Terms of
Service

These Terms of Service ("Terms") constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("User", "you", or "your") and Apie Technologies Private Limited ("GigRoot", "we", "us", or "our"), governing your access to and use of the GigRoot platform available at gigroot.co, our mobile apps, desktop apps, and any related services (collectively, the "Service").

By creating an account, accessing, or using the Service, you confirm that you (a) are at least 18 years of age, (b) have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement, and (c) agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, do not use the Service.

If you are using the Service on behalf of an organization, you represent and warrant that you are authorized to bind that organization to these Terms.

GigRoot is an AI-powered B2C marketplace and business management platform that connects verified freelancers, developers, agencies, and clients. The Service includes:

• AI-driven skill verification, proctored assessments, and biometric identity checks.
• Project posting, talent matching, and intelligent team formation.
• Smart escrow, milestone-based payments, invoicing, and payouts.
• Built-in CRM, finance, project management, time-tracking, calendar, document management, and real-time collaboration tools.
• Communication tools including chat, audio/video calls, and meetings.

GigRoot acts as a neutral platform that facilitates introductions and transactions between independent parties. We are not a party to any contract between users and do not provide legal, tax, employment, or professional services.

3.1 Registration

To use most features, you must create an account and provide accurate, complete, and current information. You are responsible for all activity under your account.

3.2 Account Security

You must keep your password confidential, enable multi-factor authentication where available, and immediately notify us of any unauthorized access. We are not liable for losses resulting from your failure to safeguard your credentials.

3.3 Verification

Some features require identity verification (KYC) and skill verification. You authorize GigRoot and its verification partners to collect, process, and validate the information you provide for these purposes.

3.4 One Account per Person

Each individual may maintain only one personal account. Creating duplicate accounts to evade restrictions or manipulate ratings is prohibited and grounds for permanent termination.

All users must adhere to the following rules when participating in the marketplace:

• Honest Representation: Profile information, skills, qualifications, and portfolios must be truthful and your own work.
• Good-Faith Engagement: Communicate professionally, respond in a timely manner, and honor commitments.
• No Circumvention: Do not solicit users to transact outside the platform to avoid fees during or for 12 months after a GigRoot-introduced engagement.
• Quality Standards: Deliver work that meets agreed specifications and timelines.
• Fair Reviews: Provide honest, constructive feedback based on actual experience. Buying, selling, or manipulating ratings is prohibited.
• Dispute Resolution: Attempt to resolve disagreements directly first; if unresolved, use GigRoot's dispute resolution process.

5.1 How Payments Work

GigRoot does not hold, receive or transmit your money. You connect your own payment provider (such as Razorpay or Stripe), and your client's payment settles directly into your account. Milestones and deliverable approvals control when an invoice is raised — not when money moves. Any fees are charged by your payment provider under your agreement with them.

5.2 Service Fees

GigRoot charges service fees and/or subscription fees as published on our Pricing page. Fees are non-refundable except as required by law or expressly stated.

5.3 Subscription Plans

Paid subscriptions auto-renew at the end of each billing cycle until canceled. You may cancel anytime; access continues until the end of the paid period. Refunds for subscriptions are governed by our refund policy.

5.4 Taxes

You are solely responsible for determining, collecting, withholding, reporting, and remitting all taxes applicable to your use of the Service, including income tax, GST, VAT, and sales tax.

5.5 Chargebacks

Initiating an unjustified chargeback may result in account suspension and recovery action. Please contact [email protected] first to resolve any payment issue.

6.1 GigRoot's IP

The Service, including its software, AI models, design, content, trademarks, and source code, is the exclusive property of Apie Technologies Private Limited and its licensors. All rights are reserved. You may not copy, modify, reverse-engineer, scrape, or create derivative works without our written permission.

6.2 User Content

You retain ownership of content you submit ("User Content"). By submitting User Content, you grant GigRoot a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to host, store, reproduce, modify, display, and distribute it as necessary to operate, promote, and improve the Service.

6.3 Work Product

Ownership of deliverables produced under a contract between users is governed by the agreement between those users. Unless otherwise agreed, full payment generally transfers ownership of work product to the client upon acceptance.

6.4 Feedback

Any feedback or suggestions you provide may be used by GigRoot without restriction or compensation to you.

You agree not to:

• Violate any law, regulation, or third-party right.
• Impersonate any person, misrepresent your affiliation, or provide false information.
• Post, transmit, or distribute content that is illegal, defamatory, harassing, infringing, fraudulent, obscene, hateful, or otherwise objectionable.
• Upload viruses, malware, or any harmful code.
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any account, system, or data.
• Use bots, scrapers, or other automated means to access or extract data from the Service.
• Interfere with or disrupt the integrity or performance of the Service.
• Cheat on, share answers to, or otherwise manipulate skill assessments.
• Engage in money laundering, fraud, or any financial crime.
• Solicit users to bypass GigRoot's payment system.

Violation may result in immediate suspension, termination, forfeiture of pending payments, and legal action.

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, AND ANY WARRANTIES ARISING FROM COURSE OF DEALING OR USAGE OF TRADE.

GigRoot does not guarantee: (a) the quality, accuracy, or reliability of any user, listing, or work product; (b) that the Service will be uninterrupted, error-free, or secure; (c) that AI-generated matches, predictions, or assessments will be accurate. AI outputs should be treated as advisory and verified by human judgment before relying on them for significant decisions.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, GIGROOT, ITS AFFILIATES, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOST PROFITS, REVENUE, DATA, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE.

OUR TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO THESE TERMS OR THE SERVICE SHALL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE FEES YOU PAID TO GIGROOT IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM, OR (B) ONE HUNDRED US DOLLARS (USD 100).

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties or limitation of liability. In such jurisdictions, our liability is limited to the maximum extent permitted by law.

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless GigRoot, Apie Technologies Private Limited, and our affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of (a) your use of the Service, (b) your User Content, (c) your violation of these Terms, or (d) your violation of any third-party right.

You may terminate your account at any time via account settings or by contacting support. We may suspend or terminate your access immediately, without notice, for any breach of these Terms, suspected fraud, legal requirement, or to protect users or the platform.

Upon termination: your right to use the Service ends; pending payouts may be held pending dispute resolution and compliance review; clauses that by their nature survive termination (e.g., IP, indemnification, limitation of liability, governing law) shall remain in effect.

These Terms are governed by the laws of India, without regard to conflict-of-law principles. The courts located in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any disputes, except that GigRoot may seek injunctive relief in any court of competent jurisdiction.

Before initiating formal proceedings, the parties agree to attempt good-faith negotiation for 30 days. Disputes that cannot be resolved through negotiation may be referred to binding arbitration in Bengaluru under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.

We may modify these Terms from time to time. We will notify you of material changes via email or in-app notice at least 30 days before they take effect. Continued use of the Service after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms.

For questions about these Terms, please contact:

• Legal & Compliance: [email protected]
• Support: [email protected]
• Business Inquiries: [email protected]
• Postal Address: Apie Technologies Private Limited, India