Thank you for choosing to participate in UpSpark.


Please complete this registration form to get started. After registration, you'll be sent an email from programs@upstartlab.org with your access to the UpStart Platform.


If you have any questions or need assistance, don't hesitate to reach out to our support team at programs@upstartlab.org

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Participant Information
Please note that this is the email address you
will use to access the UpStart Platform
Participant Agreement and Code of Conduct

This Participant Agreement and Code of Conduct sets forth the terms of your involvement in UpStart offerings and serves as a binding agreement regarding your participation. Please review this document and confirm your acceptance of the terms by submitting your electronic signature. If you have any questions, please contact us at programs@upstartlab.org.

What UpStart Is

UpStart Bay Area (“UpStart”) is a nonprofit corporation recognized as exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Its charitable purpose is to work with, enhance, and help develop mission-aligned ventures in the Jewish community and to engage in other charitable activities within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3). In furtherance of that mission, UpStart runs programs to accelerate growth, nurture ideas, and advance new experiences for the Jewish community.

Guiding Principles
The following list of Guiding Principles exists to support UpStart in ensuring that its programming aligns with its mission and values, as well as its approach to sensitive communal issues.

A Forum of Ideas
  • UpStart is committed, consistent with its mission, to be a robust forum of ideas -- presenting a range of viewpoints on issues of interest and importance to the North American Jewish community in particular, and global Jewry in general.
A Commitment to Fostering Inclusivity and Belonging
  • UpStart is dedicated to creating an atmosphere of inclusivity and does not tolerate racism, sexism, homophobia, antisemitism, able-ism, other forms of bigotry, or other extremist views.
  • We commit to neither accept nor grant funds from or to those who have been found to have engaged in discrimination, harassment, or assault and have not engaged in repair, restoration, and/or teshuva, the Jewish process of repentance.
A Pluralistic and Diverse Forum for Jewish Expression
  • UpStart aims to create an environment for all people to experience the traditions of Judaism, regardless of their political, religious, or ideological beliefs. UpStart creates a pluralistic space where people of all persuasions are invited to celebrate Judaism in connection to community.
  • Our approach emphasizes providing frequent and varied opportunities to engage in Jewish life, fostering diversity and a sense of belonging as essential elements for enhancing community cohesion. We prioritize supporting individuals across all generations, ensuring that every aspect of Jewish generational life is nurtured and celebrated within our community
A Connection to The Land, the People, and the State of Israel and 21st Century Jewish Identity

The Land of Israel
    • As an organization, we acknowledge and honor the historical significance and origins of the traditions of Judaism rooted in and around the present-day State of Israel. We recognize the ancient roots and the profound connections the land of Israel has held for the Jewish people throughout history. We further acknowledge that the Jewish connection to this land remains a vital component of the Jewish experience and identity for many Jews today.
The People of Israel
    • We affirm our support for the People of Israel. We stand with the nation and its citizens, recognizing their right to self-determination security, and prosperity. We honor and respect the rich diversity, traditions, and identities encompassed within the Israeli population and global Jews who associate as part of Am Yisrael, the Jewish People.
The State of Israel
    • We affirm our support for the State of Israel's right to exist as a sovereign state within secure and recognized borders. We stand committed to promoting peace, democracy, and prosperity for all inhabitants of Israel, while also advocating for constructive dialogue and cooperation to address complex challenges in the region.
    • We believe in a future of peaceful co-existence with regional neighbors and a viable solution with the Palestinian population. Our hope is for peace, independence, self-determination, security and prosperity for Israelis and Palestinians with full equality for all citizens.
    • As such, UpStart will not work with any organization that has an implicit or explicit policy denying Israel's right to exist as a sovereign and legitimate Jewish state. Criticism of specific Israeli policies alone does not warrant exclusion.
    • UpStart takes no formal stance on internal political issues related to the State of Israel and its government. We encourage and support open, empathic dialogue between individuals and groups with differing viewpoints. UpStart reserves the right to comment on issues of contemporary relevance through the lens of UpStart’s mission and vision, as determined by the Board and CEO.
Norms for Behavior and Conduct of Individual Participants

The participant in any portion or aspect of UpStart offering agrees to:

  • Comply with all UpStart Guiding Principles as outlined above.

  • Participate in evaluation processes required by UpStart in a timely manner.

  • Fully act with respect towards all other participants, UpStart staff, and any other individual participating (“participants”) in UpStart offerings, exhibiting appropriate behavior while participating in the offerings.  UpStart views the following as inappropriate behavior (although the below is not an exhaustive list), and any such behavior will lead to the dismissal of a participant in UpStart’s sole discretion:

    • Negligence, carelessness, or disrespectful treatment of fellow participants and/or their property

    • Theft, misappropriation, or unauthorized possession or use of property, documents, records or funds belonging to UpStart or fellow participants.

    • Inappropriately divulging trade secrets or other confidential business information learned about fellow participants to any unauthorized person(s) or to others.

    • Conduct that is illegal under federal, state, or local law.

    • Misuse of UpStart grant funds.

    • Use or possession of intoxicating beverages or illegal use or possession of narcotics, marijuana, or drugs (under state, federal, or local laws) on UpStart premises during offerings or reporting to UpStart offerings and events under the influence of intoxicants or drugs so as to interfere with participation.

    • Unauthorized possession of a weapon on UpStart’s premises.

    • Sexual harassment, inappropriate, and/or disrespectful behavior, intimidation, communications, or other conduct directed at an individual because of their sex, gender, or sexual orientation. This includes:

      • Unwanted sexual advances including, but not limited to the following:

        • Visual: leering, making sexual gestures, or displaying sexually suggestive objects or pictures

        • Verbal: making or using derogatory comments, epithets, slurs, sexually explicit jokes, or comments about another’s body or dress, graphic verbal commentary about an individual’s body, sexually degrading words to describe an individual, or suggestive or obscene letters, notes, or invitations

        • Physical: touching, assault, or impeding and/or blocking movements

      • Requests for sexual favors

      • Making or threatening reprisals after a negative response to sexual advances

      • Visual, verbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature

      • Retaliation for reporting harassment or threatening to report harassment

    • Harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, age, or any other basis protected under local, state or federal law, including, but not limited to, behavior similar to those actions or behaviors listed above in the sexual harassment section, such as:

      • Verbal conduct such as threats, epithets, derogatory comments, or slurs

      • Visual conduct such as derogatory posters, photographs, cartoons, drawings, or gestures

      • Physical conduct such as assault unwanted touching, or blocking normal movement

      • Retaliation for reporting harassment or threatening to report harassment.

  • Respect the intellectual property rights of UpStart and all UpStart offerings and Network engagement participants. All information, ideas, projects, and subsequent work generally belongs to its creator, and no participant shall make use of or disseminate any intellectual property belonging to another party without the appropriate right to do so.

  • Use material utilizing any content provided or owned by UpStart only with prior permission and so long as any such materials – whether disseminated through technology or hard copy – are clearly branded as “produced by UpStart” and display the UpStart logo, and comply with any other guidance as shared by UpStart from time to time.

The following additional terms and conditions also apply to all participants:

  • Participant agrees and understands that the UpStart offerings or any portion of it may be filmed, photographed and/or recorded and that UpStart shall have all rights in and to such film, photographs and/or recording, including the copyright therein. The copyright shall include, but not be limited to, the right to use, re-use, publish, and re-publish and otherwise reproduce, modify, and display any such film, photograph and/or recording for educational and promotional purposes, including without limitation, audiotapes, audio CDs, DVDs, websites, video, or film or any other form of recorded images now available and hereafter developed. Participant and each individual participating in a UpStart offering on participant’s behalf hereby grant the right, without compensation, to film, photograph and/or record the participant and/or any individual participant while participating in a UpStart offering or any portion thereof and they hereby waive any right which they have or may have hereafter in any such film, photograph and/or recording. Participant and each individual participating in a UpStart offering on participant’s behalf also agree not to record by audio, video, photographic or any other means, any portion of UpStart offerings.


  • Participant acknowledges and agrees that UpStart, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to change any and all aspects of offerings at any time, including but not limited to, program names, themes, content, program, speakers, performers, hosts, moderators, venue, format, date and/or time. 


  • All intellectual property rights in and to UpStart offerings, the offerings content, and all materials distributed at or in connection with the offerings are owned by UpStart and/or the speakers presenting at the offerings. Participant may not use or reproduce or allow anyone, including any individual participant, to use or reproduce any trademarks or other trade names appearing at the offerings, in any offering content, and/or in any of the materials distributed at or in connection with the offerings for any reason without the prior written permission of UpStart. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to grant participant or any individual participant any legal or beneficial right in or to any trademarks or other intellectual property rights owned or used under license by UpStart or any of its affiliates or grant to participant or any individual participant any right or license to any other intellectual property rights of UpStart, its affiliates, or speakers presenting at UpStart offerings.


  • UpStart gives no warranties in respect of any aspect of UpStart offerings or any materials related thereto or offered at the offerings and, to the fullest extent possible under the laws governing this Agreement, disclaims all implied warranties, including but not limited to warranties of fitness for a particular purpose, accuracy, timeliness, and merchantability. Neither UpStart nor its affiliates shall have or accept any responsibility or liability for reliance by participant or any person, including any individual participant, on any aspect of UpStart offerings and/or any information provided at or in connection with the offerings. 


  • Other than to the extent required as a matter of law, UpStart shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, or consequential costs, damages, losses, or attorney fees or costs arising directly or indirectly from UpStart offerings, participant’s or any individual participant’s participation in the offerings, or other aspect related to the offerings, or in connection with this Agreement or participation in the offerings. Participant and each individual participant hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agree to release, waive, and discharge UpStart, its directors, officers, agents, and employees (hereinafter referred to as “releasees”) from any and all liabilities, claims, demands, actions, losses, expenses (including reasonably attorneys’ fees and costs), and causes of action whatsoever directly, indirectly, wholly, or partially arising out of or relating to any loss, damage, or injury, including death, that may be sustained by the ED/CEO, anyone associated with the participant organization, or to any property belonging to such persons, while participating in any UpStart offering, and/or while in, on, or upon the premises where UpStart offering(s) is/are being conducted.


  • The parties agree that each shall treat confidentially all information provided by each party to the other regarding its business and operations. All confidential information provided by a party, including but not limited to any information shared by UpStart with participants or any individual participant as part of or related to the offerings that would be deemed to be of a confidential nature by a reasonable person, shall be used by the other party solely for the purpose of participating in UpStart offerings and shall not be disclosed to any third party without the prior consent of such providing party. The foregoing shall not be applicable to any information that is publicly available when provided or thereafter becomes publicly available other than through a breach of this Agreement, or that is required to be disclosed by or to any regulatory authority, or by judicial or administrative process or otherwise by applicable law.

  • This Agreement does not create a partnership, joint venture, or other similar relationship between the parties, and no party will have the power to obligate any other party in any manner whatsoever as a result of this Agreement.


  • This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without regard to conflicts of law principles. The parties agree that any legal action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement may be initiated only in the federal or state courts located in the City of Oakland and County of Alameda, California.


  • Participant may not assign or transfer its rights under this Agreement, including by operation of law, without the prior written consent of Upstart.


Upon the occurrence of any of the above circumstances, UpStart may, in its sole discretion, take any action that it deems appropriate, including, but not limited to, terminating this Agreement and your participation in UpStart offerings, prohibiting certain individuals from participating in any aspect of UpStart offerings, limiting or modifying your participation in certain aspects of UpStart offerings, and/or requiring the return of grant funds. UpStart may, in its discretion, implement any such action it deems appropriate immediately or may choose to provide for a transition period. UpStart will evaluate each situation on a case-by-case basis and in consultation with individuals and advisors as it determines to be appropriate.  


In addition, the participant confirms and represents that the participant is 18+ years old.

Participant Information
Participants will acknowledge and agree to these terms via e-signature after clicking 'submit' on the final page.
Last updated: July 2024
Individual Information

This section asks some questions about you personally. This helps us to understand whether our programs and events are effective for all participants.

Identity
Completion of this section is optional. We use this information to understand whether our programs and events are effective for all participants (and to understand and plan when our programming falls short). This information will be confidential and used for general reporting purposes without identifying individual responses.



Geography
Please fill out the following based on your home location.