Terms & Conditions

1. About Soyo

Soyo is a local community event platform operated by StarsUp Canada Corporation, a corporation registered in British Columbia, Canada. Soyo connects three groups of users — Explorers (people discovering and attending events), Organizers (people hosting events), and Venue Owners (local businesses opening their space) — through a single platform.

These Terms apply to anyone who accesses, browses, registers for, or transacts on Soyo through our website, mobile apps, or APIs.

2. Definitions

• “Soyo,” “we,” “us” — StarsUp Canada Corporation, operating the Soyo platform.
• “Platform” — the Soyo website (joinsoyo.com), mobile apps, and related services.
• “User” — anyone with a Soyo account, regardless of role.
• “Explorer” — a User in the general “user” role, primarily attending events.
• “Organizer” — a User who creates, lists, and runs events.
• “Venue Owner” — a User who lists a physical space for events.
• “Event” — a gathering listed on Soyo by an Organizer.
• “Content” — text, images, descriptions, messages, and other material submitted by Users.

3. Platform Role — Soyo Is a Marketplace, Not the Organizer or Venue

When you book an event on Soyo, your contract for that event is between you and the Organizer (and, where applicable, the Venue Owner) — not with Soyo. Soyo facilitates discovery, communication, and payment processing, and earns a platform fee for that service. We do not control, supervise, or guarantee the quality, safety, or legality of any event, venue, or attendee conduct.

By using Soyo you acknowledge and agree that risk, responsibility, and liability for events lie with the Organizer, Venue Owner, and attendees — not with Soyo.

4. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account or transact on Soyo. By using the Platform, you represent that you meet this requirement. Soyo does not knowingly allow children under 13 on the Platform, in compliance with the U.S. Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) — see our Privacy Policy for details.

Some events may have additional age restrictions set by the Organizer (e.g. 19+ for events serving alcohol in BC). You agree to honour any such restriction.

5. Account Registration & Security

You agree to provide accurate, current information during signup and to keep your account information updated. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account.

Each Soyo account is set up for a single role at signup (Explorer, Organizer, or Venue Owner) and the role cannot be changed afterwards. If you need to operate as a different role, you may create a separate account with a different email address. Notify us immediately at team@joinsoyo.com of any unauthorized account access.

6. Acceptable Use

You agree not to:

• Post false, misleading, or fraudulent listings, profiles, or messages.
• Harass, threaten, intimidate, dox, or discriminate against other users.
• Use Soyo for illegal activity of any kind, including the sale or distribution of controlled substances.
• Attempt to circumvent, defraud, or game payment processing or chargebacks.
• Resell tickets at prices above face value (scalping) without our prior written consent.
• Scrape, mine, or systematically copy data from the Platform without consent.
• Reverse engineer, decompile, or interfere with the Platform's technical operation.
• Impersonate another person, business, or Soyo itself.
• Upload malware, exploit security flaws, or send spam through Soyo's messaging.

Violations may result in warnings, content removal, account suspension, permanent banning, or referral to law enforcement. See also our Community Guidelines and Section 20 below.

7. Terms for Explorers (Attendees)

When you RSVP to or purchase a ticket for an event:

• You enter into a contract with the Organizer for that event. Soyo facilitates the transaction but is not a party to that contract.
• You agree to abide by the Organizer's event-specific rules, dress code, age limits, and any additional terms shown on the event listing.
• You are responsible for verifying event details (date, time, location, what is included) before purchasing.
• The refund policy displayed on the event details page (or, if none is shown, the default in Section 16) governs your booking.
• Tickets are personal and non-transferable unless the Organizer states otherwise.
• You agree to behave respectfully toward other attendees, the Organizer, and the Venue Owner. Disruptive behaviour may result in removal from the event without refund.

8. Terms for Organizers

When you list an event on Soyo:

• Accuracy: All event information (description, date, location, capacity, price, what is included, age limits) must be accurate. Misleading listings may be removed and may result in account suspension.
• Stripe Connect: To accept paid bookings, you must connect a Stripe account in your own legal name and complete Stripe's identity verification. You must keep this account in good standing.
• Tax responsibility: You are solely responsible for reporting and paying any applicable sales tax, GST/HST, income tax, or other taxes on income earned through the Platform. Soyo does not withhold taxes.
• Refund authority: You set the refund policy for your events and must apply it consistently. If you do not specify a policy, Soyo's default in Section 16 applies.
• Event delivery: You are responsible for delivering the event as described, ensuring attendee safety, and complying with all applicable laws (permits, health regulations, capacity limits, alcohol service rules, etc.).
• Cancellations: If you must cancel an event, do so as far in advance as possible. Confirmed ticket holders will receive a full refund automatically. You are responsible for any non-refundable processing fees and chargeback fees (see Section 16).
• Insurance: We strongly recommend that Organizers carry their own commercial general liability insurance for events with physical activity, alcohol service, or significant capacity. Soyo does not provide insurance to Organizers or attendees.
• Discrimination: You may not refuse attendees on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or other characteristics protected by law.

9. Terms for Venue Owners

When you list a venue or accept proposals on Soyo:

• Accuracy: Your venue listing (photos, description, capacity, address, partnership types, amenities) must be accurate and current.
• Legal capacity: You represent that you have the legal right to host events at the listed location, including any required leases, business licenses, occupancy permits, fire-safety inspections, and (where applicable) liquor licenses.
• Safety: You are responsible for the physical safety of the venue, including building maintenance, fire exits, accessibility where required by law, and compliance with local building codes.
• Insurance (strongly recommended): Soyo strongly recommends carrying Commercial General Liability insurance covering bodily injury and property damage at the venue. Soyo does not provide insurance.
• Discretion in approving proposals: You decide which proposals to accept or reject. Soyo does not require any particular approval.
• No discrimination: You may not reject Organizers based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or other protected characteristics.
• Direct relationship with Organizer: Once you approve a proposal, your relationship with that Organizer (logistics, payment for venue use if any, setup details) is between the two of you. Soyo provides the messaging channel but is not party to that arrangement.

10. Assumption of Risk

Events involve inherent risks, including but not limited to: physical injury (sports, dance, outdoor activities), allergic reactions (food, beverages, materials), property loss or damage, transportation accidents to or from the event, exposure to illness, and conduct by other attendees that the Organizer cannot fully predict or control.

Soyo does not screen, supervise, insure, or guarantee any event. You participate at your own risk and waive any claim against Soyo arising from injury, loss, or damage suffered at, before, or after an event.

11. Personal Responsibility

You are solely responsible for:

• Your own physical and mental capability to attend and participate in the event.
• Disclosing relevant allergies, medical conditions, or accommodation needs to the Organizer in advance.
• Your decisions about alcohol consumption and arranging safe transportation home.
• Personal property you bring to the event.
• Compliance with the Organizer's rules, the Venue Owner's house rules, and applicable laws.
• Your own conduct toward other attendees, including respecting their boundaries (see Section 13).

12. Photography & Media Release

Photography and video are common at community events. By attending an event listed on Soyo, you grant the Organizer and Soyo a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to capture and use photos or video of the event for promotional purposes (event recaps, future event listings, Soyo's social media, the Organizer's social media), unless you explicitly notify the Organizer or Soyo in writing before the event that you do not consent.

You agree not to post images of other attendees without their consent. Organizers should respect any opt-out requests received before the event.

13. Consent & Boundaries

All interactions between members at Soyo events must be consensual. You agree to:

• Respect personal boundaries — including verbal, emotional, and physical.
• Obtain explicit consent before any physical contact beyond what is normal for the event format (e.g. a partner dance class implies dance contact; a coffee meetup does not).
• Stop immediately if asked, or if a person seems uncomfortable.

Sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, unwanted advances, or any non-consensual contact is strictly prohibited and will result in immediate account termination, removal of your content, and may be reported to law enforcement.

14. Accessibility & Accommodations

Soyo encourages Organizers and Venue Owners to provide accurate accessibility information on event and venue listings (wheelchair access, sensory considerations, ASL interpretation, dietary accommodations, etc.). Attendees needing accommodations should contact the Organizer in advance to confirm what is available.

While we encourage inclusive practices, Soyo cannot guarantee that every event or venue is fully accessible to every attendee. Reasonable accommodation efforts are appreciated but not warranted by Soyo.

15. Payment Processing

All payments on Soyo are processed by Stripe Inc. (“Stripe”). When you make a payment, you authorize the charge to your payment method. Card details and full payment information are stored and processed by Stripe and never touch Soyo's servers. Stripe's terms of service and privacy policy also apply.

Ticket prices are listed in Canadian dollars (CAD) for events in Canada and U.S. dollars (USD) for events in the United States. Soyo's platform fee is included in the displayed price. Stripe applies its own processing fees, which vary by card type and country.

16. Cancellation & Refund Policy

To cancel a confirmed RSVP, go to Journal in the app or web dashboard and tap “Cancel RSVP” on your booking. The cancellation screen shows the refund amount you will receive based on the rules above. If you are within 48 hours of the event start time, the screen also offers a one-tap path to message the Organizer directly.

17. Platform Fees

Soyo retains a platform fee on paid ticket sales as compensation for operating the Platform. The fee percentage is disclosed to Organizers during Stripe Connect onboarding and may be updated with reasonable notice. Free events incur no platform fee. Listing a venue is free.

18. Content Ownership & License

You retain ownership of content you submit to Soyo (text, photos, videos, event descriptions, profile information). By submitting content, you grant Soyo a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable license to host, store, display, reproduce, modify for formatting, and distribute the content as necessary to operate and promote the Platform.

You represent that you have the right to submit any content you upload and that it does not infringe third-party rights or violate applicable law.

19. Reporting Violations & Safety

If you witness a violation of these Terms, the Community Guidelines, or any unsafe or illegal conduct, please report it promptly:

• Use the in-app report function on the offending profile, event, or message.
• Email team@joinsoyo.com with details and any evidence.
• For emergencies (immediate physical danger), contact local emergency services first (911 in Canada and the U.S.), then notify Soyo.

We review reports and take action proportionate to the severity, which may include warnings, content removal, suspension, or referral to law enforcement. Knowingly false or malicious reports may themselves result in account action.

20. Account Suspension & Termination

Soyo may suspend or terminate your account, in its reasonable discretion, for violations of these Terms, the Community Guidelines, applicable law, suspected fraud, repeated chargebacks, or harm to other users. Where reasonable, we will provide notice and an opportunity to remedy minor violations; serious violations (e.g. fraud, harassment, threats, illegal activity) may result in immediate termination.

You may terminate your own account at any time via Account Settings → Delete Account. A 30-day grace period applies during which deletion can be reversed by emailing us.

21. Payouts & Reserves

Soyo may delay Organizer payouts by up to 72 hours after event completion to allow for chargeback verification and dispute resolution. New Organizers, or Organizers with elevated risk indicators (high cancellation rate, recent disputes), may be subject to additional payout delays or to a rolling reserve (a portion of revenue temporarily held by Stripe).

We will communicate any reserve in advance through Stripe and/or email. Reserves are released according to risk profile, typically after a defined period of clean operation.

22. Limitation of Liability

Soyo is not liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, exemplary, or punitive damages, including loss of profits, loss of data, loss of business, or personal injury, even if advised of the possibility of such damages. Soyo is specifically not liable for the actions or omissions of Organizers, Venue Owners, attendees, or other third parties.

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties or limitations on certain damages. To the extent any such limitations are unenforceable, Soyo's liability is limited to the smallest amount permitted by applicable law.

23. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Soyo (StarsUp Canada Corporation), its officers, directors, employees, agents, and contractors from and against any and all claims, demands, damages, losses, liabilities, judgments, settlements, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from or related to:

• Your use of, or inability to use, the Platform.
• Your violation of these Terms or applicable law.
• Your violation of any third-party right (intellectual property, privacy, contractual).
• Any event you organize, attend, or host on or in connection with the Platform.
• Any content you submit, post, or transmit through the Platform.
• Any chargeback, refund dispute, or payment-related claim involving your account.

24. Disclaimer of Warranties

The Platform is provided “as is” and “as available”, without warranties of any kind, express or implied. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Soyo disclaims all warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, accuracy, reliability, and uninterrupted availability.

Soyo does not warrant that events listed on the Platform will meet your expectations, that Organizers or Venue Owners will perform as described, or that the Platform will be free of bugs, errors, or interruptions.

25. DMCA Copyright Notice (United States)

Soyo respects intellectual property rights and complies with the U.S. Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). If you believe content on the Platform infringes your copyright, send a written notice to our designated agent including:

1. A signature of the copyright owner or authorized agent.
2. Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to be infringed.
3. Identification of the allegedly infringing material and its location on Soyo (URL).
4. Your contact information (address, phone, email).
5. A statement of good-faith belief that the use is not authorized by the copyright owner.
6. A statement, under penalty of perjury, that the information is accurate and you are authorized to act.

Send DMCA notices to: team@joinsoyo.com with the subject line “DMCA Notice.” Repeat infringers' accounts will be terminated.

26. Force Majeure

Soyo is not liable for any failure or delay in performance caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including natural disasters, pandemics, acts of war or terrorism, civil unrest, labour disputes, government action, internet outages, or third-party service failures (e.g. Stripe, Supabase, Vercel outages). Organizers may rely on this section if such events prevent an event from occurring as planned, but should still issue refunds in line with their stated policy.

27. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Province of British Columbia and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein, without regard to conflict-of-laws principles. The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods does not apply.

28. Dispute Resolution

Step 1 — Direct contact. Before filing any formal claim against Soyo, you agree to first contact us at team@joinsoyo.com with a description of the issue. We will respond in good faith within 30 days.

Step 2 — Negotiation. If we cannot resolve the issue within 60 days of your initial contact, either party may proceed to formal dispute resolution.

Step 3 — Forum. Any unresolved dispute shall be brought exclusively in the courts of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and you consent to the personal jurisdiction of those courts. Disputes between Soyo and U.S. Users may also be heard in U.S. federal or state courts of competent jurisdiction where required by law (e.g. small-claims for amounts below applicable jurisdictional thresholds).

29. Class Action Waiver

Disputes between you and Soyo must be brought individually, not as part of a class action, collective action, or representative proceeding. Both you and Soyo waive the right to a jury trial and the right to participate in any class proceeding to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law. This waiver does not prevent you from filing complaints with government regulators (e.g. the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, U.S. state attorneys general).

If a court finds this class-action waiver unenforceable, the dispute shall proceed in court but the waiver of jury trial remains in effect to the extent permitted by law.

30. Modifications to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. Material changes will be communicated in-app or by email at least 30 days before taking effect, where feasible. Continued use of Soyo after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms. If you do not agree with the changes, you may close your account.

31. Severability & Entire Agreement

If any provision of these Terms is held invalid or unenforceable, that provision shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining Terms shall remain in full force.

These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and Community Guidelines, constitute the entire agreement between you and Soyo regarding the Platform and supersede prior or contemporaneous agreements on the same subject.

32. Contact

For questions about these Terms, refund disputes, account issues, or any of the rights described above:

StarsUp Canada Corporation (operating as Soyo)
Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
📧 team@joinsoyo.com