1. Introduction & Acceptance of Terms

Adjuma is a referral-first hiring marketplace operated by Ascend Global Talent Solutions LLC ("we," "us," "our," or "Adjuma"). Our platform is accessible at adjuma.io. By accessing, browsing, or using Adjuma in any way, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be legally bound by these Terms of Service. These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Adjuma regarding your use of the platform.

These Terms were last updated on April 5, 2026. We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes become effective 30 days after publication. Your continued use of the platform following such modifications constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms.

2. Definitions

For clarity, the following key terms used throughout these Terms are defined as follows:

• Candidate: An individual seeking employment through the Adjuma platform, submitted by a Referrer on behalf of an Employer.
• Confidence Pool: The total amount paid by an Employer for a specific job posting, calculated as the maximum of $2,000 or 5% of the annual salary for the role.
• Employer: An organization or individual that posts jobs on the Adjuma platform and pays the Confidence Pool to access candidates.
• Hiring Window: The 30-90 day period during which an Employer may review candidates and make hiring decisions for a posted job.
• Platform: The Adjuma online marketplace accessible at adjuma.io, including all features, services, and content.
• Referrer: An individual who submits Candidates to job postings on the Adjuma platform in exchange for a payout upon successful hire.
• Referrer Trust Index / Trust Score: A reputation metric assigned to each Referrer based on hire rate, interview rate, retention, employer ratings, peer reviews, and specialization.
• Reputation Bonus Pool: 20% of the Confidence Pool designated for distribution to top-performing Referrers based on their Reputation Bonuses.
• Top 10: The ranked list of the top 10 Candidates for a given job posting, based on Trust Score and role fit, accessible to the Employer.
• User: Any individual who accesses, registers for, or uses the Adjuma platform, including Employers, Referrers, and Candidates.
• User Content: Any information, text, files, resumes, profiles, or other materials uploaded or submitted by Users to the Adjuma platform.

3. Account Registration & Eligibility

3.1 Eligibility

To register for an Adjuma account, you must be at least 18 years old and have the legal authority to enter into these Terms. If you are registering on behalf of an organization, you represent that you are authorized to bind that organization to these Terms.

3.2 Authentication

Adjuma uses Supabase Auth for account authentication. You may register and log in using your email address, Google OAuth, or LinkedIn OAuth. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials. You agree not to share your credentials with anyone and to notify Adjuma immediately of any unauthorized access.

3.3 Account Responsibility

You are responsible for all activities that occur under your account, including all submissions, payments, and actions taken in your name. You agree to provide accurate and complete information during registration and to update this information if it changes.

3.4 Dual-Role Accounts

A single user may hold multiple roles on the Adjuma platform (e.g., Employer and Referrer) under a single account. However, you may not create multiple accounts to circumvent Confidence Pool limits, referral submission limits, or other platform rules. Adjuma reserves the right to merge duplicate accounts or terminate accounts suspected of circumvention.

4. Platform Services Description

Adjuma is a referral-first hiring marketplace that operates as follows:

• Employers post jobs and pay a Confidence Pool (MAX($2,000, 5% of annual salary)) to access candidates.
• Referrers submit Candidates to open positions, with a maximum of 3 referrals per job.
• Candidates are ranked by their Referrer's Trust Score and assessed role fit.
• Employers review the Top 10 ranked Candidates and make hiring decisions.
• When a Candidate is hired, Referrers receive a payout from the Confidence Pool (at least 25% to the Referrer, plus eligibility for a share of the 20% Reputation Bonus Pool).
• Employers may request a refund of 50% of the Confidence Pool if no Candidate is hired within the Hiring Window.

The Adjuma platform is provided on an "as is" basis. Adjuma does not guarantee employment for Candidates, successful placements for Employers, or payout amounts for Referrers. Adjuma is a marketplace that facilitates connections; it does not guarantee outcomes.

5. Employer Terms

5.1 Job Posting

Employers may post jobs on the Adjuma platform by providing job title, description, annual salary, and other relevant details. Job postings must comply with all applicable laws and may not contain discriminatory language, false information, or violations of intellectual property rights. Adjuma reserves the right to remove or suspend any job posting that violates these Terms or applicable law.

5.2 Confidence Pool Payment

To post a job, Employers must pay a Confidence Pool calculated as MAX($2,000, 5% of annual salary). Payment is processed via Stripe. 50% of the Confidence Pool is non-refundable upfront, representing a portion of the Adjuma Platform's operating share. The remaining 50% may be refunded if no hire occurs within 30 days of the Hiring Window closing, subject to Adjuma's refund policy.

5.3 Candidate Review & Top 10 Ranking

Employers have automatic access to review the Top 10 ranked Candidates. An unlock fee, as determined by Adjuma and published on the Platform at the time of purchase, may apply to access additional candidate profiles beyond the Top 10.

5.4 Hiring Obligations

Employers acknowledge that hiring decisions are at their sole discretion. Employers must report any hire through the Adjuma platform to trigger payout processing. False hire reporting is prohibited and may result in account termination and legal action.

5.5 Refund Policy

If no Candidate is hired within 30 days of the Hiring Window closing, Employers may request a refund of 50% of the Confidence Pool. Refund requests must be submitted within 30 days of the Hiring Window end date. Adjuma will process approved refunds within 30 business days. The non-refundable 50% (representing Adjuma's platform operating share) is retained regardless of hiring outcome.

6. Referrer Terms

6.1 Referral Submission

Referrers may submit Candidates to job postings by providing the Candidate's name, contact information, and resume. Referrers represent that they have the authority to submit the Candidate's information and that all information provided is accurate and truthful. Referrers may not submit false information or submit Candidates without their knowledge or consent.

6.2 Maximum 3 Per Job

Referrers are limited to a maximum of 3 candidate referrals per job posting. This limit exists to maintain platform quality and ensure fair competition among Referrers.

6.3 Self-Referral Prohibition

Referrers may not submit themselves as Candidates or attempt to circumvent the Self-Referral Prohibition through duplicate accounts or false referrals. Violations will result in account termination.

6.4 Payout Eligibility & Stripe Connect

Referrers receive a payout only when a Candidate they referred is hired. The payout consists of at least 25% of the Confidence Pool, plus eligibility for a share of the 20% Reputation Bonus Pool distributed based on Reputation Bonuses. Founding Referrers receive a +2 percentage point boost above the 25% floor. Payouts are processed via Stripe Connect, and Referrers must maintain an active Stripe Connect account to receive funds. Payouts are issued in USD within 2-3 business days of the hire being reported.

6.5 Reputation System & Trust Score

Each Referrer is assigned a Reputation Score (Trust Score) based on the following weighted metrics:

• Hire Rate: 30% — Percentage of referrals that result in hire
• Interview Rate: 20% — Percentage of referrals that advance to interview
• Retention: 15% — Percentage of hires that remain employed after 90 days
• Employer Ratings: 15% — Average rating given by Employers (1-5 stars)
• Peer Reviews: 10% — Community-contributed ratings and feedback
• Specialization: 10% — Quality of role-fit matching and domain expertise

A higher Trust Score increases the ranking of a Referrer's candidates in the Top 10, improving visibility and hire likelihood. The Trust Score is recalculated regularly based on recent activity.

7. Candidate Terms

7.1 Consent & Profile Creation

Candidates submit their information via Referrer submissions. By allowing a Referrer to submit their information to Adjuma, Candidates consent to having their profile displayed to Employers and to receiving communications from Adjuma regarding job opportunities and platform updates. Candidates may create their own account on Adjuma to manage their profile, view referral history, and update their information.

7.2 Resume & Information Handling

Candidate resumes and information are stored securely on Supabase Storage. Candidates retain ownership of their content and may request deletion of their information at any time by contacting legal@adjuma.io. Adjuma retains the right to retain anonymized data for analytical and reporting purposes.

7.3 Blind Profiles

Adjuma is committed to reducing unconscious bias in hiring. Candidates may opt into blind profile mode, which removes identifying information (name, photo, contact details) from their Employer-facing profile while maintaining all skills and experience data.

7.4 No Employment Guarantee

Candidates acknowledge that Adjuma does not guarantee employment and is not a guarantor of hiring outcomes. Being listed on the Top 10 does not guarantee that an Employer will interview or hire a Candidate. Adjuma is a marketplace that facilitates connections; employment decisions rest entirely with Employers.

8. Payment Terms & Confidence Pool

8.1 Payment Processing

All payments on the Adjuma platform are processed securely via Stripe. By making a payment, you authorize Adjuma to charge your payment method in accordance with these Terms.

8.2 Fee Structure

The Confidence Pool is distributed as follows:

• 55% to the Adjuma Platform (operational and maintenance costs)
• At least 25% to the Referrer of the hired Candidate (Founding Referrers receive +2 percentage points above this floor)
• 20% to the Reputation Bonus Pool (distributed to top-performing Referrers)

8.3 Non-Refundable Amount

50% of the Confidence Pool is non-refundable upfront. This amount represents a portion of the Adjuma Platform's operating share and is retained by Adjuma regardless of hiring outcome.

8.4 Refund Eligibility

The remaining 50% of the Confidence Pool may be refunded if no hire occurs within 30 days of the Hiring Window closing. To request a refund, Employers must submit a request within 30 days of the Hiring Window end date through the Adjuma platform or by contacting legal@adjuma.io.

8.5 Referrer Payouts via Stripe Connect

Referrer payouts are processed via Stripe Connect. Referrers must maintain an active Stripe Connect account to receive payments. Payouts are issued in USD and typically appear in Referrer bank accounts within 5-7 business days.

8.6 Fund Handling

All Confidence Pool funds are held securely and processed through Adjuma's Mercury business checking account. Adjuma maintains full financial records and transparency reports available to Users upon request.

8.7 Currency & Payments

All payments on the Adjuma platform are processed in USD (United States Dollars). If you reside outside the United States, you are responsible for any currency conversion fees charged by your financial institution.

9. Reputation System & Trust Score

9.1 Rating System

Employers may rate Referrers and Candidates on a 1-5 star scale after hiring or interview completion. Referrers may rate Employers based on their hiring process and communication. These ratings contribute directly to the Reputation System and Trust Score calculation. All ratings must be honest, truthful, and based on genuine interactions. False or malicious ratings are prohibited.

9.2 Reputation Bonuses

Referrers with an average rating of 4.5 or higher stars receive priority status and access to an increased share of the Reputation Bonus Pool. The Reputation Bonus Pool (20% of each Confidence Pool) is distributed among top-performing Referrers based on their individual Reputation Bonuses, calculated by Adjuma algorithms. Reputation Bonus distribution is updated weekly.

9.3 Reputation Standards

Referrers with an average rating below 2.0 stars may face reduced visibility on the platform and may be subject to account review or suspension. Adjuma may restrict a low-reputation Referrer's ability to submit new candidates or access certain features pending improvement.

10. Intellectual Property

10.1 Platform IP

Adjuma owns all intellectual property rights to the platform, including the website, software, design, logos, features, and functionality. These materials are protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. You may not copy, modify, distribute, or create derivative works based on the platform without express written permission from Adjuma.

10.2 User License

Adjuma grants you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use the platform for its intended purpose (hiring, referring, or seeking employment) during the term of these Terms. This license is personal to you and may not be sublicensed or assigned.

10.3 Your Content

You retain ownership of User Content (resumes, profiles, job descriptions) that you upload or submit to Adjuma. By uploading or submitting User Content, you grant Adjuma a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, display, and distribute your User Content solely for the purpose of operating the platform and fulfilling these Terms. You represent that you own or have the rights to grant this license for all User Content you submit.

11. User Content & Conduct

11.1 Acceptable Use

By using Adjuma, you agree not to:

• Submit content that discriminates based on protected characteristics (race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity)
• Engage in fraud, misrepresentation, or deceptive practices
• Infringe upon intellectual property rights of others
• Attempt to circumvent platform restrictions (duplicate accounts, bypassing referral limits, etc.)
• Scrape, crawl, or automatically access the platform in violation of applicable law
• Submit false referrals or false hire reports
• Create multiple accounts to circumvent Confidence Pool limits or other restrictions
• Engage in harassment, threats, or abusive behavior toward other Users
• Attempt to access or modify other Users' accounts or private information

11.2 Content Moderation

Adjuma reserves the right to monitor, review, and remove User Content that violates these Terms or applicable law. Adjuma may suspend or terminate accounts of Users who repeatedly violate these Terms or engage in prohibited conduct. Adjuma is not responsible for User Content and does not endorse any User submissions. Adjuma may also flag content for legal review if necessary.

12. Privacy

Your use of Adjuma is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information. Please review the Privacy Policy to understand our privacy practices.

13. Disclaimers & Limitation of Liability

13.1 "AS IS" Disclaimer

The Adjuma platform is provided on an "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" basis without warranties of any kind, express or implied. Adjuma disclaims all warranties, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement. Adjuma does not warrant that the platform will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free from viruses or harmful components.

13.2 No Guarantees

Adjuma does not guarantee:

• Employment for Candidates
• Successful placements for Employers
• Quality of Candidates or referrals
• Payout amounts or availability of jobs matching Referrer expertise
• The conduct or reliability of other Users
• Any specific business outcomes or results

13.3 Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Adjuma shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to lost profits, lost revenue, lost data, or business interruption, even if Adjuma has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Adjuma's total liability under these Terms shall not exceed the total amount paid by the User in the 12 months preceding the claim.

14. Dispute Resolution & Arbitration

14.1 Informal Resolution

If you have a dispute with Adjuma, we encourage you to contact us first at legal@adjuma.io to attempt informal resolution. Please provide a detailed description of your dispute, including all relevant facts and documentation. Adjuma will respond to your inquiry within 30 days and will make a good-faith effort to resolve the dispute informally.

14.2 Binding Arbitration

If informal resolution is unsuccessful, you and Adjuma agree to resolve any dispute by binding arbitration administered by JAMS (Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services). The arbitration shall be conducted in New York, New York, in accordance with the JAMS Streamlined Arbitration Rules and Procedures. Each party shall bear its own legal fees and costs, though arbitrator fees and costs shall be split equally unless the arbitrator determines otherwise. The arbitration award shall be final and binding and may be enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction.

14.3 Exceptions

Notwithstanding the above, either party may seek injunctive relief in a court of competent jurisdiction to prevent irreparable harm. Small claims disputes (up to $5,000) may be brought in small claims court in lieu of arbitration at your sole discretion.

15. Termination

15.1 By User

You may terminate your Adjuma account at any time by contacting legal@adjuma.io. Provide your account email and a brief reason for termination. Adjuma will deactivate your account within 5 business days. Upon termination, you will lose access to the platform, but you may still be eligible to receive payouts for referrals completed before termination.

15.2 By Adjuma

Adjuma may terminate or suspend your account at any time if you violate these Terms, engage in prohibited conduct, or pose a risk to the platform or other Users. Termination may be immediate if Adjuma reasonably believes you have engaged in fraud, illegal activity, or serious misconduct. Upon termination, your access to the platform will be immediately revoked.

15.3 Effects

Upon termination of these Terms, Sections 8 (Payment Terms), 10 (Intellectual Property), 13 (Disclaimers & Limitation of Liability), 14 (Dispute Resolution), and 17 (Governing Law) shall survive and continue in effect.

16. Modifications to Terms

Adjuma reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. Modifications become effective 30 days after publication on the platform. Your continued use of Adjuma following such modifications constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms. If you do not agree to the modifications, you may terminate your account as set forth in Section 15.

17. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws principles. The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods is expressly excluded.

18. Contact Information

If you have questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us at:

Ascend Global Talent Solutions LLC
Email: legal@adjuma.io
Website: adjuma.io