Terms of Use

1. Subject Matter and Scope

These Terms of Use govern the contractual relationship between quik UG (haftungsbeschränkt) (hereinafter "quik", "we", or "us") and users (hereinafter "you" or "user") of the iOS application quik connect and the website quik-startup.com/connect.

quik connect is a personal CRM and network manager for iPhone that helps users actively and regularly nurture their professional and personal relationships. The app includes contact management, reminders, circles, gamification (streaks, XP, badges, leaderboard), and AI-powered conversation aids and news summaries.

By registering or first using the app you agree to these Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, you must not use the app.

These Terms of Use apply in addition to the Apple App Store Terms of Service. In case of conflict, the App Store rules prevail to the extent they are mandatorily applicable.

2. Registration and User Account

2.1 Requirements

Using quik connect requires registration. You must be at least 16 years old. Users under 18 require the consent of a parent or guardian.

The app is available exclusively for iOS (iPhone and iPad, iOS 16+).

2.2 Login Methods

Registration is possible via email and password, Apple Sign-In, or Google Sign-In. When registering with email and password, email verification is required before the app can be used in full. You are solely responsible for the security of your account.

2.3 Accuracy of Information

Profile information for the leaderboard (display name, industry, city, bio) is voluntary. You must not provide false, misleading, or third-party-infringing information. In particular, you must not use another person's name, brand, or identity as your display name.

2.4 Account Transfer

Your user account is personal and non-transferable. Sharing a single account among multiple persons is not permitted.

2.5 Account Deletion

You may permanently delete your account at any time (Settings → Delete Account). All stored data will be removed immediately and completely. Recovery is not possible afterwards.

3. Usage Rights and Licenses

3.1 License Grant

We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable right to use the quik connect app for your personal, non-commercial purposes in accordance with these Terms.

3.2 Ownership of the Software

The app, including all content, designs, texts, graphics, icons, AI systems, algorithms, and source code, is the property of quik UG (haftungsbeschränkt) and is protected by copyright and other intellectual property rights. No rights are granted beyond the license in § 3.1.

3.3 Feedback and Suggestions

By submitting feedback, suggestions, or ideas to us, you grant us a royalty-free, worldwide, non-exclusive, perpetual right to use them for improving the app. You retain copyright in your contributions; we are not obligated to implement them.

4. Permitted and Prohibited Use

4.1 Permitted Use

You may use quik connect for the following purposes:

• Personal management of professional and private contacts
• Use of all app features (contact management, circles, AI hooks, leaderboard, widgets) within these Terms
• Export of your own data pursuant to GDPR

4.2 Prohibited Use

You must not:

• Use the app for illegal, fraudulent, or harmful purposes
• Collect, store, or process other users' data without their consent
• Manipulate the leaderboard through automated scripts, bots, or other technical means to generate fake XP
• Post offensive, discriminatory, hateful, or otherwise unlawful content in your leaderboard profile
• Misuse AI features to generate spam, phishing messages, disinformation, or content that harms, discriminates against, or harasses third parties
• Reverse-engineer, decompile, disassemble, or create derivative works from the app
• Rent, lend, sell, sublicense, or otherwise commercially exploit the app
• Circumvent or disable security mechanisms of the app or its underlying infrastructure
• Send excessive requests to the AI API or use any mechanism to circumvent the monthly quota
• Create multiple accounts for the purpose of circumventing the monthly AI quota
• Enter contact data of third parties without their consent where this violates applicable data protection law

5. User Data and Content

5.1 Ownership of User Data

You retain full ownership of all data you enter into quik connect (contacts, notes, circles, etc.). We make no claim to your content.

5.2 License to Process

You grant us the right to process and store your data solely for the purpose of providing the app's features. Details are governed by the Privacy Policy.

5.3 Entry of Third-Party Data (Contacts)

When you enter contact data of other persons into quik connect, you are responsible for ensuring that this is done in compliance with applicable data protection law (in particular the GDPR). You are liable for any violations arising from data you store about third parties. quik connect is a personal relationship management tool, not a commercial database for third-party data processing.

5.4 Data Backup

Although we apply technical security measures, we recommend that you regularly export your data (Settings → Export Data). quik connect does not guarantee full data recovery following a technical error or account loss.

6. AI Features

6.1 Description

quik connect offers two AI-powered features based on the Claude language model by Anthropic PBC:

• Conversation hooks: Personalized conversation starters (1–2 sentences) based on your contact data and notes.
• Circle news summaries: Summaries of current public news articles on the topic you defined for a circle.

6.2 Monthly Quota

Each user is entitled to 30 AI requests per calendar month (conversation hooks and news summaries combined). The quota resets on the 1st of each month. Unused requests do not carry over. Internal processing steps (keyword generation, RSS fetches) are not counted against the quota.

We reserve the right to adjust the quota in the event of capacity constraints or misuse. Changes will be communicated with reasonable notice.

6.3 Data Sent to Anthropic

To generate AI content, the following data is transmitted to Anthropic PBC (USA): the circle name and circle topic, and, for conversation hooks, the contact's first name, relationship type, your notes about the contact, and the communication channel if set. Phone numbers, email addresses, and LinkedIn URLs are never transmitted to Anthropic. For full details, see the Privacy Policy.

6.4 Disclaimer for AI Output

AI-generated content consists of automated suggestions without any warranty of accuracy, completeness, or suitability for a specific purpose. quik connect accepts no liability for damages arising from the use of AI-generated content. You alone decide whether and how to use AI suggestions.

6.5 Prohibited AI Use

AI features may only be used for personal network building. Use for generating spam, mass-messaging, political campaigns, manipulation, or circumventing third-party anti-spam measures is expressly prohibited.

7. Leaderboard and Community Features

7.1 Voluntary Participation (Opt-in)

Participation in the global leaderboard is voluntary and opt-in. The leaderboard ranks users weekly by experience points (XP). XP are earned exclusively through genuine in-app activities (10 XP per contacted contact, with streak multiplier).

7.2 Public Visibility

Leaderboard data (display name, weekly XP, streak, level, and the optional fields industry, city, and bio) is visible to all logged-in app users. Please only enter information in your profile that you are comfortable sharing publicly.

7.3 Manipulation

Any manipulation of the leaderboard, streak system, or XP system through technical means, bots, code injection, or exploitation of software bugs is prohibited and will result in immediate account suspension.

7.4 Leagues

Users are automatically assigned to leagues based on their weekly XP (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond). League placement serves purely as a motivational game mechanic and does not constitute any claim or entitlement.

7.5 Moderation of Leaderboard Content

We reserve the right to remove or block leaderboard profiles, display names, industry entries, cities, or bio texts that violate these Terms, in particular the prohibition on offensive, discriminatory, or otherwise unlawful content (§ 4.2). The user will be notified where possible.

8. Availability, Updates, and Discontinuation

8.1 Availability

We strive for high availability of the app and backend services (Firebase, AI API, Brevo). However, there is no entitlement to uninterrupted availability. Planned maintenance, technical outages, or failures at third-party providers (Firebase, Anthropic, Brevo) may temporarily limit the usability of the app or specific features.

8.2 Updates

We reserve the right to update the app at any time, adding, changing, or removing features. Material feature changes will be announced in the app or by email. Updates are delivered via the Apple App Store.

8.3 Discontinuation

We may discontinue quik connect with at least 90 days' notice. In that event you will be notified by email and in-app message and will have the opportunity to export your data pursuant to Art. 20 GDPR.

8.4 Free of Charge

quik connect is currently free. Should a subscription or in-app purchase be introduced in the future, you will be informed with reasonable advance notice. Existing core features will not be placed behind a paywall without notice.

9. Liability and Warranties

9.1 Limitation of Liability

quik UG (haftungsbeschränkt) is liable without limitation for damages arising from injury to life, body, or health, and for intentional or grossly negligent conduct. Otherwise, liability is limited to typically foreseeable damage.

quik is liable for data loss only if the loss could not have been avoided with proper data backup by the user. We recommend regular use of the JSON export.

9.2 Third-Party Providers and External Content

quik is not responsible for content, outages, or data protection violations at third-party providers (in particular Firebase/Google, Anthropic, Apple, Brevo SAS). In particular, we accept no liability for:

• Data loss caused by outages or failures at Firebase (Google) or Anthropic
• Content from external news sources (Google News RSS and other public feeds) displayed via the circle news feature, such content originates from third parties and does not reflect the views of quik connect

The services of these providers are governed by their own terms of use and privacy policies. A full list of all third-party providers is available in the Privacy Policy.

9.3 AI Accuracy

AI-generated content (conversation hooks, news summaries) may be inaccurate, incomplete, or outdated. quik provides no warranty as to their accuracy or fitness for any particular purpose.

9.4 Disclaimer of Warranties

The app is provided "as is". We make no warranty that the app will be error-free, uninterrupted, or suitable for any specific purpose of the user.

10. Suspension and Termination

10.1 Termination by the User

You may delete your account at any time without giving reasons (Settings → Delete Account). The usage relationship ends upon deletion. All stored data is removed immediately and completely from Firebase, recovery is not possible.

10.2 Suspension and Termination by quik

We reserve the right to suspend or delete accounts if:

• You have violated these Terms or applicable law,
• Your account was used to manipulate the leaderboard or other app systems,
• Your account was used for spam, creation of offensive content, or other abusive activities,
• Your account has been completely inactive for more than 24 months and contains no data.

For serious violations, suspension may occur without prior notice. In less serious cases, we will notify you by email and give you an opportunity to respond before suspending.

10.3 Consequences of Termination

Upon account deletion the license under § 3.1 terminates immediately. All stored data is removed immediately and completely from Firebase. There is no right to restoration.

11. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms at any time. For material changes we will notify you at least 30 days in advance by email and/or in-app message. If you do not agree to the updated version, you have the right to delete your account before the changes take effect.

Continued use of the app after the changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the new terms. The current version is always available at quik-startup.com/connect/en/terms.

12. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

12.1 Governing Law

The law of the Federal Republic of Germany applies, excluding the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG). Mandatory consumer protection provisions of the country in which you are habitually resident remain unaffected.

12.2 Place of Jurisdiction

For merchants, legal entities under public law, or special public-law funds, the exclusive place of jurisdiction for all disputes arising from this agreement is Cologne. For consumers, the statutory rules on jurisdiction apply.

12.3 Online Dispute Resolution

The European Commission provides an online dispute resolution platform: ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr. We are neither obligated nor willing to participate in dispute resolution proceedings before a consumer arbitration board.

13. Severability

Should any provision of these Terms be or become invalid or unenforceable, the validity of the remaining provisions shall not be affected. The invalid provision shall be deemed replaced by an effective provision that most closely achieves the economic purpose of the invalid provision.

14. Contact

For questions about these Terms or the app, contact us at: