1. Agreement to Terms

By registering for or participating in NEST FEST, Austin Community College's startup pitch competition, you agree to these Terms and Conditions. These terms govern your participation in all NEST FEST activities, events, and related services.

If you do not agree to these terms, you may not participate in NEST FEST competitions or events.

2. Eligibility Requirements

General Eligibility

• Open to current students, faculty, staff, and alumni of Austin Community College
• Community members and external participants may be accepted at organizer discretion
• Participants must be 18+ or have parental consent if under 18
• Teams of up to 5 members are permitted
• One primary contact person must be designated per team

Project Requirements

• Projects must be original work by the participating team
• Submissions must align with entrepreneurial or innovation themes
• Projects should demonstrate potential for real-world impact
• All necessary intellectual property rights must be held by participants

3. Competition Rules

Submission Guidelines

• All registration information must be complete and accurate
• Project descriptions must be original and substantive (minimum 100 characters)
• AI-enhanced descriptions are permitted using our provided tool
• Submissions must be received by published deadlines
• Late or incomplete submissions may be disqualified

Presentation Requirements

• Pitch presentations limited to 5 minutes plus 2 minutes Q&A
• All team members should be prepared to participate
• Visual aids and demonstrations are encouraged
• Presentations must be appropriate for educational settings
• Technical setup time is limited and pre-arranged

Judging Criteria

• Innovation (25%): Originality and creativity of the solution
• Market Potential (25%): Commercial viability and target audience
• Impact (25%): Potential to solve real-world problems
• Execution (25%): Quality of presentation and project development

4. Intellectual Property

Participant Rights

Participants retain all intellectual property rights to their original work and ideas. NEST FEST does not claim ownership of participant projects, inventions, or innovations.

Limited License

By participating, you grant ACC a limited, non-exclusive license to:

• Display and present your project during NEST FEST events
• Use project information for educational and promotional purposes
• Include winning projects in marketing materials and case studies
• Share results with ACC faculty, students, and community partners

5. Awards and Recognition

Prize Structure

• Awards may include cash prizes, scholarships, and mentorship opportunities
• Prize amounts and categories determined by available funding and sponsors
• Awards are subject to tax reporting requirements
• Recipients may need to provide additional documentation

Judging Process

• Panel of industry experts, faculty, and community leaders
• Judges' decisions are final and not subject to appeal
• Conflict of interest policies apply to all judges
• Feedback provided at judges' discretion

6. Code of Conduct

All participants must:

• Conduct themselves professionally and respectfully
• Follow all ACC policies and procedures
• Respect intellectual property rights of others
• Maintain confidentiality of other participants' ideas
• Report any violations or concerns to organizers
• Comply with applicable laws and regulations

7. Disclaimers and Limitations

Disclaimer of Warranties

NEST FEST is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind. ACC makes no guarantees regarding competition outcomes, networking opportunities, or future business success.

Limitation of Liability

ACC's liability is limited to the maximum extent permitted by law. ACC is not responsible for:

• Technical difficulties or system failures
• Lost or corrupted submissions
• Injuries or damages occurring during events
• Third-party actions or communications
• Changes to competition format or schedule

8. Privacy and Data Use

Your participation in NEST FEST is subject to our Privacy Policy. We collect and use participant information for competition administration, educational purposes, and program improvement.

See our Privacy Policy for detailed information about data collection and use.

9. Changes and Modifications

ACC reserves the right to modify these terms, competition rules, or event details at any time. Significant changes will be communicated to registered participants via email.

Continued participation after notification of changes constitutes acceptance of modified terms.

10. Contact Information

For questions about these terms or competition rules, contact: