, its affiliates, or any member of the judging panel;

(b) Immediate family members or household members of those listed in (b);

(c) Entities affiliated with or owned by persons under sanction, or located in countries or regions subject to comprehensive U.S. sanctions, including but not limited to: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and the Crimea, Luhansk, and Donetsk regions of Ukraine; (d) Any entity listed on a U.S. government restricted party list or subject to other applicable restrictions.

All finalists will be subject to verification of eligibility prior to final selection or receipt of any award. See Section 7 for more on verification.

2.3 Authorized Representative. Each Startup must designate an authorized individual to act on its behalf in all matters related to the Competition (the “Representative”). The Representative must: (a) Be at least 18 years of age or the age of majority in their jurisdiction; (b) Be a founder, officer, managing member, or executive with legal authority to represent the Startup.

By submitting an entry, the Representative certifies that they have full authority to enter the Startup into the Competition and to accept these Official Rules on its behalf. The Representative also certifies that their actions do not violate any agreements, policies, or procedures binding upon them or the Startup. Both the Representative and the Startup are responsible for ensuring full compliance with all eligibility criteria and competition terms.

Finalists are responsible for securing their own travel documentation, including visas if required. Upon request, the Organizer will provide official invitation letters, but does not guarantee visa approval or sponsor visa applications.

3.1 How to Enter.
To participate in the AI Fusion Summit 2025 Startup Competition, visit www.aifusionsummit.org (the “Competition Site”) during the official Submission Period. Follow the provided instructions to complete the online application form. Each submission (the “Entry”) must include:

Entries that do not comply with these requirements, or are submitted via email or alternate channels, will not be accepted.

3.2 Limitations on Entry.
Each startup may submit only one (1) entry. Multiple submissions will result in disqualification of all entries from that startup. Entries will be deemed void if they are incomplete, illegible, corrupted, fraudulent, late, or submitted by someone other than the designated Representative.

All entries must be submitted by the authorized account holder of the email address used for registration. The authorized account holder is defined as the individual assigned to the email address by an internet service provider or similar organization. The Organizer reserves the right to verify the identity and authority of each Representative at any time.

4.1 Required Submission Materials.
Each Startup participating in the AI Fusion Summit 2025 Competition must submit a complete Entry that includes the following components during the official Submission Period:
(a) A company profile including the startup’s name, contact email, phone number, country of registration, and names and roles of up to five key team members;
(b) A project description detailing the AI-driven application, platform, tool, or service that the Startup is currently developing or has developed;
(c) A written summary (maximum 500 words) describing the functionality, use case, innovation, competitive advantage, and target market opportunity of the solution;
(d) A pitch deck in PDF format, not exceeding 10 slides or 10MB in size. The deck should clearly communicate the project’s vision, business model, technical approach, and go-to-market strategy;
(e) (Optional) A link to a video demo or prototype walkthrough (no longer than 5 minutes), showing the AI solution in use, if available.

(f)Startups at minimum must have a validated prototype or MVP stage product; concept-only entries are not eligible.

(g) Projects must leverage artificial intelligence or machine learning as a core component of the product or service. Eligible AI solutions may include proprietary models, applied AI platforms, ML-enabled tools, AI-as-a-Service offerings, or deeply integrated LLM-based applications. Simple automations or rule-based systems will not qualify.

Submissions must be complete, submitted before the deadline, and comply with all specified technical and content guidelines. Incomplete or late entries will be disqualified. Submitted materials will not be returned, and the Organizer assumes no responsibility for lost, corrupted, or improperly submitted entries.

4.2 Language Requirement.
All written submission materials and any subsequent live or recorded presentations must be submitted and delivered in English.

Each Startup is solely responsible for ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and originality of all submitted materials and presentation content related to the AI Fusion Summit 2025 Competition. By submitting an Entry, the Startup certifies and warrants that its submission and all associated content:

(a) Is free from any defamatory, offensive, abusive, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate material;
(b) Is the Startup’s original work, not copied or plagiarized in whole or in part, and fully owned or lawfully licensed by the submitting Startup without encumbrance or third-party claims;
(c) Does not infringe upon or misappropriate any third party’s intellectual property, trade secret, or proprietary information;
(d) Does not include any confidential information belonging to any other person or entity, including former employers or collaborators;
(e) Does not violate any rights of privacy, publicity, or reputation of any individual;
(f) Does not give rise to any obligation of compensation, royalty, attribution, or licensing to third parties;
(g) Complies with all applicable laws, regulations, and contractual obligations;
(h) Is free from malware, malicious code, or any component intended to interfere with, damage, or limit software, hardware, or network functionality;
(i) Is truthful, factual, and does not include misleading or fraudulent claims.

The Organizer reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify or remove any submission that fails to meet these requirements or that violates the spirit of the Competition or these Official Rules.

Following submission, each Entry to the AI Fusion Summit 2025 Startup Competition will undergo an initial evaluation to determine compliance with these Official Rules. Global Grand Consulting LLC (the “Organizer”), its agents, or appointed judges may disqualify any Entry at any time—before or after judging—if the submission is determined to violate eligibility criteria, submission standards, or any part of these Official Rules.

The Organizer reserves the right, prior to finalist confirmation or award allocation, to request documentation from the Startup, through its authorized Representative, including but not limited to:

Failure to provide requested documentation may result in disqualification.

7.1 Ownership.
All intellectual property rights in and to submitted materials—including the project concept, documentation, and pitch content—remain the exclusive property of the Startup.

7.2 License Grant.
By entering, the Startup grants the Organizer and its event partners a worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive, irrevocable license to publicly use, reference, publish, or display any part of the Entry for the following purposes:

This license does not transfer ownership and is limited to promotional and informational uses related to the Competition.

7.3 Acknowledgment of Similar Concepts.
Startups acknowledge that others may submit ideas similar in concept, scope, or execution. Submission does not guarantee exclusivity or create grounds for any claim against the Organizer or other participants. All entries are considered public for the purposes of judging, event showcasing, and promotional use.

Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of qualified judges appointed by the Organizer, including investors, AI professionals, entrepreneurs, and business leaders. Judges will evaluate eligible Entries based on criteria defined in Section 10. Judges’ decisions are final, binding, and not subject to appeal. Scores and individual assessments will not be disclosed.

9.1 Review Process.
All valid entries will be evaluated on a rolling basis. Finalist selection will be based on:

Finalists will be notified by November 10, 2025 and invited to attend the AI Fusion Summit in Miami.

Judges will evaluate entries using balanced scoring. The standard weight applied is:

Submissions that raise ethical, legal, or social concerns—such as surveillance technology, misinformation tools, or exploitative AI—may be excluded at the Organizer’s sole discretion.

9.2 Live Pitching.
Finalists must deliver a 5–10 minute live pitch at the AI Fusion Summit on November 21, 2025, followed by Q&A with the judging panel. Winners will be selected based on cumulative evaluation of written and live presentation content.

Finalists are responsible for their own travel and lodging expenses. Finalists must confirm attendance at the exhibition on November 20, 2025 and pay an organizational fee of $990 USD to access all event-day participation benefits. This fee is required to finalize inclusion in the showcase lineup and associated promotions. Complimentary access passes for up to 2 team members are included in the $990 participation fee. The $990 exhibition fee must be paid in full within 5 business days of receiving finalist notification and no later than November 10, 2025. Failure to meet this deadline may result in forfeiture of the finalist position.

The $990 participation fee covers:

10.2 Winner Recognition.
The top-ranked Startup (the “Winner”) will receive enhanced promotion post-event and priority consideration for strategic introductions with investors and accelerator partners. No cash prize or direct investment is guaranteed.

10.3 Prize Limitations.
Prizes are non-transferable, non-exchangeable, and have no cash redemption value. The Organizer reserves the right to substitute or withhold any benefit if a Startup is found to be ineligible, uncooperative, or in breach of any term of the Competition.

Failure to pay the $990 fee by the stated deadline or to attend the required in-person events will result in removal from the finalist list. Participation fees are non-refundable under any circumstances, including no-shows or withdrawal.

If a finalist is unable to attend the event due to visa denial or force majeure, the Organizer may consider transferring their exhibition slot to a remote presentation opportunity at its sole discretion. However, no refund will be issued.

Finalists who decline to fulfill the participation requirements, including the exhibition fee or live attendance, will be disqualified and replaced by alternate candidates at the Organizer’s discretion.

Global Grand Consulting LLC collects personal and professional data as part of the submission and evaluation process. This may include team names, emails, contact information, project descriptions, and presentation content. By participating, entrants consent to the use of this data for purposes including but not limited to:

All data will be managed in accordance with the Organizer’s Privacy Policy, available at aifusionsummit.org/privacy.

12.1 Technical and Submission Risks.
The Organizer is not responsible for incomplete, lost, late, misdirected, or corrupted entries; technical errors; server outages; or connectivity issues. Entrants assume all risk associated with electronic submission and transmission.

12.2 Risk and Release.
Participants bear all risks associated with travel, participation, and public exposure of submitted concepts. By entering, each Startup waives any claim against the Organizer for any damage or loss arising from submission, presentation, or public sharing of their project or related materials.

12.3 Force Majeure.
The Organizer reserves the right to modify, postpone, or cancel the Competition due to circumstances beyond its control, including pandemics, travel bans, or venue restrictions. In such cases, the Organizer will communicate alternative plans but assumes no liability for losses incurred by participants.

12.4 Disqualification Criteria.
The Organizer reserves the right to disqualify any participant or team found to:

12.5 No Implied Obligations.
Finalist or Winner designation does not entitle any Startup to further involvement, investment, or promotion beyond what is explicitly stated. The Organizer makes no future commitments beyond the scope of the event.

12.6 Third-Party Competition.
Startups acknowledge that the Organizer or its affiliates may have parallel investment interests or support other ventures that compete with participating Startups. Such circumstances do not constitute grounds for objection or liability.

By participating in the AI Fusion Summit 2025 Startup Competition, each Startup represents and warrants that:

Participants further agree not to seek unfair advantage by contacting any event staff, judges, or affiliates of the Organizer outside of formal Competition procedures.

By entering the Competition, each Startup grants Global Grand Consulting LLC a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use the name, logo, brand marks, and submitted content of the Startup for purposes related to promoting the Competition and future AI Fusion Summit events. This includes, but is not limited to:

No additional permission or compensation will be required for these uses.

Global Grand Consulting LLC retains all rights to its intellectual property, including but not limited to trademarks, logos, service marks, domain names, and event branding ("Organizer IP").
Participants may not use Organizer IP without prior written approval. Additionally, Startups agree not to use any name, logo, or design that may be confusingly similar to Organizer IP.

16.1 Limitation of Liability.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, by participating in the Competition, each Startup (on behalf of itself and its team members) agrees that:

16.2 Exceptions.
This limitation does not apply to liability resulting from death, personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or any other matter that cannot be excluded under applicable law.

By entering, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless Global Grand Consulting LLC, its judges, partners, officers, employees, and affiliates (the “Indemnified Parties”) from any claims, losses, damages, or expenses arising from:

The Organizer reserves the right to manage the legal defense of any claim, at your expense, and you may not settle any claim without the Organizer’s prior written approval.

18.1 Waiver and Interpretation.
Failure to enforce any provision of these Rules does not constitute a waiver of that provision. Section titles are for convenience only. Any ambiguity in the interpretation of the Rules shall be resolved by the Organizer at its sole discretion.

18.2 Governing Law and Jurisdiction.
These Official Rules and any related disputes will be governed by the laws of the State of Florida, USA. All disputes must be resolved through binding arbitration in Miami, Florida, administered under the rules of the American Arbitration Association. Participants consent to this jurisdiction and venue.