Stitch Fix Elevate Grant & Mentorship Program Terms & Conditions

Stitch Fix, Inc. (“Stitch Fix” or “Sponsor”) has created the Elevate Grant and Mentorship Program (the “Program”) to promote and support entrepreneurs of color who are building the next wave of apparel and accessories businesses. The following Terms and Conditions apply to the program.

Application period

The Program application period commences on October 6, 2021 at 12:01 am Eastern Time, and closes on October 31, 2021 at 11:59 pm Eastern Time (the “Application Period”).

How to apply

To apply to the Program, submit the online application form available here (the “Application”) during the Application Period. Applications will be accepted by online entry only. All entries must be received by the end of the Application Period to be valid. Limit one entry per person/email address/business. Applicants must fully complete and upload all information and materials requested in the Application during the Application Period in order to be eligible. Please note that file size limitations may apply for materials that need to be uploaded. All entries must include a valid e-mail address and phone number for the applicant. Applicants must acknowledge their agreement to these Terms and Conditions by clicking in the relevant box at the end of the Application. Applicants are solely responsible for Internet connectivity, software and/or hardware that may be required in order to create and/or submit their Application, including any files. Applications, including attachments, that do not comply with these Terms and Conditions and/or are incomplete or inaccurate will be void, eliminated and not eligible for consideration. By submitting an Application, you represent that the materials submitted are original and have been created by you and/or that all necessary rights have been secured and disclosed in the event they were developed by others.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Program, you and your business must meet all of the following criteria:

• You are 18 years of age or older as of the date the Application is submitted.
• You are an owner of the business.
• You identify as a person of color (POC): Asian, Black, Latinx, American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander.
• At least 51% of the business is owned, controlled or operated and managed by POC owners.
• Your business is based, and registered or incorporated, in the United States.
• Your business sells women’s, men’s or kids’ apparel, shoes and/or accessories.
  

Your business also meets the following criteria:

• Has been operating for at least two years and is generating revenue between $50,000 and $1,000,000 in its last or most current fiscal year.
• Working to grow a customer base and/or strengthen its operations.
• Currently selling physical product: apparel, shoes and/or accessories.
  
  

Employees of Sponsor and their immediate family members (spouses, parents, siblings, children) are not eligible for the Program.

Sponsor shall determine, in its sole discretion, whether an applicant meets the eligibility criteria to participate in the Program. Sponsor’s decisions regarding eligibility are final and binding. There is no requirement to purchase Sponsor’s products or payment of any kind required to apply to the Program. A purchase of Sponsor’s products will not improve your chance of selection.

The award

Up to ten finalists (“Finalists”) will receive a product-market fit report based on their Application.

Up to six (6) final recipients (“Recipients”) will each receive a grant of $25,000 (the “Grant”).  Fifty percent (50%) of the Grant will be provided following the start of the Program, and fifty percent (50%) of the Grant will be provided at the end of the Program upon completion by the Recipient. The Grant will be sent to each Recipient in the form of ACH wire transfer or such other mechanism as Sponsor shall choose.

In addition to the Grant, Recipients will also have the opportunity to participate in advisory and publicity initiatives, which will at minimum consist of the following: (i) individual monthly advisory calls with a member of Sponsor’s staff through August 31, 2022; (ii) an advisory call with Sponsor’s founder, Katrina Lake and/or CEO, Elizabeth Spaulding; (iii) an advisory call with Harlem’s Fashion Row founder, Brandice Daniel; (iv) opportunities to publicize or highlight Recipient or Recipient’s business through Sponsor’s marketing channels, which opportunities shall be at Sponsor’s sole discretion; and (v) Sponsor purchasing merchandise produced by Recipient in volumes to be determined in Sponsor’s sole discretion (collectively with the “Grant”, the “Award”). Sponsor may, at its sole discretion, offer Recipients benefits in addition to the Award, such as additional advisory support, marketing or purchase opportunities, but Sponsor does not guarantee, and makes no commitments to provide, any prize beyond the Award.

All federal, state and local or other tax liabilities, and other expenses relating to the acceptance of an Award, or arising from the Award, including the Grant, are the sole and exclusive responsibility of each Recipient. Recipients may be issued a 1099 tax form for the actual value of the Grant. Limit of one Grant per applicant. By applying for the Program, you agree that, if selected as a Recipient, you will use the Grant solely for legitimate business expenses and for the purposes expressed in your application.

The Award is non-transferable and non-assignable. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to increase the value of any Award. If no or an insufficient number of Applications meet the minimum eligibility criteria, some or all of the Awards may not be awarded or Sponsor may increase the value of any awarded Grant. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to substitute a prize of equal or greater value if advertised award becomes unavailable. All details of any award not specified herein shall be determined solely by Sponsor.

How the finalists and recipients are determined

Eligible Applications will be reviewed by Sponsor’s employees and representatives of Harlem’s Fashion Row. Up to ten (10) Finalists and, ultimately, the Recipients will be selected from among all eligible applicants based on the following criteria:

• Your Vision and Mission: Why you started your business and what it stands for.
• Your Brand: How your brand is positioned and its opportunity in the market.
• Your Plan: How your business is aimed at growth, and how this program could support it.

Sponsor may contact you with requests for additional information regarding your Application

The Finalists will be asked to participate in an interview to discuss the above criteria with a panel of Sponsor employees and a representative of Harlem’s Fashion Row. Finalists will also be asked to provide copies of their business’s financial statements and product images and information in a specified format within ten (10) days of notice to further evaluate the Application. Up to six (6) Recipients of the Award will be selected based on their overall submission, including the interview, financial statements and an evaluation of Finalists’ product.

Sponsor will notify potential Recipients by email and/or telephone in December 2021. Prior to receiving the Award, potential Recipients will be required to (i) provide a W-9 tax form verifying their business tax identification number and other requested tax and banking information necessary for payment of the Grant and (ii) sign and return a grant agreement, properly executed, within three (3) business days of receipt. The grant agreement will, among other things, include an affidavit of eligibility, a liability release and photo / publicity releases. Potential Recipients also agree that, if they are selected as a potential Recipient, Sponsor may conduct an investigative background check, and potential Recipient agrees to execute all documents necessary for Sponsor to obtain background check. Factors that may result in disqualification as a potential Recipient include, without limitation, having been charged with or convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, being delinquent on a government ordered payment, such as child support, spousal support, alimony, tax payments, etc. or social media posts or other publicity that, in Sponsor’s sole discretion, would conflict with or be harmful for Sponsor’s brand or reputation. If Sponsor (i) is unable to contact the potential Recipient within three (3) days from first notification attempt, (ii) if the potential Recipient fails to promptly complete and return all requested documentation by the specified date or (iii) if the potential Recipient fails to comply with any of the requirements in these Terms and Conditions, it may result in a Recipient’s disqualification, the forfeiture of Recipient’s interest in the Award, and, at Sponsor’s discretion, the presentation of the Award to a substitute Recipient. An Award not claimed by a potential Recipient and not awarded to a substitute Recipient by Sponsor in accordance with these Terms and Conditions will remain the property of Sponsor. All decisions of Sponsor with respect to Finalists and Recipients, and all other matters pertaining to the Program are final and binding and cannot be appealed or challenged.

Privacy

Any information provided by you as part of the Application process or otherwise in connection with the Program will be processed in accordance with Sponsor’s privacy policy. By applying to the Program, you agree to Sponsor’s privacy policy and consent to receive communications and other materials from Sponsor regarding the Program. If you provide us with personal information of a reference or any other individual as part of your application, it is your responsibility to obtain consent from that individual prior to providing such information to us.

Confidentiality & publicity

All non-public business and financial information you provide as part of the Application will be kept confidential. By submitting an Application and participating in the Program, you acknowledge and agree that if you are selected as a potential Finalist or Recipient, you will not disclose to any person or third party the fact that you were selected until notified by Sponsor that such disclosure is permitted or until made public by Sponsor. Sponsor will coordinate all publicity and press announcements regarding the Program and will provide Recipients with as much advance notice of such announcements as possible. Sponsor may refuse any media opportunity in its sole discretion.

You acknowledge that Sponsor may currently or in the future be developing products or information internally, or receiving products or information from third parties, that is similar to or competitive with the products or information disclosed by you as part of the application process. Accordingly, you acknowledge and agree that nothing in these Terms & Conditions will be construed as a representation, warranty, covenant or agreement of Sponsor or its affiliates that it will not develop, or have developed on its behalf, designs, products or concepts that are similar to or competitive with the designs, products or concepts contemplated by or embodied in such application. For clarification and the avoidance of doubt, Sponsor will not use or rely on any information provided in the Application in connection with such development.

Limitations of liability

Sponsor, its respective subsidiaries and its and their respective officers, directors, stockholders, employees, agents, insurers and any and all Internet servers and access provider(s) are not responsible for: any incorrect or inaccurate entry information; human error; technical malfunctions; failures, omission, interruption, deletion or defect of any telephone network, computer online systems, computer equipment, server providers or software, including any injury or damage to your or any other person’s computer relating to or resulting from participation in this Program; inability to access Sponsor’s website or application form; theft, tampering, destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of entries; transactions that are processed late or incorrectly or are incomplete or lost due to computer or electronic malfunction or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any website; printing or human or other errors; and any Applications which are late, lost, incomplete, misdirected, stolen or any combination thereof. Online submission is not considered proof of delivery or receipt. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Award at any time and without notice.

By entering, you agree to release, discharge, indemnify, defend and hold harmless Sponsor and its subsidiaries and its and their respective officers, directors, stockholders, employees, agents and insurers from and against all claims and damages or liability arising in connection with your participation and/or entry in the Program and/or your receipt or use of the Award, including the Grant, or due to any injuries, damages or losses to any person (including death) or property of any kind resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from acceptance, possession, misuse or use of the Award or participation in the Program or any Program-related activity or your breach of these Terms and Conditions. Sponsor is not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by technical or human error or otherwise, which may occur in the processing of applications for this Award or in the running of this Program. Sponsor will not be responsible for typographical, printing or other errors in these Terms and Conditions or in other materials relating to the Program.

General terms and conditions

Any advice obtained in connection with the Program including during any advisory support or networking opportunities or otherwise from Sponsor, is for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing specific business, accounting or legal advice. Opinions expressed by mentors or others are the opinions of the individuals and may not reflect the opinions of Sponsor.

By participating in the Program, you accept and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions, including all eligibility requirements, Sponsor’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including the arbitration provisions contained therein. All applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations apply. In the event that the Program is challenged by any legal or regulatory authority, Sponsor reserves the right to discontinue or modify the Program, or to disqualify applicants residing in the affected geographic areas. In such an event, Sponsor shall have no liability to any applicants who are disqualified due to such an action. Failure by Sponsor to enforce any term of these Terms and Conditions shall not constitute a waiver of that provision. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any applicant that in its sole judgment violates the letter or the spirit of the Program or could reflect negatively on Sponsor’s image and/or reputation.

Any applicant who is currently employed at an existing business (including all business owners and U.S. government employees) represents and warrants that they have obtained all necessary approvals needed to participate in the Program application process. You agree that you will refrain from acting in an unprofessional manner or committing any act or becoming involved in any situation (and you represent and warrant that, prior to the Application Period, you have not acted in an unprofessional manner or committed any act, and have not been involved in any situation) that: (i) involves an act of moral turpitude; (ii) would subject Sponsor’s endorsement of you and publicizing of your business to public disrepute, contempt, scandal or ridicule; or (iii) tends to shock, insult or offend the community at large. If Sponsor determines, in its reasonable discretion, that you have breached this clause, Sponsor shall have the right to immediately terminate your participation in the Program, stop payment of the Grant or receive a prompt refund of the Grant, and cease all affiliation with you and Sponsor will have no further obligation to provide any part of the Award.

You represent and warrant that your Application material (i) does not contain any computer virus (as applicable), is otherwise uncorrupted, is wholly original with entrant, and as of the date of submission, is not the subject of any actual or threatened litigation or claim; (ii) does not and will not violate or infringe upon the intellectual property rights or other rights of any third party; and (iii) does not and will not violate any applicable laws, and is not and will not be defamatory or libelous.

All decisions regarding the Program’s Terms and Conditions, procedures and processes are at the sole discretion of Sponsor. By submitting an Application, you agree not to seek any financial damages from Sponsor for any claim, dispute or cause of action in connection with or arising out of the Program, including the Award. If the Program is not capable of running as planned for any reason, including, without limitation, as a result of infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, cancellation of games or any other causes which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of this Program, Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Program. Sponsor may disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process, and, if terminated, to determine an alternative Recipient, if any, from among all eligible, non-suspect Applications submitted up to the point of termination.

All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these terms and conditions or the rights and obligations of applicants or sponsor in connection with the Program shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the state of California without giving effect to any principles that provide for the application of the law of another jurisdiction.

For latest updates, visit the Elevate Grant Program page.