AI For Climate and Nature Grand Challenge Agreement - Submission Deadline Extended
AI For Climate and Nature Grand Challenge Agreement - Submission Deadline Extended
Agreement
This AI for Climate and Nature Grand Challenge Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into by the
Bezos Earth Fund LLC (“Earth Fund” or “Bezos Earth Fund”) and each entity that submits a
grant application, whether alone or as part of a group, for the AI for Climate and Nature Grand
Challenge (the “Challenge”). The term “Grant Applicant” refers to an entity, or group of two or
more entities, that submits a grant application. The term “Lead Entity” refers to (1) the entity
that acts on behalf of a group of entities in advancing a grant application, fulfilling
responsibilities defined further below, or (2) an individual entity that submits an application on its
own. The term “Contributing Entity” refers to entities that are part of a Grant Applicant group
and are not the Lead Entity. Luminary Labs is the administrator for the Challenge via a contract
with Radiant Earth (Luminary Labs and Radiant Earth are together referred to as the
“Administrator” in this Agreement).
By signing this Agreement, each Lead Entity and Contributing Entity is entering into a binding
agreement with the Earth Fund. By checking the “I Agree” box and submitting a grant
application to the Challenge, the individual checking the “I Agree” box represents and warrants
that he/she/they has the authority to bind the entity on whose behalf this Agreement is entered
into. Each Lead Entity and Contributing Entity is subject to and bound by all of the terms of this
Agreement. Entering into this Agreement is required for participation in the Challenge as a Lead
Entity or Contributing Entity.
Grant Applicant acknowledges that the Earth Fund may require Grant Applicants to comply with
additional rules, requirements, or procedures that it determines, in its sole discretion, are
necessary for the administration of the Challenge. The Lead Entity for each grant application
selected for funding must sign a grant agreement prior to its receipt of any grant funds.
● It is a legal entity organized under the laws of a state, country or other governmental
body that is not subject to U.S. sanctions as specified on the U.S. Department of
Treasury website.
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Earth Fund’s grantee. The Lead Entity is responsible for fulfilling the obligations
designated to such Lead Entity under this Agreement and the Challenge Website,
including submitting the grant application, submitting this Agreement signed by each
Contributing Entity, signing the grant agreement, receiving the grant award, and
additional obligations identified from time to time by the Earth Fund in support of the
administration and operation of the Challenge. For applications submitted by a single
entity, that entity shall be the Lead Entity for that application. A Lead Entity, whether
applying alone or jointly, must be either (1) a domestic U.S. organization that is
exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code,
or (2) an academic institution from anywhere in the world.
● The Lead Entity must designate an individual point of contact who is affiliated with and
authorized to act on behalf of the Lead Entity as the “Team Lead.” The Team Lead must
be the older of: 18 years of age or the age of majority in the state or country where the
individual resides. Team Leads will be responsible for all Challenge-related
communications with the Administrators or Bezos Earth Fund. The Team Lead may not
be a citizen of or reside in a country that is subject to U.S. sanctions as specified on the
U.S. Department of Treasury website. Any notices by the Earth Fund or either
Administrator shall be deemed delivered once sent via email to the Team Lead using the
email address provided in the grant application.
● Each Contributing Entity agrees that the Lead Entity and Team Lead may undertake all
tasks required to advance the grant application and in connection with this Agreement
and all Challenge-related agreements and other obligations. For the avoidance of doubt,
any Contributing Entity acknowledges that the grants provided pursuant to this
Challenge will be paid solely to entities that are academic institutions or U.S. entities that
are exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.
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application complies with all conditions identified on the Challenge Website and in this
Agreement.
● Grant Applicants must be able to participate in the Challenge without violating any
thirdparty rights or obligations, including without limitation an employer’s policies or
procedures.
● Grant Applicant agrees to follow all applicable federal, state, and local laws and
regulations, as well as the Privacy Policy on the Challenge Website.
● Phase 1 applications must be submitted via the online application platform on the
Challenge Website by 5:59 p.m. Eastern Time on August 13, 2024. Applications received
after this deadline will not be considered.
● If a Grant Applicant encounters a technical issue before the deadline, the Grant
Applicant must immediately contact [email protected] and provide an
explanation of the technical problem experienced, along with supporting screenshots.
Luminary Labs will accept the Grant Applicant’s application if Luminary Labs can confirm
that a technical problem occurred with the Challenge Website and that the technical
problem affected the Grant Applicant’s ability to submit an application by the application
deadline. These extensions are at Luminary Labs’ sole discretion and apply only to the
unavailability of, or technical problems with, the Challenge Website. Luminary Labs will
not grant a Grant Applicant an extension if the Grant Applicant failed to submit an
application in the system by the application deadline or if the technical problem
experienced is unrelated to the Challenge Website.
3. Grant Awards
● In each phase of the Challenge, an independent panel of expert judges will score eligible
submissions according to the phase-specific evaluation criteria specified on the
Challenge Website. These scores will be used to recommend awardees for each phase,
up to a maximum number of awardees as specified on the Challenge Website. Scores
will not be shared with Grant Applicants at any time. The Bezos Earth Fund will make the
final determination of awardees and award amounts to be distributed to Lead Entities, at
its sole discretion. The Bezos Earth Fund may decide in its sole discretion to limit the
number of awardees, the dollar value of any award, or to issue no awards.
● As a condition of receiving a grant in each phase, Lead Entities for selected grant
applications must execute a separate agreement, to be provided by the Bezos Earth
Fund, which governs distribution of the funds and memorializes additional terms.
● Grants will be distributed to the Lead Entity. Any further distribution to Contributing
Entities or team members is not the responsibility of the Bezos Earth Fund or either
Administrator and is at the sole discretion of the Lead Entity. In the event a dispute
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regarding the identity of the Lead Entity cannot be resolved to the Bezos Earth Fund’s
satisfaction, the affected application will be deemed ineligible. The Bezos Earth Fund
and the Administrators will not be liable for any failure on the part of the Lead Entity to
distribute the funds to Contributing Entities or team members.
● The grant paid to the Lead Entity will be funded via stock transfer from the Earth Fund’s
beneficial owner (“Beneficial Owner”) or cash, in each case in accordance with a
payment schedule set forth in the applicable grant agreement. Notwithstanding any
other provision in this Agreement, the Challenge Website, or other Challenge materials,
Grant Applicant acknowledges and understands that the ultimate timing of any grant
payment by the Beneficial Owner is subject to the Beneficial Owner’s compliance with
any restrictions regarding open trading windows to which the Beneficial Owner may be
subject. In the case of stock transfers, the fair market value of the stock on the dates
Beneficial Owner transfers the stock to the Lead Entity shall be the fair market value of
the stock for all tax, grant and receipt purposes, regardless of whether the Lead Entity
later disposes of the stock for a higher or lower price.
● Any taxes required to be paid due to award of a grant are the sole responsibility of the
Grant Applicant. Grant Applicant is also responsible for any reporting obligations.
Questions related to taxes should be directed to Grant Applicant’s tax advisor. Any
expenses incurred by Grant Applicant in connection with participation in the Challenge or
use of any grant awarded are the Grant Applicant’s sole responsibility. Failure to comply
with this Agreement may result in forfeiture of the grant, in the sole discretion of the Bezos
Earth Fund.
4. Publicity Release
Grant Applicants agree that the Bezos Earth Fund, each Administrator and their respective
vendors and partners may use Grant Applicants’ names and descriptions of their applications in
connection with the Challenge and the Bezos Earth Fund’s mission without compensation,
except where prohibited by law.
Grant Applicants shall not use the Bezos Earth Fund name or logo, or the name or likeness of
any individual associated with the Bezos Earth Fund, in connection with this Challenge, any
promotional materials, press releases, on-line postings, websites or otherwise, without the
advance written permission of the Bezos Earth Fund.
5. Disqualification
The Bezos Earth Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any Grant Applicant
that is found to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Challenge,
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Challenge Website, or other Challenge-related websites; to be acting in violation of this
Agreement, any other agreement required to be executed in connection with the Challenge, or
any requirements specified on the Challenge Website; to be acting in a disrespectful,
unprofessional or an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner, or with the intent to disrupt or
undermine the legitimate operation of the Challenge; or to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass any
other person. The Bezos Earth Fund reserves the right to seek damages and other remedies
from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law.
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application content (collectively, the “Submission”). Each Grant Applicant represents and
warrants that there are no legal obstacles to providing these licenses to the Bezos Earth Fund
and the Administrators.
Each Grant Applicant represents and warrants that it is the sole author or owner of, or has the
right to use, any copyrightable works or other materials, ideas, concepts, innovations,
discoveries, designs, formulae, know-how or developments provided by any means, directly or
indirectly in connection with the Challenge, including for purposes of the licenses granted to the
Bezos Earth Fund and each Administrator in this Agreement; that the Submission is wholly
original with the Grant Applicant (or is an improved version of an existing work that the Grant
Applicant has sufficient rights to use and improve); and that the Submission does not infringe
any copyright, patent, trademark, trade secret or any other rights of any third party. If the
Submission includes any third-party works (such as third-party content or open-source code),
the Grant Applicant must identify such works and, if requested, provide documentation of all
appropriate licenses and releases for use of such third-party works, including for purposes of
the licenses granted to the Bezos Earth Fund and each Administrator in this Agreement. If the
Grant Applicant cannot provide documentation of all required licenses and releases, the Bezos
Earth Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify the grant application.
Each Grant Applicant further represents and warrants that its Submission is free of (i) security
threats and/or malware, (ii) any false or misleading content and/or (iii) any defamatory, obscene,
or otherwise illegal content.
No Submissions will be returned. The Earth Fund and each Administrator may retain the original or
copies of Submissions but are not required to do so.
Each Grant Applicant hereby acknowledges and agrees that the relationship between
themselves and the Bezos Earth Fund (together with its Affiliates (defined below), including but
not limited to the Bezos Earth Fund’s beneficial owner and/or affiliated entities) (each, a
“Challenge Party” and collectively, the “Challenge Parties”) is not a confidential, fiduciary, or
any other special relationship, and that the Grant Applicant’s decision to provide the Submission
for purposes of the Challenge does not place the Challenge Parties in a position that is any
different from the position held by members of the general public with regard to the Challenge or
any elements of any Submission, other than as licensee as specified in Section 8.
Each Grant Applicant understands and acknowledges that the Challenge Parties review
business plans, proprietary information, and new ideas of many enterprises from time to time,
some of which may compete directly or indirectly with the Grant Applicant’s Submission or
business (as conducted or as proposed to be conducted). Nothing in the Submission shall
preclude or in any way restrict any Challenge Party from evaluating or purchasing securities of
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any particular enterprise, investing or participating in any particular enterprise, or making a grant
to or otherwise funding or supporting any particular enterprise, whether or not such enterprise
has products, programs, or services that compete with those of the Grant Applicant. The Grant
Applicant hereby agrees that, to the extent permitted under applicable law, no Challenge Party
shall be liable to a Grant Applicant for any claim arising out of, or based upon (1) any investment
or participation in, or grant or funding to, or support of any particular enterprise by a Challenge
Party, including but not limited to any entity competitive with the Grant Applicant, or (2) actions
taken by any Challenge Party or any partner, founder, manager, member, officer, employee, or
other representative of a Challenge Party to assist any such particular enterprise, whether or not
such action was taken as an investor in or a member of the board of directors of such particular
enterprise or otherwise, and whether or not such action has a detrimental effect on a Grant
Applicant.
As used in this Agreement, “Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified individual or entity,
any other individual or entity who or which, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is
under common control with such specified individual or entity, including, without limitation, any
general partner, limited partner, officer, director, shareholder, trustee, beneficiary, member,
manager, managing member, or employee of such specified individual or entity.
A. The Challenge is provided on an “as is” basis without any representations, warranties, or
commitments of any kind, including the success of any Grant Applicant or that any
grants will ultimately be awarded. In no event shall the Bezos Earth Fund or either
Administrator, or any affiliates of either entity (including without limitation with respect to
Bezos Earth Fund and any other Challenge Party) — or any of their respective founders,
directors, managers, officers, trustees, employees, owners, shareholders, members,
beneficiaries, contractors, agents, representatives, successors, assigns, or partners —
(collectively, the “Released Parties”) be liable for any injury (including death), losses,
claims, and/or any direct, indirect, incidental, punitive, special, or consequential
damages of any kind, including, without limitation, lost profits; lost revenue; lost savings;
loss of data; damage caused to a computer, computer software, systems, programs, and
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data; replacement costs; or any similar damages, whether based in contract, tort, strict
liability, statutory, common law, or otherwise (collectively, “Claims”) arising from Grant
Applicant’s participation in the Challenge or any Challenge-related activities, or from
Grant Applicant’s acceptance, receipt, possession, use or misuse of any award or
recognition, or related to use or disclosure of Grant Applicant’s Submission. Grant
Applicant further waives and covenants not to sue the Released Parties for any such
future Claims. The aggregate liability of the Released Parties shall not exceed the
amount paid by the Grant Applicant for the opportunity to participate in the Challenge,
which is zero U.S. dollars, or $100 (U.S. dollars) in any jurisdiction where liability cannot
be completely waived. Grant Applicant irrevocably waives any right to seek injunctive or
equitable relief from the Released Parties for any Claims.
B. The Grant Applicant will indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Released Parties from
and against all third-party claims (including without limitation, claims brought by another
party in Grant Applicant’s team or another Grant Applicant), actions, or proceedings of
any kind and from any and all damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses arising from or
related to Grant Applicant’s participation in the Challenge, including but not limited to (i)
Challenge activities, awards, or recognition, (ii) patent, copyright or trademark
infringement, or trade secret misappropriation, and/or (iii) breach or alleged breach of
any representations, warranties, and covenants of the Grant Applicant related to the
Challenge as set forth in this Agreement, any other agreement required to be executed
in connection with the Challenge, the Challenge grant application, or any terms of the
Challenge Website.
C. The Bezos Earth Fund and the Administrators are not responsible for incomplete,
illegible, misdirected, misprinted, late, lost, postage-due, damaged, or stolen applications
or award notifications; or for lost, interrupted, inaccessible, or unavailable networks,
servers, satellites, internet service providers, websites, or other connections; or for
miscommunications; failed, jumbled, scrambled, delayed, or misdirected computer,
telephone, cable transmissions or other communications; or for any technical
malfunctions, failures, difficulties, or other errors of any kind or nature; or for the
incorrect or inaccurate capture of information; or the failure to capture any information.
D. The Bezos Earth Fund reserves the right at its sole discretion to cancel, terminate,
modify or suspend the Challenge in whole or in part. None of the Released Parties shall
have any liability to any Grant Applicant, or any person or entity employed by or affiliated
with the Grant Applicant, in connection with the Challenge.
11. Privacy
By participating in the Challenge, each Grant Applicant agrees that the Bezos Earth Fund and
each Administrator may also use the Grant Applicant’s information to contact the Grant Applicant
about Challenge and innovation-related activities, and acknowledges that the Grant Applicant
has read and accepted the Privacy Policy published on the Challenge Website.
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12. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
This Agreement shall be construed and governed by the laws of the State of Florida without
giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Florida or
any other jurisdiction). Access or use of the Challenge Website is unauthorized in any
jurisdiction that does not give effect to all provisions of this Agreement. For any claims that are
not subject to arbitration, to compel arbitration, or to confirm, modify, vacate or enter judgment
on the award of an arbitrator, the parties to this Agreement, including every Grant Applicant
entity (whether the Lead Entity or not), agree to personal jurisdiction and venue for all such
claims in the state or federal courts of competent jurisdiction in the District of Columbia, United
States. The arbitration provisions in this Agreement are governed by the U.S. Federal
Arbitration Act.
The parties further agree that any such claims may only be brought on an individual basis and
not on behalf of a purported class or a representative action of any kind. Unless the parties
agree otherwise, the arbitrator may not consolidate or join more than one entity’s claims with
another’s, or preside over any form of a consolidated, representative or class proceeding.
The parties acknowledge that by agreeing to arbitrate, they are waiving any right they may have
to a trial by jury.
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Challenge, along with any subsequent agreement(s) the Grant Applicant is required to sign to
receive grant funds. Each Administrator is a third party beneficiary of this Agreement and may
enforce its rights arising under Sections 2-4, 6, 8, 10-12 and 14 of this Agreement. This
Agreement does not otherwise create any third-party rights. If there is any conflict between the
Challenge Website and this Agreement, this Agreement controls.
If any part of this Agreement is unenforceable, that will not affect the other terms. If a Grant
Applicant does not comply with any provision in this Agreement, and the Bezos Earth Fund or
either Administrator does not take action to enforce this Agreement, that does not constitute
waiver of any right to take action in the future. The Earth Fund or an Administrator may take any
actions necessary to enforce their rights under this Agreement.
The individual signing this Agreement on behalf of the Lead Entity or Contributing Entity, as the
case may be, represents and warrants that the signatory has the authority to bind the entity
identified in the signature block on whose behalf this Agreement is entered into.
This Agreement may be manually signed by hand or electronically with DocuSign or other
comparable verifiable electronic signature, and the terms “signed” or “signature” include
electronic signatures. Each Lead Entity and Contributing entity acknowledges that the Bezos
Earth Fund is not required to sign this Agreement for it to be a binding and enforceable
agreement; a binding agreement is established when signed by the Lead Entity or Contributing
Entity below.
The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or
enforceability of any other provision. In the event that any provision is determined to be invalid
or otherwise unenforceable or illegal, all other provisions in this Agreement shall remain in
effect.
The Bezos Earth Fund also reserves the right to modify the Challenge Website, Challenge
procedures and management of the Challenge at any time, in its sole discretion.
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The entity listed below has caused this AI for Climate and Nature Grand Challenge Agreement to
be signed its duly authorized signatory, as of the date listed below.
LEAD ENTITY
Signed: _________________________________
Title: ____________________________________
Date: ____________________________________
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The entity listed below has caused this AI for Climate and Nature Grand Challenge Agreement to
be signed its duly authorized signatory, as of the date listed below.
CONTRIBUTING ENTITY
Signed: _________________________________
Title: ____________________________________
Date: ____________________________________
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