Legal

Terms of Service

Last updated: March 2026

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using SkillTrek.ai ("the Platform"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree, do not use the Platform. SkillTrek.ai reserves the right to update these terms at any time. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.

2. Eligibility & Age Requirements

Minimum Age

SkillTrek.ai requires authentication through LinkedIn, which has a minimum age requirement of 16 (or 18 in certain jurisdictions). Users must meet LinkedIn's age requirements to create an account on SkillTrek.ai. Users under 16 are strictly prohibited from using the Platform.

Users Ages 16–17 (Minors)

Users between the ages of 16 and 17 may use SkillTrek.ai by signing in with their LinkedIn account. By using the Platform, minors acknowledge:

  • Their personal information will be collected, used, and processed as described in our Privacy Policy.
  • Their performance data (scores, completion records) constitutes education records subject to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) when used in an educational context.
  • Their data will not be shared with third parties for opportunity matching or commercial purposes.
  • A parent or guardian retains the right to review, request correction of, or request deletion of the minor's data at any time.

Account restrictions for minors: Users under 18 are automatically excluded from public leaderboards (opt-in available with parental consent), opportunity matching with third-party employers, and third-party data sharing.

Users 18 and Older

Users 18 years of age and older may use all Platform features. By creating an account, you represent that you meet LinkedIn's minimum age requirement and are authorized to use the Platform.

Employer Eligibility

Employers posting challenges must have legal authority to do so on behalf of their organization and must be at least 18 years of age.

3. Account Responsibilities

You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account. Your account is linked to your LinkedIn profile; you agree that your LinkedIn profile information is accurate. Each person may maintain only one account. SkillTrek.ai may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these terms.

4. Challenge Participation

  • Fair play: You must complete challenges honestly. Plagiarism, copying solutions from others, or using unauthorized external resources beyond the provided AI workspace is prohibited.
  • AI assistance: Use of the platform's built-in AI workspace is permitted and encouraged. The AI tools are part of the challenge experience.
  • Deadlines: Submissions must be made before the challenge deadline. Late submissions will not be accepted.
  • One submission per challenge: Each participant may submit only one solution per challenge.

5. AI Grading

Submissions are evaluated by multiple AI models across dimensions including correctness, efficiency, creativity, and communication. While we strive for fair and accurate grading:

  • AI grading is automated and may not perfectly reflect human judgment.
  • Scores are final once posted. SkillTrek.ai does not guarantee manual review of grades.
  • The platform may update grading models and criteria at its discretion.
  • Challenge creators may define custom grading criteria which the AI evaluators will follow.

6. Prize Pools & Payments

  • Prize funding: Prize pools are funded by challenge creators. SkillTrek.ai facilitates payments via Stripe Connect but does not guarantee prize availability.
  • Payout eligibility: Winners must complete Stripe Connect onboarding to receive payouts. Unclaimed prizes may be returned to the challenge creator after 90 days.
  • Tax responsibility: Prize recipients are solely responsible for reporting and paying applicable taxes on winnings. SkillTrek.ai may issue tax forms (e.g., 1099) as required by law.
  • Disputes: Payment disputes should be directed to support. SkillTrek.ai will make reasonable efforts to resolve disputes but is not liable for losses arising from payment processing.
  • Minor recipients: Users under 18 who win prizes must have a parent or guardian complete Stripe Connect onboarding on their behalf.

7. Code Submission Ownership & Licensing

  • Your work: You retain ownership of the solutions you submit.
  • License grant: By submitting a solution, you grant SkillTrek.ai a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to store, display, and process your submission for grading and platform operation purposes. For users under 18, this license is granted with the consent of the parent or guardian.
  • Challenge creator access: Challenge creators may view submitted solutions. Specific IP transfer terms, if any, should be stated in the challenge description.
  • No guarantee of confidentiality: Submissions may be visible to other participants on the leaderboard (for users who have opted in). Do not include proprietary or sensitive information in your submissions.

8. Prohibited Conduct

  • Attempting to manipulate scores, rankings, or the grading system.
  • Creating fake accounts or submitting on behalf of others.
  • Submitting malicious code, exploits, or content that could harm the platform or its users.
  • Harassing other users or posting offensive content in challenge descriptions.
  • Reverse-engineering the grading system to game scores.
  • Using the platform to violate any applicable law or regulation.
  • Misrepresenting your age to bypass age restrictions or parental consent requirements.
  • Accessing or attempting to access another user's education records or personal data without authorization.

9. Badges & Credentials

Badges earned on SkillTrek.ai reflect platform-specific achievements and are not professional certifications. Credentials added to profiles are self-reported; the "verified" label indicates email domain verification only, not institutional confirmation.

10. Educational Use & FERPA

When SkillTrek.ai is used in an educational setting through teacher-managed classrooms:

  • School official designation: SkillTrek.ai operates as a "school official" with a "legitimate educational interest" under FERPA, performing services that the institution would otherwise provide.
  • Education records: Student scores, performance data, and AI-generated feedback in the classroom context are treated as education records under FERPA.
  • Teacher responsibilities: Teachers who create classrooms are responsible for ensuring they have appropriate authorization from their institution and that student enrollment complies with their institution's policies.
  • No re-disclosure: Education records will not be re-disclosed to third parties without consent, except as permitted under FERPA.
  • Institutional agreements: Educational institutions may request a Data Processing Agreement. Contact edu@skilltrek.ai.

11. Data Deletion & Account Termination

  • You may request deletion of your account and all associated personal data at any time through your profile settings or by contacting privacy@skilltrek.ai.
  • Upon receiving a valid deletion request, we will delete or anonymize your personal data within 30 days, except where retention is required by law (e.g., tax records for 7 years).
  • Parents or guardians may request deletion of a minor's account and data at any time.
  • SkillTrek.ai may suspend or terminate your account at any time for violations of these terms.

12. Limitation of Liability

SkillTrek.ai is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind. We are not liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from use of the platform. Our total liability shall not exceed the amount you paid to the platform in the 12 months preceding the claim.

13. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United States. For disputes involving educational records, the administrative procedures under FERPA shall apply.

14. Contact

For questions about these Terms of Service, contact us at contact@skilltrek.ai.