Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

Firsthand Gala is organized by Firsthand Event, Inc. (“we,” “us,” or “our”). By accessing and using the Firsthand Gala website and services, you accept and agree to be bound by the terms and provision of this agreement. These Terms of Service govern your use of www.firsthandgala.com together with the ticketing, registration, and checkout sites we use for our events that link to these Terms rather than publishing their own, as well as your registration for our event and any related services we provide.

2. Event Registration and Tickets

Registration for any Firsthand Gala event is subject to availability and payment of applicable fees. Ticket prices are subject to change without notice, and the organizers reserve the right to modify ticket availability, pricing, and registration terms at any time.

Tickets are non-refundable. All sales are final, and no refunds are issued for cancellations, no-shows, or removal from the event. The only exception is cancellation of the event by the organizers, which is governed by Section 5.

Tickets may be transferred to another attendee through the self-service ticket portal. A transfer may be free or carry a fee depending on how far in advance of the event it is requested; the applicable deadlines and fees are those disclosed during the ticket purchase process and shown on the ticket portal at the time of transfer. For ticket classes that require approval, a transfer is also subject to the organizers' approval of the incoming attendee. Any transfer or resale of tickets outside the ticket portal is unauthorized and may result in cancellation without refund.

3. Event Policies

Attendees are expected to conduct themselves professionally and respectfully throughout the event. We reserve the right to remove any attendee who violates our code of conduct or disrupts the event.

Photography, video recording, and audio recording may occur during the event. By attending, you consent to being photographed, filmed, or recorded and grant us the right to use such materials for promotional purposes.

4. Intellectual Property

All content presented at Firsthand Gala, including but not limited to presentations, materials, and recordings, remains the intellectual property of the respective speakers and organizers. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of event content is strictly prohibited.

The Firsthand Gala name, logo, and branding are trademarks and may not be used without explicit written permission.

5. Cancellation by the Organizers

In the event that a Firsthand Gala event is cancelled due to circumstances beyond our control, including but not limited to natural disasters, government restrictions, pandemic, acts of terrorism, or other force majeure events, we will make reasonable efforts to reschedule the event or otherwise accommodate attendees through alternative arrangements. However, refunds may not be offered. At the organizers' sole discretion, credits for future events may be provided in lieu of refunds.

6. Limitation of Liability

Firsthand Gala organizers shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from your attendance at the event or use of our services. This includes but is not limited to damages for loss of profits, data, or other intangible losses.

The organizers' total liability for any claims arising from the event shall not exceed the amount paid by the attendee for their ticket.

Attendees participate in event activities at their own risk. We recommend that all attendees obtain appropriate travel and health insurance.

7. Privacy and Data Protection

Your privacy is important to us. Please review our Privacy Policy to understand how we collect, use, and protect your personal information. By using our services, you consent to the collection and use of information in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

8. Modifications to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms of Service at any time. Changes will be effective immediately upon posting on our website. Your continued use of our services after any such changes constitutes your acceptance of the new terms.

9. Governing Law

These Terms of Service shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any disputes arising under these terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of New York.

10. Contact Information

If you have any questions about these Terms of Service, please email gala [at] firsthand [dot] vc.