the handshake
Terms of use
Last updated: July 3, 2026 · Applies to the kotsu website and closed-beta waitlist
The short version
This site describes an app that's still being built. The waitlist is free and optional, everything shown here is a plan rather than a promise, and you can leave at any time. Please use the site normally, don't abuse the signup, and remember our artwork and name belong to us.
1. Agreeing to these terms
By using this website or joining the waitlist, you agree to these terms and to our privacy policy. If you don't agree, please don't use the site.
2. What this site is
This website describes kotsu, an app in development, and lets you join a waitlist for its closed beta. Everything shown or described here (features, artwork, dates, pricing, and benefits) reflects our current plans and is subject to change, delay, or cancellation at any time without notice. Nothing on this site is a commitment that any feature or product will be released, or released in any particular form.
3. The waitlist
- Joining the waitlist is free and creates no obligation for either of us.
- A waitlist spot is an invitation queue position, not a guarantee of access, timing, features, or pricing. Invitations are issued at our discretion and may be staged, limited in number, or limited by platform or region.
- Waitlist spots are personal and non-transferable, have no monetary value, and may not be sold or traded.
- We may remove waitlist entries that appear fraudulent, automated, duplicated, or abusive.
- You can leave the waitlist at any time by unsubscribing from our emails or writing to us.
4. Founding Explorer benefits
- The Founding Explorer benefits described on this site are offered in good faith and are granted when you create an account in the closed beta, subject to the final benefit terms published at launch.
- Benefits are granted once per person, are personal and non-transferable, have no cash value, and cannot be exchanged for money.
- We may refine the details of benefits before launch. Benefits may be withheld or revoked in cases of fraud or abuse (for example, fake or duplicate accounts or automated signups).
5. Acceptable use
Please don't interfere with the site's operation, scrape or harvest information from it, submit bulk or automated signups, misrepresent who you are, or use the site for anything unlawful. We may block traffic or accounts that do.
6. Our content
The kotsu name, wordmark, artwork, and the text on this site belong to us. You're welcome to view the site and share links to it; please don't otherwise reproduce or reuse our content without permission. We're friendly, just ask.
7. Your ideas
If you send us suggestions, ideas, or feedback (by email, on Discord, or on social media), you agree that we may use them without restriction and without any obligation or compensation to you. Please don't send us anything you consider confidential.
8. Third-party services
This site links to third-party services such as Discord, TikTok, and Instagram. Those services have their own terms and privacy policies, and we're not responsible for their content or practices.
9. No warranties
The site and the waitlist are provided "as is" and "as available." To the maximum extent permitted by law, we make no warranties or conditions of any kind, express or implied (including fitness for a particular purpose, merchantability, or non-infringement), and we don't promise the site will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free.
10. Limitation of liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law, we will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or exemplary damages, or for any loss of data, profits, or goodwill, arising out of or in connection with this site or the waitlist. To the same extent, our total aggregate liability in connection with this site is limited to CAD $100. Some jurisdictions don't allow certain limitations, so parts of this section may not apply to you.
11. Your responsibility
You agree to be responsible for, and to hold us harmless from, claims arising out of your breach of these terms or your misuse of the site.
12. Age
kotsu and its waitlist are for people aged 13 and up.
13. Changes to these terms
We may update these terms from time to time. Updates will be posted here with a new date at the top, and continuing to use the site after a change means you accept the updated terms.
14. Governing law & general
These terms are governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable there. If any part of these terms is found unenforceable, the rest still applies; if we don't enforce a part of these terms at some moment, that isn't a waiver of it. These terms and the privacy policy are the entire agreement between us about the website and waitlist.
15. Contact
Questions: hello@kotsuapp.com