Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By downloading the Kukku app, creating an account, or using any part of our service, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use Kukku.

These Terms form a legally binding agreement between you and Kukku LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company. "Kukku," "we," "us," and "our" refer to Kukku LLC.

2. Eligibility

Consumers

You must be at least 13 years old to create a consumer account and use Kukku to browse and order food.

Cooks

You must be at least 18 years old to register as a cook and sell food on Kukku. By applying as a cook, you confirm that you are 18 or older.

All users

You must provide accurate information when creating your account. You may not create an account on behalf of someone else without their permission. You may not use Kukku if you have been previously banned from the platform.

3. Kukku's Role as a Marketplace

Each cook on Kukku is an independent individual, not an employee or agent of Kukku. Transactions are directly between cooks and consumers. Kukku facilitates the connection and payment, but is not a party to the sale of food.

Kukku does not endorse any specific cook, listing, or food product. We are not responsible for the quality, safety, legality, or accuracy of any food listed on the platform.

4. Your Account

You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account and password. Do not share your account credentials with others. You are responsible for all activity that occurs under your account.

If you believe your account has been compromised, contact us immediately at support@kukkuapp.com.

You may only have one account per person. Creating multiple accounts to circumvent a ban or restriction is prohibited.

5. Rules for Cooks

By registering as a cook on Kukku, you agree to:

Food safety and legal compliance

• Comply with all applicable food safety laws and regulations in your jurisdiction, including cottage food laws, home kitchen permits, and food handler certification requirements.
• In North Carolina (US): You are responsible for understanding and complying with the NC Cottage Food Law, which restricts sales to certain shelf-stable products.
• In Venezuela and Chile: You are responsible for complying with local food safety regulations applicable to home food production and sales.
• Accurately represent your food — ingredients, allergens, preparation methods, and storage requirements.
• Maintain a clean and sanitary kitchen environment.

Listings and orders

• Only list food that you personally prepare.
• Keep your listings accurate and up to date — remove or deactivate items you can no longer provide.
• Honor confirmed orders. Repeated cancellations may result in account suspension.
• Communicate promptly with consumers about their orders.
• Be available at the agreed pickup time or deliver within the agreed window.

Payments

• Set up your payment account (Stripe Connect for US, or Zelle for Venezuela) to receive payouts.
• Understand that Kukku retains a platform fee (see Section 8) from each transaction.

Identity

• Provide accurate identity information when onboarding. Kukku may request verification at any time.
• Be at least 18 years old.

6. Rules for Consumers

By using Kukku as a consumer, you agree to:

• Only place orders you intend to complete. Repeated no-shows may result in account restrictions.
• Pick up your order at the agreed time and location, or arrange delivery as specified by the cook.
• Pay for orders through the Kukku platform — not directly to cooks outside the app (this protects both you and the cook).
• Leave honest, fair reviews based on your actual experience.
• Communicate promptly with cooks about your orders.
• Accept that Kukku is not responsible for the food you purchase — you are buying directly from an independent home cook.

7. Prohibited Conduct

You may not use Kukku to:

• Post false, misleading, or fraudulent listings or reviews
• Sell food that contains illegal substances or that you know to be unsafe for consumption
• Harass, threaten, or abuse other users
• Circumvent the Kukku payment system to avoid platform fees
• Create fake accounts or impersonate other users
• Scrape, copy, or redistribute Kukku content without permission
• Attempt to hack, disrupt, or gain unauthorized access to the platform
• Use Kukku for any purpose that violates applicable law
• Solicit consumers to transact outside the Kukku platform

Violations may result in immediate account suspension or termination at Kukku's discretion.

8. Payments and Fees

Platform fee

Kukku charges a platform fee on each completed transaction. Current rates:

• United States: 15% of the food subtotal (delivery fees go 100% to the cook)
• Venezuela: 0% during the first 3 months after launch (launch incentive), then 12%
• Chile: 15% of the food subtotal

These rates may change. We will notify cooks at least 30 days before any fee increase takes effect.

US payments (Stripe)

US transactions are processed by Stripe. Cook payouts are handled through Stripe Connect. Stripe's fees apply in addition to the Kukku platform fee. Payouts are typically processed within 2–7 business days after an order is completed, subject to Stripe's schedule.

Venezuela payments (Zelle)

In Venezuela, consumers pay cooks directly via Zelle (USD). The cook confirms receipt of payment in the app. Platform fees are collected manually on a monthly basis by the Kukku Venezuela regional coordinator. Full payment terms are described in the Venezuela Cook Agreement provided at onboarding.

No chargebacks circumvention

If you dispute a charge with your bank or card issuer without first attempting to resolve it with Kukku, we reserve the right to suspend your account pending resolution.

9. Refunds and Disputes

Because Kukku involves perishable homemade food, our refund policy is as follows:

• Consumer no-show: No refund if the consumer fails to pick up at the agreed time without prior notice.
• Cook cancellation: If a cook cancels a confirmed order, the consumer receives a full refund.
• Food quality dispute: If you believe the food you received was unsafe, inaccurately described, or significantly different from the listing, contact us within 24 hours at support@kukkuapp.com. We will review the dispute and may issue a partial or full refund at our discretion.
• Order not received: If a pickup or delivery did not occur as arranged, contact us and we will investigate. Refunds for non-delivery are issued at Kukku's discretion based on the circumstances.

Refund decisions by Kukku are final during the MVP phase. A formal appeals process will be introduced in a future update.

10. Food Safety Disclaimer

Home cooks on Kukku are independent individuals who are solely responsible for ensuring their food is safe, legally compliant, and accurately represented. Kukku does not inspect kitchens, certify food handlers, or guarantee the safety of any food sold on the platform.

If you have severe food allergies, autoimmune conditions, or other health concerns that make consuming home-prepared food risky, please exercise caution and communicate directly with cooks about their preparation practices.

Kukku is not liable for any illness, injury, or harm resulting from food purchased through the platform.

11. Intellectual Property

Kukku's name, logo, app design, and original content are owned by Kukku LLC and protected by copyright and trademark law. You may not use Kukku's branding without written permission.

You retain ownership of content you create on Kukku (listings, photos, reviews). By posting content on Kukku, you grant Kukku a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to display, reproduce, and promote that content within the platform and in our marketing materials.

12. User Content

You are responsible for the content you post on Kukku, including listing descriptions, photos, and reviews. You represent that:

• You own or have the right to use all content you post
• Your content does not infringe any third-party rights
• Your content is accurate and not misleading
• Your content does not violate any applicable law

Kukku reserves the right to remove any content that violates these Terms or that we determine, in our sole discretion, is inappropriate for the platform.

13. Third-Party Services

Kukku uses third-party services including Stripe (payments), Firebase (infrastructure), and Google (authentication). Your use of these services is subject to their respective terms and privacy policies. Kukku is not responsible for the performance, availability, or policies of any third-party service.

14. Disclaimers

Kukku is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, express or implied. We do not warrant that:

• The platform will be uninterrupted, error-free, or secure
• Any food listed on the platform is safe, accurately described, or fit for consumption
• Any cook or consumer will fulfill their obligations
• Results from using the platform will meet your expectations

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Kukku disclaims all implied warranties, including merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.

15. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Kukku LLC and its members, officers, and employees shall not be liable for:

• Any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
• Any loss of profits, revenue, data, or goodwill
• Any illness, injury, or property damage resulting from food purchased through the platform
• Any damages arising from your reliance on any content posted by users

In no event shall Kukku's total liability to you exceed the greater of (a) the total fees paid by you to Kukku in the 12 months preceding the claim, or (b) $100 USD.

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of certain damages, so the above limitation may not apply to you in full.

16. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Kukku LLC and its affiliates, officers, and employees from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from:

• Your use of the Kukku platform
• Your violation of these Terms
• Any food you sell through the platform as a cook
• Any content you post on the platform
• Your violation of any applicable law or third-party rights

17. Dispute Resolution

Governing law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of North Carolina, USA, without regard to its conflict-of-law provisions.

Informal resolution first

Before filing any formal legal claim against Kukku, you agree to first contact us at support@kukkuapp.com and give us 30 days to attempt to resolve the dispute informally.

Arbitration

If informal resolution fails, disputes shall be resolved by binding arbitration in Wake County, North Carolina, under the American Arbitration Association's Consumer Arbitration Rules, except that either party may bring an individual claim in small claims court.

Class action waiver

You waive any right to participate in a class action lawsuit or class-wide arbitration against Kukku.

18. Termination

You may delete your account at any time through the app settings or by contacting us.

Kukku may suspend or terminate your account at any time, with or without notice, for violations of these Terms, fraudulent activity, or any conduct we determine to be harmful to the platform or its users.

Upon termination, your right to use Kukku ends immediately. Sections that by their nature should survive termination (including liability limitations, disclaimers, and dispute resolution) will survive.

19. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes through the app or by email at least 14 days before they take effect. Continued use of Kukku after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

If you do not agree to the updated Terms, you must stop using Kukku and may delete your account.

20. Contact Us

For questions about these Terms or any other matter:

Kukku LLC
North Carolina, USA
Email: support@kukkuapp.com
Website: kukkuapp.com