Tide House

Tide House London Trial: Terms

Version 1. Last updated: [date]

These terms explain how the Tide House London trial works, what we're asking you to do, and what you get if you do it. Please read them before you apply. By ticking the box on the application form, you confirm you've read them and agree to them.

1. Who we are

Tide House is run by [company name], a company registered in England and Wales with company number [company number], whose registered office is at [registered office address]. In these terms, "we" and "us" means that company. You can contact us at [email protected].

2. What this is

We're looking for up to 1,000 people in London to test Tide House before it launches. Tide House is for friendship. It isn't a dating service, and it isn't a therapy or crisis service.

Taking part is voluntary. You don't have to do any of the trial activities, and you can stop at any time without giving a reason. If you complete the activities in section 6, we'll give you Founding Member Access as described in section 7.

3. Who can apply

To apply, you must:

  • be 18 or over;
  • live or work in [trial areas]; and
  • apply only once, for yourself.

When you create your account, we'll ask you to confirm your age. You can't take part without this. You can also choose to verify that your profile photo is really you.

We'll choose trial members from the applications we receive so that each area has a good mix of people, and we'll start people in waves. Applying doesn't guarantee you a place. We'll email you either way. If we offer you a place, we'll send you a personal invitation to create your account. Please don't pass it on.

4. Trial dates

The trial runs for 12 weeks from the start date in your invitation. We'll also invite you to a short follow-up survey six months after your start date. It isn't a condition of Founding Member Access, but it helps us a great deal.

5. How Tide House uses AI

Tide House uses AI, provided by Anthropic, in two places.

  • The coach. The coach helps you get to know yourself (your Blueprint) and think about your friendships. It isn't a therapist, it can't diagnose anything, and it never reads your messages with other members.
  • Matching. We use AI to suggest people and Circles that may suit you, based on what you've shared in your Blueprint. It never uses health information. During the trial, suggestions may reach you before a founder has looked at them. The founders check suggestions regularly and can withdraw one before you connect. You decide whether to accept any suggestion, and you can always question one and ask a person to look at it.

6. What we're asking you to do

To become a Founding Member, you need to complete the following by the end of week 12:

  • set up your profile and complete your Blueprint (the getting-to-know-you conversation with the coach) in your first week;
  • join at least 2 Circles;
  • go to at least 4 Gatherings in person;
  • meet at least 2 of your matches one to one;
  • start at least 1 Circle or host at least 1 Gathering;
  • give a quick rating in the app after each meet-up; and
  • complete the feedback check-ins in weeks 1, 6 and 12.

A few things to know:

  • Your safety comes first. You never have to meet anyone you don't want to, or meet someone again. If you leave a meet-up early because you feel uncomfortable, or you report someone, that meet-up still counts.
  • You never have to share health information, or anything else you'd rather keep private, to complete the trial.
  • If we can't offer you enough, that's on us, not you. If there aren't enough Circles, Gatherings or matches available to you to complete an activity in time, we'll count it as done.

You can track your progress in the app. If you're falling behind, we'll let you know by the end of week 8, and you'll have until the end of week 14 to catch up. If something serious happens during the trial, such as illness or bereavement, contact us and we'll pause your trial so you have more time.

7. What you get: Founding Member Access

If you complete everything in section 6, you'll receive Founding Member Access. This means free access to all features included in Tide House's standard paid membership, as we offer it from time to time, including new features we add to that membership in future, for as long as we operate Tide House. If we don't offer a paid membership, you'll have everything members get, free.

Founding Member Access:

  • is personal to you, for one account, and can't be transferred, sold or shared;
  • doesn't cover separately priced products or services, such as paid events, ticketed experiences, venue hire, food and drink, or access to any physical spaces Tide House may open;
  • doesn't cover anything charged by someone other than us;
  • ends if you delete your account;
  • ends if we close your account because of a serious breach of our Community Rules; and
  • ends if we stop operating Tide House, in which case no compensation is payable.

If Tide House is sold or transferred to someone else, we'll seek to have Founding Member Access honoured by the new operator.

Once you've earned Founding Member Access, we won't reduce what it covers except as set out above.

Taking part in the trial doesn't give you any shares or other interest in our company.

8. If you don't complete the activities

If you don't complete everything in section 6 by the end of week 14 (or a later date we've agreed with you), you won't receive Founding Member Access. You can keep your account and carry on using Tide House on our standard terms.

If we end the trial early for our own reasons, everyone who was on track to complete the activities at that point will receive Founding Member Access.

9. Meeting people safely

Tide House is about meeting people in real life, so please look after yourself.

  • Meet in a public place the first time you meet anyone, including your matches.
  • If you host a Gathering during the trial, please hold it somewhere public, such as a café, pub or park, rather than at home.
  • Tell someone you trust where you're going.
  • Leave if you feel uncomfortable.
  • Report anyone whose behaviour worries you, through the app or to [email protected]. You can also block anyone at any time. We aim to review urgent reports the same day.
  • If you're ever in danger, call 999.

We check that every trial member is 18 or over. Members can also choose to verify that their profile photo is really them: look for the "Photo verified" badge. You can ask to be matched one to one only with photo-verified members. We don't carry out criminal record or other background checks, so these checks can't tell you whether someone is safe. We're not responsible for how other members behave, but nothing in these terms limits our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, or for anything else the law doesn't allow us to limit.

Tide House isn't a therapy or crisis service. If you're struggling, please speak to your GP, or call Samaritans free on 116 123 at any hour.

10. Your feedback

Your feedback is the whole point of the trial, so please be honest, including when something doesn't work. By giving us feedback, ideas or suggestions, you agree that we can use them freely to develop Tide House, without paying you or crediting you. We won't publish anything that identifies you without asking you first.

If you give feedback through a conversation with the coach, only the summary and conversation you choose to send are shared with the founders. Your other conversations with the coach stay private.

11. Keeping the trial private

Tide House is still in development. Please don't share screenshots, recordings or details of how the app works publicly while the trial is running.

You're welcome to talk about your experience of meeting people. We'll never ask you to post about Tide House. If you choose to, please make clear that you've received a benefit from us. For example, start your post with "#ad" and say you're a Tide House trial member or Founding Member.

12. Community Rules

While you're taking part, our Community Rules apply. If you seriously or repeatedly break them, we may remove you from the trial and close your account.

13. Your data

We'll use your information as set out in our Privacy Notice, which explains what we collect, why, how long we keep it, and your rights. In short:

  • We use your application only to choose trial members and to contact you about the trial. If we don't offer you a place, we delete your application within 90 days of telling you, or after 12 months if you're on the waiting list. You can withdraw your application at any time by emailing us.
  • In the app, we'll ask your permission separately before using what you share for matching, and you can change your mind.
  • You can delete your account at any time. It's switched off straight away and permanently deleted after 14 days, apart from limited safety records described in the Privacy Notice.

14. Changes to the trial

We may need to change the details of the trial as it goes along, such as the Gatherings on offer or the way the app works. If we change anything in section 6 that makes it harder to complete, we'll tell you and it will only apply if you agree. We won't change section 7 or section 8 in a way that leaves you worse off.

15. Law

These terms are governed by the law of England and Wales. If you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland, you can also bring proceedings in your local courts.

Tide House is not a therapy or crisis service, and it is not a substitute for professional support. If you are struggling, please speak to your GP, or call Samaritans free on 116 123 at any hour.

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