1. Observe the platinum rule. Treat others as they would like to be treated.
Contribute in a positive, valuable way. Respect the social norms of conversation and engagement, respecting others’ desires to interact, or not interact, based on the context of the situation. Be honest and straightforward in all dealings. Make yourself comfortable and be kind to others. Our open, friendly atmosphere is exemplified by our community.
2. Refrain from hard selling.
It’s okay to say what you do, but don’t sell. Initiate and cultivate meaningful connections rather than pitching your product or service. If it feels like selling, it probably is.
3. Respect the space and the people around you.
Venture Café provides meeting, collaboration and sometimes workspace to the public at our sites. All are welcome at Venture Café. Please respect this community events and space — clean up after yourself, dispose of all trash, and keep noise at a moderate level. Treat all individuals with respect while utilizing Venture Café sites and programs, including refraining from unwelcome interactions or harassment or defamation of their work. Please refrain from using any device to make an audio and/or visual recording, transmission, or broadcast of any Event.
4. Be an active participant in our community.
The Venture Café is an expanding and dynamic organisation. We rely on our community to contribute to make the organisation what it is. Please join us and share the love with a little creativity and collaboration! We constantly try new things to improve your interactive experience in this unique space. We encourage you to provide constructive feedback and share your ideas.
5. Protecting IP
You may hear from and share ideas and materials with fellow participants at the Venture Café so please respect the work of others. Your participation shall not excuse you from following the laws regarding intellectual property including the copyrights, trademarks, or other intellectual property or proprietary rights in the work of your fellow participants and of any third-party. Venture Café does not condone or support intellectual property infringement and our hosting of the Venture Café does not signify our intention to induce, cause or materially contribute to any infringement. Your use of and reliance upon any information, ideas or materials learned at the Venture Café is at your own risk and Venture Café makes no representations or warranties with respect to any of them. You acknowledge that any material provided by Venture Café at an Event shall belong to us, including without limitation any intellectual property pertaining to such materials.
6. Connect responsibly.
Behave professionally. All Events should be considered community gatherings, not bars (when alcohol is served). If you wouldn’t do it in your office, don’t do it here. Communications of an unwelcome, harassing, or sexual nature are not appropriate. All communication should be appropriate for a professional audience including people of many different backgrounds.
7. Keep Venture Café spaces free of harassment.
We are dedicated to providing a harassment-free and welcoming experience for everyone, regardless of and not limited to gender identity or gender expression, sex or sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, colour, national origin, age, military service, or religion. We do not tolerate harassment in any form. Please respect everyone’s background and comfort level. The following behaviour and language is considered unacceptable whether at an Event or ancillary to such Event (including without limitation in respect of social media posts):
Violence, threats of violence or violent language directed against another person.
Sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic, ableist, classist, or otherwise discriminatory jokes and language.
Posting or displaying sexually explicit or violent material.
Personal insults, particularly those related to gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, or disability.
Inappropriate physical contact. You should have someone’s consent before touching them.
Unwelcome sexual attention. This includes, sexualised comments or jokes, inappropriate touching, groping, and unwelcome sexual advances.
Deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following (online or in person).
Sustained disruption of community events or our sites, including talks and presentations.
Making other guests and participants feel uncomfortable, threatened, or otherwise unwelcome in the space.
Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behaviour.
8. Photography
You authorise us to make use of any photographs, likenesses, films, broadcasts, cablecasts, audiotapes, taken of the event and of participant(s) while at Venture Café in any way we see fit for the promotion, coverage or benefit of the event, without compensation, so long as our use neither jeopardises nor endorses a specific product or service, and hereby expressly and irrevocably waive and release any rights in connection with such use, including any claim to invasion of privacy, right of publicity or to misappropriation.
9. Health and Safety
Please comply with the applicable health and safety rules of the Event premises.
