Terms and Conditions

Last Updated: [2026/08/18]

These Terms & Conditions ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the Featmate website, marketplace, accounts, features, payment functionality, and related services.

Featmate is operated by:

FEATMATE Inc.

100 King Street West, Unit 5700

Toronto, Ontario, M5X 1C7

Canada

By creating an account, accessing the Platform, posting a Project, submitting a Proposal, purchasing a membership or other paid service, entering into a Project relationship, or otherwise using Featmate, you agree to be bound by these Terms.

If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not use Featmate.

1. Definitions

For these Terms:

"Featmate", "we", "us", or "our" means FEATMATE Inc.

"Platform" means the Featmate website, marketplace, accounts, tools, communications, payment features, and related services.

"User" means any individual or entity accessing or using the Platform.

"Client" means a User who posts, purchases, commissions, or seeks freelance or professional services.

"Freelancer" means an independent professional or eligible business User offering or providing services through Featmate.

"Project" or "Job" means an opportunity, engagement, task, contract, or scope of work created or conducted through Featmate.

"Proposal" means an offer submitted by a Freelancer in response to a Project.

"Deliverables" means work product, services, files, code, designs, documentation, materials, or other outputs agreed between a Client and Freelancer.

"Milestone" means an agreed stage or portion of a Project associated with specific work, deliverables, timelines, or payments.

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old and legally capable of entering into binding agreements to use Featmate.

If you use Featmate on behalf of a company, organization, or other legal entity, you represent that you have authority to bind that entity to these Terms.

You are responsible for ensuring that your use of Featmate is lawful in your jurisdiction.

3. Role of Featmate

Featmate operates a marketplace that enables Clients and Freelancers to discover one another, communicate, enter into Project relationships, process payments, and manage marketplace activity.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, Featmate is not a party to the professional services agreement between a Client and Freelancer.

Featmate does not employ Freelancers and does not generally direct or control how Freelancers perform their work.

Freelancers operate as independent professionals or independent businesses.

Clients are responsible for selecting the Freelancer they wish to engage.

Clients and Freelancers are responsible for agreeing on:

• Project scope;
•  Deliverables;
•  pricing;
•  timelines;
•  milestones;
•  revisions;
•  communication expectations;
•  technical requirements; and
•  other Project-specific terms.

Featmate may provide marketplace functionality, payment services, dispute-review processes, and other tools to facilitate those relationships.

4. Account Registration

Certain Featmate functionality requires an account.

Users must provide accurate, current, and complete information when registering and must keep their information reasonably up to date.

You are responsible for:

•  protecting your account credentials;
• activities performed through your account;
• maintaining accurate account information; and
• promptly notifying Featmate of suspected unauthorized access.

You must not share or transfer your account in a manner prohibited by Featmate.

Featmate may require email verification, identity verification, or additional account verification.

5. Identity Verification

Featmate may require a User to complete identity or KYC verification in certain circumstances.

Verification may include providing a government-issued identification document or passport.

Featmate may restrict, suspend, delay, or refuse certain marketplace or payment functionality until requested verification is completed.

Verification does not constitute a guarantee by Featmate regarding a User's skills, honesty, financial condition, professional qualifications, or future conduct.

6. User Roles

Users may participate in Featmate as Clients, Freelancers, or through other account roles made available by the Platform.

Users are responsible for complying with all rules applicable to their account role.

Where the Platform permits a User to operate in more than one capacity, obligations associated with each relevant role continue to apply.

7. Client Responsibilities

Clients may use Featmate to identify Freelancers and post Projects.

A Client is responsible for:

• accurately describing a Project;
• defining reasonable requirements;
• providing required information and access;
•  stating budgets and timelines accurately;
• communicating material changes;
• funding agreed payments or milestones;
• reviewing submitted work within a reasonable period;
• providing necessary feedback;
• complying with agreed Project terms; and
• treating Freelancers professionally.

Clients may review Freelancer profiles and contact eligible Freelancers through the communication functionality provided by Featmate.

A Client may select a Freelancer based on the Client's own assessment of the Freelancer's profile, skills, experience, proposal, portfolio, communication, and suitability.

Featmate does not guarantee that any particular Freelancer will satisfy a Client's requirements.

8. Posting Projects

Eligible Clients may post Projects subject to the functionality, limits, membership plan, policies, or account requirements available on the Platform.

Featmate may offer free or paid Project-posting functionality.

Fees, limits, or eligibility requirements displayed on the Platform at the relevant time will apply.

Projects must:

• describe legitimate work;
• comply with applicable law;
• comply with these Terms;
• not request prohibited services; and
• provide sufficient information for Freelancers to understand the requested work.

Featmate may reject, remove, suspend, or require modification of any Project that violates these Terms or Platform policies.

9. Freelancer Responsibilities

Freelancers may submit Proposals for Projects relevant to their skills and professional experience.

A Proposal may include information such as:

• proposed price or rate;
• estimated delivery time;
• revision terms;
• cover letter;
• Project approach;
• attachments; and
• other requested information.

Freelancers are responsible for:

• providing accurate profile information;
• representing their experience and abilities honestly;
• submitting realistic Proposals;
• understanding Project requirements before accepting work;
• meeting agreed deadlines;
• performing agreed services professionally;
• delivering agreed Deliverables;
• communicating material delays or problems;
• protecting Client confidential information; and
• complying with Project agreements and these Terms.

Submission of Proposals is currently available without a separate Proposal credit charge, subject to the Platform functionality and membership conditions applicable at the time.

Featmate may modify Proposal limits, access rules, plans, or functionality in the future.

10. Subcontracting

Unless otherwise expressly agreed with the Client, a Freelancer must personally perform or directly control the work for which the Freelancer was selected.

A Freelancer may not subcontract or transfer material Project responsibilities to another person without the Client's prior knowledge and consent.

Featmate may permit eligible Freelancers operating as registered businesses or organizations to work through approved team members or personnel where:

•  the account structure permits such activity;
• the arrangement is disclosed to the Client;
• the Client agrees to the arrangement; and
• the Freelancer remains responsible for compliance with the Project agreement and these Terms.
  
  

11. Membership Plans

Featmate may offer free and paid membership plans to Clients and Freelancers.

Plans may include different:

• features;
• usage limits;
• marketplace benefits;
• promotional tools;
• account functionality;
• pricing; and
• durations.

The current price and features of a membership will be displayed on the Platform at the time of purchase or request.

Certain membership purchases or activations may require review and approval by a Featmate administrator before becoming active.

Submitting payment or a membership request does not guarantee approval where administrative approval is required.

Users are responsible for reviewing the applicable plan information before purchasing or requesting activation.

Featmate may modify, replace, discontinue, or introduce membership plans from time to time, subject to applicable law and any commitments already made to Users.

12. Platform Fees and Commissions

Featmate may charge Clients, Freelancers, or both for use of certain marketplace services.

Fees may include:

• Project commissions;
• Client service fees;
• Freelancer service fees;
• membership fees;
• featured Project fees;
• featured profile fees;
• payment-processing charges;
• withdrawal-related charges; and
• other optional paid Platform services.

Project commissions may be calculated as a percentage of the Project price or transaction value.

Applicable fees, commissions, or charges will be disclosed through the Platform or relevant transaction flow.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, Users are responsible for reviewing applicable fees before confirming a transaction.

13. Payments

Payments may be processed using supported methods including:

• PayPal;
• Stripe; and
• supported bank-transfer functionality.

Payment methods may change depending on availability, User location, transaction type, or Platform configuration.

Where applicable, Client funds are received or arranged through the Platform before eligible amounts are made available to a Freelancer.

Payment processing may be subject to third-party provider terms, restrictions, processing times, fees, and compliance requirements.

Featmate does not directly store complete payment-card information.

14. Milestones and Project Funds

Featmate may provide milestone or escrow-style payment functionality for Projects.

Clients and Freelancers should clearly define:

• the work associated with each Milestone;
• the Milestone amount;
• expected Deliverables;
• due dates; and
• acceptance criteria.

Funding a Milestone does not automatically mean that the related Deliverable has been accepted.

Release of funds may depend on:

• Project progress;
• Client approval;
• applicable Platform workflow;
• expiry of applicable review periods;
• cancellation;
• dispute resolution; or
• other applicable conditions.
  
  

15. Freelancer Withdrawals

Freelancers may request withdrawal of eligible available balances subject to:

completion of applicable payment processing;

• account verification requirements;
• pending disputes;
• chargebacks;
• refunds;
• security reviews;
• applicable Platform fees; and
• payment-provider restrictions.

A balance displayed in an account may not necessarily be immediately withdrawable if it remains subject to a pending transaction or review.

16. Payment Processing Fees

Payment-processing fees may vary depending on:

• payment provider;
• payment method;
• transaction value;
• currency;
• User location; or
• other processing factors.

Where applicable, these fees may be passed to or deducted from the relevant User as disclosed through the Platform.

17. Project Cancellation

A Client or Freelancer may request cancellation where continuing the Project is no longer reasonably possible or where the other party materially fails to comply with agreed Project obligations.

Circumstances may include:

• material failure to perform agreed work;
• material failure to provide required information or cooperation;
• unreasonable or material delay;
• failure to meet agreed payment obligations;
• failure to meet agreed Project commitments;
• abandonment of the Project;
• material breach of the Project agreement; or
• other substantial circumstances preventing completion.

Where reasonably possible, Users should first attempt to resolve Project issues through direct communication using Featmate.

If the Users cannot reach agreement, either party may request Featmate's assistance through the available dispute process.

18. Refunds

Cancellation of a Project does not automatically entitle either party to a full refund or full payment.

Refunds and payments will depend on the circumstances of the Project.

Where work has not been completed or accepted, associated funds may be eligible for a full or partial refund to the Client.

Where the Freelancer is **not responsible for the cancellation** and has completed part of the agreed work, the Freelancer may be entitled to payment for completed and accepted work, while the remaining eligible balance may be refunded to the Client.

Where cancellation results from a Freelancer's material failure to perform agreed obligations, Featmate may determine that all or part of the affected Milestone or Project payment should be refunded to the Client.

Where cancellation results from a Client's failure to meet payment, cooperation, access, communication, or other agreed obligations, the Freelancer may remain entitled to payment for completed work, accepted Deliverables, or qualifying funded Milestones.

Refund decisions may consider:

• agreed Project scope;
• Milestones;
• Deliverables;
• work completed;
• work accepted;
• Project messages;
• submitted files;
• timelines;
• payment records;
• cancellation reasons; and
• other relevant evidence.
  
  

19. Platform Fees and Refunds

Unless otherwise stated, Platform fees, service fees, and transaction-related charges are generally non-refundable once the applicable service or transaction has been processed.

Payment-processing charges may also be non-refundable to the extent they are not returned by the applicable payment provider.

Exceptions may apply:

• where required by applicable law;
• in the case of duplicate payments;
• where a Platform technical error caused the charge; or
• where Featmate determines that a refund of some or all fees is appropriate.

If a Project receives a partial refund, refundable Project funds will generally be calculated separately from applicable non-refundable fees and processing charges.

20. Disputes Between Clients and Freelancers

Where Clients and Freelancers are unable to resolve a Project-related disagreement, Featmate may review the dispute.

Featmate may consider information available through the Platform, including:

• Project descriptions;
• Proposals;
• Project agreements;
• Milestones;
• messages;
• uploaded files;
• Deliverables;
• revision history;
• payment records;
• timelines; and
• other relevant Platform records.

Featmate may determine how funds held or controlled through the Platform should be released, refunded, divided, or otherwise handled in connection with the dispute.

The outcome may be communicated to the parties by email or through the Platform.

Where the dispute requires specialist technical expertise, Featmate may obtain assistance from an appropriately qualified expert.

Where permitted and appropriate, reasonable expert-review costs may be allocated to the party determined to be responsible for the circumstances requiring that review.

Featmate's marketplace dispute process does not prevent any rights that cannot legally be excluded under applicable law.

21. Contracts Between Users

A Client and Freelancer may establish Project-specific contractual terms through:

• Project descriptions;
• Proposals;
• accepted offers;
• messages;
• Milestones;
• attachments; or
• separate agreements.

Users are responsible for ensuring that their agreements are lawful and sufficiently clear.

Where Project-specific terms conflict with these Terms regarding use of the Featmate Platform, Platform payments, marketplace conduct, or Platform enforcement, these Terms and applicable Featmate policies will govern those Platform-related matters.

22. Intellectual Property

Unless the Client and Freelancer expressly agree otherwise before or during the Project, ownership of Project-specific Deliverables created for the Client will transfer to the Client following:

1. complete delivery of the applicable Deliverables; and

2. full payment of all amounts due for those Deliverables.

Until full payment is made, intellectual-property rights in unpaid Deliverables remain subject to the rights of the Freelancer and any applicable Project agreement.

Pre-existing intellectual property, tools, frameworks, libraries, know-how, open-source components, templates, methodologies, or other materials owned by a User before the Project remain the property of their existing owner unless expressly agreed otherwise.

Third-party and open-source materials remain subject to their applicable licenses.

23. Freelancer Portfolio Rights

Unless otherwise agreed with the Client or restricted by confidentiality obligations, a Freelancer may identify completed work in their portfolio.

A Freelancer must not publish:

• Client confidential information;
• trade secrets;
• access credentials;
• private business information;
• unpublished proprietary materials; or
• content subject to a valid confidentiality restriction.

Clients and Freelancers may agree to additional portfolio restrictions.

24. Confidentiality

Clients and Freelancers must protect confidential information obtained through a Project.

Confidential information may include:

• business plans;
• source code;
• technical architecture;
• credentials;
• security information;
• financial information;
• customer information;
• product plans;
• internal documentation;
• trade secrets; and
• ther information that reasonably should be understood as confidential.

A User receiving confidential information must use it only for legitimate Project purposes and must not disclose it to unauthorized third parties.

These obligations apply in addition to any separate NDA entered into between the Client and Freelancer.

Clients and Freelancers may enter into additional or more restrictive confidentiality agreements where appropriate.

25. Off-Platform Activity and Circumvention

Clients and Freelancers who connect through Featmate must not use the Platform to identify one another and then intentionally move an active Project or associated payment outside Featmate in order to avoid applicable Platform fees, payment functionality, or marketplace requirements.

Off-Platform payment or circumvention is prohibited while the relevant Project remains active and until the Project has been completed and all amounts have been fully settled.

Users must not:

• request payment outside the Platform for an active Featmate Project;
• encourage another User to bypass Platform payment systems;
• intentionally misrepresent transaction values to avoid fees; or
• use Featmate primarily to obtain contact information for fee avoidance.

Violations may result in account restriction, suspension, or termination.

Where an account is terminated for serious circumvention or related violations, remaining eligible balances may be held for up to 180 days where reasonably necessary to address:

• disputes;
• refunds;
• chargebacks;
• fraud investigations;
• amounts owed;
• payment-provider requirements; or
• other legal or financial obligations.

After applicable holds and deductions, remaining eligible funds will be released in accordance with applicable Platform procedures and law.

26. Ratings and Reviews

Clients and Freelancers who have completed a Project together may be permitted to leave ratings or reviews.

Reviews must reflect genuine experiences.

Users must not:

• submit fake reviews;
• manipulate ratings;
• exchange compensation for misleading reviews;
• threaten another User regarding a review;
• publish unlawful or abusive content; or
• use reviews primarily to harass another User.

Featmate may remove, restrict, or investigate a review where there is reasonable evidence that it:

• is fraudulent;
• does not reflect a genuine Project relationship;
• violates these Terms;
• contains unlawful content;
• is abusive or harassing;
• reveals protected personal information; or
• was posted primarily for an improper purpose.

Featmate does not guarantee that every negative review will be removed merely because the reviewed User disagrees with it.

27. Acceptable Use

Users must use Featmate professionally and lawfully.

You must not use the Platform to:

• impersonate another person;
• submit false identity information;
• commit fraud;
• manipulate transactions;
• distribute spam;
• harass or threaten others;
• interfere with Platform operation;
• gain unauthorized access to accounts or systems;
• upload malicious code;
• misuse payment systems;
• violate intellectual-property rights;
• facilitate unlawful activity; or
• circumvent Platform rules.
  
  

28. Prohibited Projects and Services

Featmate must not be used to request, offer, facilitate, or perform unlawful or harmful services.

Prohibited activity includes, without limitation:

• illegal activities;
• fraud or deceptive schemes;
• malware development or deployment intended for unauthorized or malicious use;
• credential theft;
• phishing;
• ransomware;
• unauthorized access to systems or accounts;
• hacking without lawful authorization;
• intellectual-property infringement;
• unlawful distribution of copyrighted materials;
• exploitative or unlawful adult content or services;
• unlawful gambling services;
• identity fraud;
• financial fraud;
• services designed to evade lawful security controls without authorization; or
• any service prohibited by applicable law.

Legitimate cybersecurity, penetration testing, security research, vulnerability assessment, and related professional services are permitted only where the relevant User has lawful authorization to perform the requested activity.

29. Account Suspension and Termination

Featmate may restrict, suspend, investigate, or terminate an account where we reasonably believe a User has violated these Terms or presents material risk to the Platform or other Users.

Reasons may include:

• fraud;
• payment fraud;
• fake identity;
• fake profiles;
• spam;
• harassment;
• threats or abuse;
• circumvention;
• unauthorized multiple accounts;
• illegal Projects;
• intellectual-property violations;
• misuse of reviews;
• security abuse;
• unauthorized access;
• repeated Project misconduct;
• failure to complete required verification;
• chargeback abuse;
• misuse of Platform payments; or
• other material breaches of these Terms.

Where appropriate, Featmate may request additional information before taking final action.

Certain serious violations may result in immediate suspension or termination.

Termination does not eliminate obligations or liabilities arising before termination.

30. Taxes

Users are responsible for understanding and complying with tax obligations applicable to their income, payments, purchases, business activities, or use of Featmate.

Featmate may collect, report, withhold, or remit taxes where required by applicable law.

Users are responsible for providing accurate tax-related information where requested.

31. Freelancer Status

Freelancers using Featmate are independent professionals and are not employees of FEATMATE Inc. merely because they obtain Projects through the Platform.

Nothing in these Terms creates an employment, partnership, joint venture, franchise, or agency relationship between Featmate and a Freelancer.

Each User remains responsible for their own business, professional, tax, licensing, insurance, and legal obligations.

32. No Guarantee of Projects or Income

Featmate does not guarantee that:

• a Freelancer will receive Projects;
• a Proposal will be accepted;
• a Client will receive Proposals;
• a particular Freelancer will be available;
• a User will achieve a particular income;
• a Project will produce a particular business outcome; or
• a User relationship will continue for any period.
• 
  

Marketplace activity depends on independent Users and market conditions.

33. No Guarantee of Freelancer Performance

Featmate provides a marketplace and related Platform services.

Featmate does not guarantee the quality, accuracy, suitability, legality, timeliness, or outcome of work performed by Freelancers.

Clients are responsible for evaluating Freelancers before engaging them.

Featmate may assist with dispute review based on available Platform evidence, but such assistance does not make Featmate the provider of the Freelancer's professional services.

34. User Content

Users retain rights in content they submit to Featmate except for rights necessary to operate the Platform.

By submitting content, you grant Featmate a non-exclusive, worldwide license to host, store, process, reproduce, display, and technically use that content as reasonably necessary to:

• perate the Platform;
• provide marketplace functionality;
• display profiles and Projects;
• process transactions;
• support Users;
• maintain security;
• investigate disputes; and
• provide related services.
• 
  

You represent that you have the rights necessary to submit content to Featmate.

35. Third-Party Services

Featmate may integrate with third-party services including payment processors, infrastructure providers, messaging services, analytics providers, and other technology services.

Your use of those services may also be subject to separate third-party terms.

Featmate is not responsible for independent acts or failures of third-party services beyond the extent required by applicable law.

36. Platform Availability

We aim to provide reliable access to Featmate but do not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free availability.

The Platform may occasionally be unavailable due to:

• maintenance;
• updates;
• infrastructure failures;
• third-party service outages;
• security events;
• technical problems; or
• circumstances beyond our reasonable control.

Featmate may modify or discontinue Platform functionality where reasonably necessary.

37. Disclaimers

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Featmate and its services are provided on an **"as available"** and **"as is"** basis.

Featmate does not warrant that:

• every User is suitable for a particular Project;
• every User statement is accurate;
• every Project will be completed successfully;
• every Deliverable will satisfy a Client;
• Platform access will always be uninterrupted; or
• third-party services will always remain available.

Nothing in these Terms excludes warranties or rights that cannot lawfully be excluded.

38. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, FEATMATE Inc. will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, exemplary, or punitive damages arising from or relating to:

• User-to-User relationships;
• Freelancer performance;
• Client conduct;
• lost profits;
• lost opportunities;
• lost data;
• business interruption;
• unauthorized User activity; or
• third-party services.

Any limitation of liability will apply only to the extent permitted under applicable law.

Nothing in these Terms limits liability where such limitation is legally prohibited.

39. Indemnification

To the extent permitted by applicable law, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless FEATMATE Inc. and its officers, directors, employees, and representatives from claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and reasonable costs arising from:

• your violation of these Terms;
• your unlawful use of the Platform;
• your infringement of third-party rights;
• content you submit;
• services you provide;
• your Project obligations; or
• your fraud, misconduct, or negligence.
  
  

40. Privacy

Your use of Featmate is also subject to our **Privacy Policy**.

The Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, retain, and protect personal information.

41. Changes to These Terms

Featmate may modify these Terms to reflect changes in:

• Platform functionality;
• marketplace services;
• payment systems;
• business practices;
• policies; or
• applicable legal requirements.

Where appropriate, material changes may be communicated through the Platform, email, or another reasonable method.

Updated Terms will identify their applicable effective or revision date.

Continued use of Featmate after updated Terms become effective constitutes acceptance to the extent permitted by applicable law.

42. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the **laws of the Province of Ontario and the applicable federal laws of Canada**, without regard to conflict-of-law principles, subject to any rights that cannot lawfully be waived or excluded.

43. Jurisdiction

Subject to applicable mandatory law, disputes involving FEATMATE Inc. that cannot be resolved through the Platform's applicable processes will be subject to the jurisdiction of courts located in **Ontario, Canada**.

Nothing in this section removes any non-waivable rights available under applicable law.

44. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in effect to the extent permitted by law.

45. No Waiver

Failure by Featmate to enforce any provision of these Terms does not constitute a waiver of that provision or any other right.

46. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and any additional policies or terms expressly incorporated into them, constitute the agreement governing your use of Featmate.

Separate Project agreements between Clients and Freelancers may apply to their individual engagements.

47. Contact

Questions regarding these Terms may be directed to:

FEATMATE Inc.

100 King Street West, Unit 5700

Toronto, Ontario, M5X 1C7

Canada

Legal: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

Support: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])