General Terms of Service — Zenzo Connect

IMPORATANT

PLEASE READ THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS (COLLECTIVELY "AGREEMENTS") CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THIS APPLICATION. BY USING THIS APPLICATION, YOU ARE AGREEING TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THESE AGREEMENTS.

General Terms of Service

Effective Date: January 1, 2025

Welcome to Zenzo Connect. Zimba App, LLC ("Zimba") creates technologies and services that empower immigrants to connect, build strong communities, and grow successful businesses --- wherever they are in the world. These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the Zenzo Connect App, as well as all other products, websites, features, apps, services, software, and technologies we provide (collectively, the "Products"), except where we explicitly state that separate terms apply.

These Terms form a binding agreement between you and Zimba App, LLC. If you do not agree to these Terms, you should not access or use Zenzo Connect or any of our related Products.

Use of Zenzo Connect

We do not charge users to access Zenzo Connect or the related services, unless stated otherwise. Instead, we fund our platform through businesses, organizations, and individuals who pay us to display ads and sponsored content. By using our Products, you agree that we may show you ads tailored to your interests and activities.

To do this, we use your personal data --- such as your interactions on the platform and preferences --- to help determine which ads may be relevant to you. For example, if you frequently engage with posts about community events, you may see promotions for similar local events or services near you.

Privacy and Advertising

We take your privacy seriously:

We do not sell your personal data to advertisers.
We do not share information that directly identifies you (like your name or email address) with advertisers unless you give us explicit permission.
Advertisers tell us the type of audience they want to reach (for example, "parents living in Massachusetts who are interested in educational services"), and we show their ads to people who may match those criteria.

We also provide advertisers with summary reports --- such as how many people viewed or clicked on an ad --- to help them understand how their content is performing.

Your Control and Privacy Settings

You have control over your data. At any time, you can visit your privacy settings within the Zenzo Connect App to review and adjust your preferences, including:

What types of personal data we use to personalize your experience
What kind of ads you see
Your communication preferences

For more details on how we collect, use, and protect your information, and how ads work on Zenzo Connect, please see Section 2 and our Privacy Policy.

1. The services we provide

At Zenzo Connect, our mission is to connect immigrant and diaspora communities across the world, helping them support one another, grow their businesses, and thrive. To advance this mission, we offer the following services:

1.1 Personalized Experiences Just for You

Your experience on Zenzo Connect is unique. The stories, events, business posts, community resources, and even ads you see in your app feed or on our social media pages are personalized just for you.

For example, if you frequently engage with posts about small business opportunities or send messages to users in your home country, we may show you more of that type of content. We use the data you share --- like the groups you join, your app settings, and how you interact with posts --- to customize your experience and make the platform more relevant to your needs.

1.2 Helping You Connect With People and Organizations That Matter

Whether you're new to a city or looking to reconnect with your roots, Zenzo helps you find and build meaningful relationships. We suggest:

Community groups to join
Events that might interest you (like diaspora gatherings or cultural festivals)
Local service providers (such as a Ugandan hair braider in Boston or a Rwandan accountant in Dallas)
Friends or family you may know

The stronger your network, the stronger your community --- and that's what Zenzo is all about.

1.3 Empowering You to Share Your Voice

We make it easy to express yourself --- whether it's sharing a family moment, promoting your new business, or starting a community discussion. You can:

Post stories, photos, or videos
Create or join events
Start groups for common interests (like "Kenyans in New England" or "African Youth Entrepreneurs")
Track engagement to see how others interact with your content

Zenzo is your digital space to be heard, seen, and understood.

1.4 Discovering Opportunities and Services Relevant to You

From ads for immigration lawyers to local African restaurants, Zenzo helps you discover services that matter --- both near you and far away. We may show:

Sponsored posts from diaspora businesses
Offers on services like money transfers, tutoring, or daycare
Ads for products you've expressed interest in, like cultural attire or travel deals

All tailored to your preferences and community needs. (More on how ads work in Section 2.)

1.5 Keeping You and the Community Safe

Safety is a priority. We work hard to make sure Zenzo Connect remains a secure space by:

Monitoring for harmful or abusive content
Responding to user reports
Removing or restricting access to accounts violating our policies
Partnering with service providers and even law enforcement when necessary

For example, if we detect scams targeting immigrant users or hate speech in a group, we take immediate action. We also share safety-related data with our trusted Zimba partner services --- such as those offering financial or legal help --- to protect you and ensure compliance with applicable laws.

1.6 Using Advanced Technology to Serve Everyone

We use artificial intelligence and machine learning to:

Spot harmful behavior automatically (e.g., fraud attempts or fake profiles)
Help users of different abilities navigate the platform
Provide reliable services even in areas with limited internet access

For instance, our systems can flag suspicious activity from someone pretending to be a government official, helping you avoid scams.

1.7 Research ways to make our services better:

We engage in research to develop, test, and improve our Products. This includes analyzing data we have about our users and understanding how people use our Products, for example by conducting surveys and testing and troubleshooting new features.

1.8 Seamless Experience Across the App

We want your experience to feel smooth and consistent --- whether you're chatting with someone in your new city or connecting with a cousin back home.

For example, if you attend a "Diaspora Business Networking" event in the app, you might later receive connection suggestions with attendees or local vendors you met.

1.9 Global Access to Services and Data

To connect communities across continents, we use secure global infrastructure to store and manage data. This allows you to:

Stay connected with people regardless of time zone
Access the same experience whether you're in Nairobi, London, or Boston

Your data may be stored in or transmitted through data centers operated by Zimba App, LLC or its affiliates around the world --- all with security and compliance in mind.

2. How Our Services Are Funded

At Zenzo Connect, our goal is to keep the platform free for everyone in the diaspora community. Instead of charging you to use the app, we fund our services through personalized ads and sponsored content from businesses, organizations, and individuals who want to reach people like you --- both in your current location and in other countries.

Why You See Ads on Zenzo Connect

By using Zenzo Connect, you agree that we can show you ads and sponsored content that we think may be relevant to your needs, interests, and community. For example:

You might see an ad for a Kenyan-owned catering service in your U.S. city.
Or a sponsored post from a Rwandan real estate company offering homes for sale back home.
You may also see offers from immigration consultants, remittance services, or local African markets.

These ads help us keep the platform running, while also helping you discover businesses and services that support your community.

How We Use Your Data to Personalize Ads (While Respecting Your Privacy)

To show you more relevant ads, we may use data such as:

Your location (e.g., Boston or Toronto)
Your activity on Zenzo (e.g., joining a Ugandan parenting group or searching for home repair services)
Your interests (e.g., attending diaspora networking events, or following pages related to farming, travel, or business)

Important: We never sell your personal data. Advertisers don't see your name, email address, or anything that identifies you unless you explicitly give permission.

For example:

An advertiser might say, "I want to reach women aged 25--45 living in Massachusetts who are interested in East African food."
Zenzo then shows that ad to people who fit that description --- without revealing their identity to the advertiser.

What We Share With Advertisers

We provide general reports to advertisers so they understand how their ads are performing, such as:

How many people saw or clicked on an ad
Broad demographic info like "many users searching for daycare services are parents of young children in the U.S."
Popular searches in a community (e.g., "cheap money transfers to Ghana" or "barbershops near Lowell, MA")

We do not share personally identifiable information (like your name or contact info) unless you specifically allow it --- such as when you fill out a form or message a business directly.

You're in Control

You have tools and settings that allow you to:

Choose the types of ads you want to see
Limit the kind of data we use to show ads
Manage your ad preferences directly within the Zenzo Connect App

This gives you more control over your experience, while still allowing us to serve the diaspora community without charging a fee.

3. Your Commitments to Zenzo Connect and Our Community

Zenzo Connect exists to bring together diaspora communities, helping people support one another, build networks, grow businesses, and thrive. In return, we ask that you commit to using our services responsibly and respectfully. Here's what that means:

3.1 Who Can Use Zenzo Connect

Zenzo Connect is a platform built on trust. To keep our community safe and accountable, we require users to:

Use your real name, the one you use in daily life.
Provide accurate and honest information when creating your account.
Create and manage only one personal account, unless we give you permission otherwise.
Keep your login information private and do not share your account access with others.

For example: If your name is Samuel Njoroge, please avoid creating an account under "BigBoss254" just to hide your identity. We want real people building real connections.

You may not use Zenzo Connect if:

You are under 13 years old.
You are a convicted sex offender.
Your previous Zenzo account was permanently disabled due to violations of our Terms or Community Guidelines.
You are legally prohibited from accessing our services under relevant laws (e.g., international sanctions or export restrictions).

If your account is disabled for serious violations, do not attempt to create another without our written permission.

3.2 What You Can Share and Do on Zenzo Connect

We encourage you to use Zenzo to connect with your community, express yourself, and share meaningful content. But we also need to ensure that the platform stays respectful, safe, and inclusive for everyone.

You agree not to post or support any content or activity that:

Violates these Terms or other applicable rules.
Is illegal, misleading, fraudulent, or promotes discrimination or hate.
You do not own or have legal rights to share (e.g., reposting someone else's copyrighted music or photos without permission).
Infringes on someone else's rights, such as intellectual property or privacy rights.
Distributes fake products, pirated goods, or promotes scams.

Example: Posting a fake visa agent promising "green cards in 5 days" could lead to content removal and account suspension.

You also agree not to:

Upload viruses or harmful code.
Use the app to send spam messages or phishing attempts.
Overload our systems or disrupt services for others (e.g., using bots to mass message users).
Try to access other people's data without permission or use unauthorized tools to scrape content.
Sell or trade user data from Zenzo without explicit consent.
Abuse our reporting system by making false or repetitive complaints.

Example: Repeatedly flagging a legitimate post from a community-owned restaurant just because you disagree with their content is considered misuse.

We may remove posts or suspend accounts that engage in harmful or abusive behavior. If your content is taken down, we'll generally notify you and offer options for review --- unless:

You've repeatedly violated our rules, or
Legal, security, or technical reasons prevent us from doing so.

3.3 Fighting Misinformation and Protecting the Community

We collaborate with independent fact-checkers to combat misinformation. If a post is flagged as misleading (e.g., "drinking hot lemon water cures COVID"), we may add a warning or reduce its visibility.

If your rights are being violated --- for example, if someone impersonates you, posts harmful rumors, or steals your original content --- you can report it to us. We will investigate and take appropriate action.

We also reserve the right to remove or limit access to content or features when needed to:

Prevent harm or abuse,
Meet legal requirements,
Protect users, or
Avoid reputational risks for the Zenzo community.

Zenzo Connect is stronger when everyone feels safe, respected, and supported. By following these commitments, you help create a platform where immigrants and diaspora members around the world can thrive together.

IMPORTANT NOTE: All posts are reviewed and approved by Zenzo App administrators before appearing in the feed. Once a user submits a post, it undergoes a verification process to ensure it complies with our community guidelines. This review typically takes a minimum of 5 minutes, after which approved posts will be published in their respective category and the general feed.

3.3 The Permissions You Give Us

To provide you with a smooth, personalized, and secure experience on Zenzo Connect, we need a few permissions from you. These allow us to offer and improve our services, while still respecting your rights and privacy.

1. You Own Your Content

When you create and share original content on Zenzo Connect --- such as a family photo, a video of your cultural celebration, or your personal story about starting a business in the diaspora --- you keep full ownership of that content. If it's protected under copyright or trademark law, those rights stay with you.

Example: If you upload a video of your community's Independence Day celebration, it's still your video. You can share it elsewhere, delete it, or do whatever you choose with it.

2. License to Use Your Content (So We Can Show and Improve Our Services)

Although you own your content, we need your permission (a license) to use it so we can provide and improve Zenzo Connect. That license allows us to:

Host it on our servers
Display it in your feed or other people's feeds
Translate it for users in different regions
Use it to create promotional materials or educational content (always consistent with your privacy settings)

Example: If you post a picture of your new East African restaurant in Atlanta, we might show that post in a "Recommended Businesses Near You" section to other users nearby --- helping you grow your business while keeping the post connected to you.

This license is:

Non-exclusive (you can share it elsewhere),
Transferable (so we can work with partners to deliver the service),
Royalty-free (we don't pay you for it),
Worldwide (so users around the world can view and engage with it).

This license ends when you delete your content or account, subject to the conditions described below.

3. Deleting Your Content

You can delete individual posts (photos, videos, stories, etc.) anytime. If you delete your account, all your personal content will be removed from your profile.

However, content you posted in shared albums, community groups, or as an admin of a page may still be visible to other users, unless they also delete it.

Deletion Timeline:

When you delete something, it enters "trash" and begins the deletion process after 30 days unless you delete it sooner.
After deletion, it may take up to 90 days to fully remove it from our backups and recovery systems.

Exceptions (When Content Might Be Kept Temporarily)

We may delay deletion in limited situations, including:

If someone else is still using your content (e.g., a shared post in a group),
If deletion isn't yet possible due to technical system limits (we'll remove it as soon as we can),
To investigate illegal activity or violations of our policies (e.g., fraud or hate speech),
To comply with legal obligations (e.g., requests from law enforcement),
To protect users and the community from potential harm or threats.

In all these cases, the license to use your content remains valid only as long as needed to fulfill those purposes --- and never longer than necessary.

4. Permission to Use Your Name and Profile in Ads (With Control)

You give us permission to show your name, profile photo, and interactions (likes, follows, comments) alongside sponsored content that your friends or other users might see --- but only within the visibility settings you've chosen.

Example: If you like an Account on Zenzo for a financial literacy workshop for immigrants, your friends may see an ad that says, "Brian N. likes Immigrant Finance Workshop" --- but only if they already have permission to see that you liked the page.

You can manage these settings anytime in your Ad Preferences on the app.

5. Permission to Update Software

When you download or use Zenzo Connect's mobile app or software, you agree to let us automatically install updates and upgrades --- including performance improvements, bug fixes, and security patches.

Example: If we release a new feature like in-app voice translation for multilingual users, we may update your app version so you can access it.

These permissions help us keep Zenzo Connect safe, reliable, and personalized --- for you and for all members of our global diaspora community.

3.4 Limits on Using Our Intellectual Property

At Zenzo Connect, we provide various features and design elements to help you express yourself and connect with your community --- including images, icons, sounds, layout designs, and in-app tools. These materials are part of our intellectual property and are protected by copyright, trademark, and other laws.

What This Means for You

You may use Zenzo's tools --- like a background image, emoji sticker, or audio clip --- to enhance your posts, stories, or business listings. However, this does not mean you own those features or can use them outside of Zenzo Connect without permission.

For example:

If you use a Zenzo-branded filter to create a video promoting your local catering business, you can post and share that video on Zenzo --- but you can't sell or repackage our design as your own.
If Zenzo provides a sound effect for posts (like a drumbeat or cultural greeting), you may use it inside the app, but not extract it and publish it elsewhere without our permission.

What You Can't Do Without Permission

Unless we specifically say otherwise, you may not:

Copy or reuse our logos, branding, or design elements on other platforms or websites
Modify or republish Zenzo's original artwork, templates, or media
Translate, reverse-engineer, or tamper with our app's software to try to access our source code
Create products or apps that imitate Zenzo's core look, functionality, or features

Example: If someone builds an app that mimics Zenzo's exact layout and calls it "Zenzo Global," that's a violation of our rights and can lead to legal action.

How to Request Permission

If you want to use any of Zenzo's content --- like logos for a community flyer or a screenshot of the app in a tutorial --- please contact us for written permission. In some cases, we may also license certain assets under open-source agreements, and we'll let you know when that applies.

Bottom Line

While we encourage you to enjoy and share your Zenzo experience, all content created by Zenzo App, LLC remains the property of Zimba. We reserve all rights not expressly granted to you under these Terms.

By respecting our intellectual property, you help us maintain a trusted platform where communities can grow and thrive.

4. Additional Provisions

4.1 Updates to Our Terms

Zenzo Connect is constantly evolving to better serve immigrant communities. As we add new features --- like job boards, language translation tools, or community safety alerts --- we may need to update our Terms to reflect these improvements and ensure legal compliance.

We'll notify you before any significant changes take effect and give you the chance to review them. If you continue using Zenzo Connect after an update, it means you accept the new terms.

If you don't agree with the updated Terms, you can stop using the platform and delete your account at any time.

4.2 Account Suspension or Termination

We want Zenzo Connect to be a safe space where people can share, connect, and thrive. But we reserve the right to suspend or delete your account if you:

Repeatedly violate our Terms or community guidelines (e.g., sharing hate speech, scams, or fake documents)
Infringe on someone else's intellectual property (like uploading copyrighted music or stolen business logos)
Use the platform for fraud or misleading activity (e.g., impersonating a government official)

We may also remove accounts that:

Are left inactive for long periods,
Are never confirmed after sign-up,
Appear to be accessed by someone other than the rightful owner

Whenever possible, we'll notify you of the reason and your options for appeal. However, if doing so puts others at risk, violates a legal obligation, or affects the security of our systems, we may act without prior notice.

If your account is deleted --- either by you or by us --- our agreement ends, but certain sections (like how we handle disputes or limits on liability) will still apply.

4.3 Limitations of Liability

While we work hard to keep Zenzo Connect safe and useful, we can't promise it will always be perfect. For example, there may be occasional outages, delays in loading posts, or errors in translation tools.

To the fullest extent permitted by law:

We don't make guarantees that Zenzo will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free.
We're not responsible for the actions or content of other users --- whether someone posts offensive material or spreads false information.
We won't be liable for lost income, missed opportunities, or any indirect damages --- for example, if a job listing disappears, or an event invite doesn't go through.

If you ever need to take legal action, our liability to you will be limited to the greater of $100 or the amount you've paid us in the last 12 months (if any).

4.4 Dispute Resolution

If there's a serious disagreement between you and Zimba App, LLC about these Terms or your use of Zenzo Connect, it will be handled through the legal system.

All legal claims must be resolved in a court located in Boston, Massachusettes, or the under the laws of the State of Massachusettes.

However, Zimba may also choose to pursue action in the country where you live --- for example, if you're based in Kenya or Canada --- if that's more appropriate.

4.5 Miscellaneous Provisions

Supplemental Terms

Some features --- like business tools, sponsored posts, or community moderation --- may have their own additional rules. For example:

If you run a group for "Nigerians in Boston" and promote products, you may need to follow our Commercial Use Terms.
If you use our AI translation tool, you agree to the AI Features Terms.
If you sell products through Zenzo's digital marketplace, you'll need to comply with our Marketplace Guidelines.

If there's ever a conflict between these extra rules and the main Terms, the supplemental ones will apply for that feature.

Severability

If a part of these Terms is found to be legally unenforceable, the rest still applies. If we don't enforce a rule at a certain time, it doesn't mean we waive our rights to do so later.

No Transfer

You can't transfer your Zenzo Connect account or rights under these Terms to someone else --- for example, giving your account to a relative --- without our written permission.

Legacy Contact

You can choose a trusted person (like a sibling or close friend) to manage your Zenzo Connect account in the event of your death or incapacity. This "legacy contact" would be able to preserve your profile or manage farewell posts, if you've set that up in your settings.

No Third-Party Beneficiaries

These Terms are between you and Zenzo App, LLC. No one else (like a friend or business partner) has any automatic rights under these Terms.

Username Changes

We may occasionally need to change your username --- for example, if someone else has a legal claim to it or if it's not related to your real name or community identity.

Feedback

We love hearing your ideas! If you send us feedback, suggestions, or feature requests --- like "Add a jobs board for Caribbean immigrants" --- we may use your input freely, without any obligation to pay or credit you. We are also not required to keep feedback confidential.

5. Other Policies That May Apply

Here are other policies and terms you may come across depending on how you use Zenzo Connect:

Community Guidelines: For posting and behavior rules
Business & Advertising Terms: If you promote or sell anything
Payment Terms: If you send or receive payments
Goods Marketing Guidelines: For listing goods or services
Music Usage Policy: If you upload music
Ad Content Policies: For sponsors and ad creators
Group & Page Admin Rules: If you manage a group or run an event
Developer API Terms: If you build apps or integrate Zenzo with tools
Trademark & Branding Policy: If you use Zenzo's name, logo, or visuals
Generative AI Terms: If you use our AI tools (e.g., for translations or content creation)

Let us know if you have any questions --- we're here to support you and your journey through the Zenzo Connect community!