Terms of Use

1. Introduction and Acceptance

These Terms of Use (“Terms”) constitute a legally binding agreement between you (“you,” “your,” or “user”) and Shiminly Inc. (“Shiminly,” “we,” “our,” or “us”), a company incorporated in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with its registered office at 293 Boston Post Road, Suite 301, Marlborough, MA 01752, USA.

By accessing or using shiminly.com, courses.shiminly.com, or any related services, you agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy (shiminly.com/privacy-policy/). If you do not agree, please do not use our services.

These Terms apply to all visitors, students, parents, guardians, educators, and institutional users of our platforms.

2. Our Services

Shiminly provides accredited, self-paced human skills education programs through two connected platforms:

• shiminly.com (“Marketing Site”): Our public website where you learn about programs, sign up for free trial lessons, request demos, explore course information, and access pricing.
• courses.shiminly.com (“Course Platform”): Our learning platform powered by LearnWorlds, where enrolled students create accounts, make payments, access lessons, complete assessments, earn certificates, and receive life skills reports generated through our proprietary NovaTrax platform.

2.1 Programs Offered

Shiminly offers the following programs for individual students:

• Human Skills Foundations (K–12): $159 per age group. 7 units, 21 lessons, 21 hours of guided learning. Available in four age-differentiated tracks: Ages 7–9, Ages 10–12, Ages 13–15, and Ages 16–18. Each age group is a separate purchase. Includes interactive activities, reflective prompts, comprehension quizzes, life skills reports, and 7 certificates of completion. 12-month access from date of enrollment.
• Career Ready Skills (Higher Education): $129. 12 units, 36 lessons, approximately 18 hours. Covers communication, interviewing, leadership, financial literacy, AI readiness, and workplace skills. Includes accredited certificate and LinkedIn digital badge. Pre and post assessments included.
• Professional Ready Skills (Higher Education): $129. 12 units, 36 lessons, approximately 18 hours. Covers collaboration, critical thinking, professionalism, and advanced workplace capabilities. Includes accredited certificate and LinkedIn digital badge. Pre and post assessments included.
• Professional Development for Educators: $99. 5 self-paced lessons, approximately 5 hours. Includes practical classroom activities, accredited PD certificate, and digital badge. Lifetime access.
• Free Trial Lesson: $0. One introductory lesson per program available at no cost, no credit card required.

For schools, colleges, universities, and institutions, Shiminly offers volume licensing with custom pricing, administrative dashboards, student tracking, accreditation integration, co-branding options, and dedicated support. Institutional agreements are governed by separate contracts.

3. Eligibility and Age Requirements

Our programs are designed for learners ages 7 and older.

• Children Under 13 (COPPA, GDPR, DPDPA): A parent or legal guardian must create the account, provide verifiable consent, and manage the child’s access. Children under 13 may not create accounts independently. By enrolling a child under 13, the parent or guardian represents that they have the legal authority to consent on behalf of the child and agrees to these Terms on the child’s behalf.
• Children Under 18 in India (DPDPA): The DPDPA defines children as persons under 18. Verifiable parental consent is required for all Indian users under 18.
• Children 13–17 (General): Minors ages 13–17 may create accounts with parental knowledge and consent, except where local law requires parental consent up to age 18.
• Adults (18+): Adults may use the platform without restrictions and are responsible for their own account.

By using our services, you represent that you meet the applicable age requirements or have obtained the necessary parental or guardian consent.

4. Account Registration

To access paid programs, you must create an account on courses.shiminly.com. You agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete registration information
• Maintain and promptly update your account information
• Keep your password secure and confidential
• Accept responsibility for all activity under your account
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorized use

Shiminly reserves the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms or are used fraudulently.

5. Payment Terms

All program fees are displayed on shiminly.com/pricing/ and quoted in US dollars.

• One-Time Payment: All programs are one-time purchases, not subscriptions. No recurring charges.
• Payment Processing: Payments are processed securely through Stripe or PayPal on courses.shiminly.com. Shiminly does not store credit card information directly. Both processors are PCI DSS compliant.
• Pricing Changes: Shiminly may change pricing at any time. Changes do not affect existing enrollments.
• Taxes: Stated prices may not include applicable taxes. You are responsible for any taxes in your jurisdiction.
• Currency: All prices are in US dollars. Currency conversion rates for international purchases are determined by your payment provider.

6. Refund Policy

Shiminly offers a 14-day full refund guarantee on all programs.

• If you are not satisfied for any reason, request a full refund within 14 days of purchase
• No questions asked. No forms required
• Send refund requests to courses@shiminly.com with your name, email, and program purchased
• Refunds are processed to the original payment method within 5–10 business days
• After 14 days, purchases are final and non-refundable
• Free trial lessons are free and require no refund

This policy applies equally to all programs: K–12 ($159), Career Ready ($129), Professional Ready ($129), and Professional Development ($99).

7. Access and Duration

• K–12 Full Program: 12 months from enrollment.
• Career Ready Skills: 12 months from enrollment.
• Professional Ready Skills: 12 months from enrollment.
• Professional Development: Lifetime access.
• Free Trial Lesson: Unlimited access to the free trial lesson.

After your access period expires, you will no longer be able to access lesson content. Certificates and badges earned remain valid and downloadable. If you need additional time, contact courses@shiminly.com.

8. Certificates and Digital Badges

• Accreditation: Certificates are backed by WASC and Cognia accreditation.
• Digital Badges: Career Ready and Professional Ready programs include LinkedIn-ready digital badges through a globally recognized credentialing platform.
• K–12 Certificates: 7 individual certificates, one per unit completed.
• Validity: As stated on shiminly.com/certification-and-badges/.
• Requirements: Certificates require completion of all lessons, activities, and assessments. Partial completion does not qualify.

Shiminly reserves the right to revoke certificates obtained through fraud, misrepresentation, or Terms violations.

9. Intellectual Property

All content, materials, and technology on shiminly.com and courses.shiminly.com are the exclusive property of Shiminly Inc. or its licensors, including:

• All course content, lesson materials, scenarios, activities, assessments, and quizzes
• The REAL Framework methodology
• The NovaTrax assessment and reporting platform
• Life skills reports, assessment tools, and reporting formats
• Website design, graphics, logos, and branding
• Software, code, and technology

You are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and use content for personal educational purposes only. You may not:

• Copy, reproduce, distribute, or republish any course content
• Modify, adapt, or create derivative works from our materials
• Use content for commercial purposes, including teaching or reselling
• Share account credentials or allow others to access your account
• Download, screen-capture, or record lesson content for redistribution
• Reverse-engineer any technology or platform features

10. Acceptable Use

You agree not to:

• Use the service for any unlawful purpose
• Impersonate any person or entity
• Submit false, misleading, or inaccurate information
• Attempt unauthorized access to any part of the platform
• Interfere with or disrupt the platform or servers
• Use automated tools to access or scrape content
• Harass, abuse, or harm other users
• Upload or transmit viruses, malware, or harmful code

Violations may result in immediate account suspension or termination without refund.

11. Disclaimers

11.1 Educational Content Only

Our services are not a substitute for:

• Professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment
• Psychological counselling or therapy
• Legal, financial, or career advice from licensed professionals
• Special education services or clinical interventions

If you or your child require professional support, consult a qualified professional.

11.2 No Guarantee of Outcomes

Shiminly does not guarantee specific outcomes including academic performance, employment, career advancement, or behavioral changes. Results depend on individual effort, engagement, and circumstances.

11.3 Platform Availability

We strive for continuous availability but do not guarantee uninterrupted access. Services may be temporarily unavailable for maintenance, updates, or circumstances beyond our control.

11.4 Third-Party Content and Services

Our platforms may contain links to third-party websites or integrate with third-party services. Shiminly is not responsible for the content, privacy practices, or availability of third-party services.

12. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Shiminly Inc., its officers, directors, employees, and agents shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of our services, including loss of data, revenue, or service interruption.

Shiminly’s total liability for any claim shall not exceed the amount you paid to Shiminly in the 12 months preceding the claim.

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of certain damages. In such jurisdictions, our liability is limited to the maximum extent permitted by law.

13. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Shiminly Inc., its officers, directors, employees, and agents from claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, or expenses arising from your use of our services, your violation of these Terms, or your violation of any third-party rights.

14. Privacy

Your privacy is governed by our Privacy Policy at shiminly.com/privacy-policy/. By using our services, you consent to the practices described therein, including data collection on both shiminly.com and courses.shiminly.com, and processing by third-party service providers as detailed in the Privacy Policy.

15. Third-Party Services

Our platforms integrate with third-party services including LearnWorlds, Stripe, PayPal, HubSpot, SendGrid, Google Analytics, and Facebook (Meta). Your use of these services is subject to their respective terms and privacy policies. Shiminly is not responsible for third-party practices.

16. Institutional Use

When Shiminly is used by schools, colleges, universities, or other institutions:

• Institutional agreements govern the relationship and may include additional terms
• Shiminly complies with FERPA and acts as a school official with legitimate educational interest
• Shiminly complies with applicable state student privacy laws as described in our Privacy Policy
• Student data is used solely for the educational purposes specified in the institutional agreement
• Institutional administrators have access to student progress, assessment, and reporting data through NovaTrax

Contact legal@shiminly.com for institutional agreements and compliance documentation.

17. International Users

Shiminly serves users in 20+ countries. If you are accessing our services from outside the United States:

• You are responsible for compliance with local laws regarding the use of online educational services
• Your personal data may be transferred to and processed in the United States, subject to the safeguards described in our Privacy Policy
• EU/EEA users are protected under GDPR provisions (Privacy Policy Section 12)
• Indian users are protected under DPDPA provisions (Privacy Policy Section 13)
• UAE users are protected under PDPL provisions (Privacy Policy Section 14)
• Users in Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and other jurisdictions are protected under the applicable frameworks described in Privacy Policy Section 17

18. Accessibility

Shiminly is committed to making its platforms and educational content accessible to all learners, including those with disabilities.

• We strive to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards across shiminly.com and courses.shiminly.com
• We are continuously working to improve the accessibility of our platforms and course content
• Course materials are designed to be compatible with assistive technologies including screen readers, keyboard navigation, and alternative input devices
• We provide text alternatives for non-text content where feasible
• We accommodate reasonable requests for alternative formats of course materials

If you experience any accessibility barriers or need content in an alternative format, please contact accessibility@shiminly.com. We will make reasonable efforts to address your needs within 10 business days.

For institutional partners, we provide a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) and detailed accessibility documentation upon request. Contact legal@shiminly.com.

19. Equal Access and Non-Discrimination

Shiminly provides equal access to its educational programs and services regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, religion, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

We do not discriminate in enrollment, course access, certification, pricing, or customer support. Our programs are designed to be culturally inclusive and appropriate for learners across diverse backgrounds and geographies.

For institutional partners, Shiminly supports compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, Title IX, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as applicable.

If you believe you have been discriminated against in connection with our services, contact legal@shiminly.com.

20. Content Safety and Safeguarding

20.1 Educational Content Standards

All Shiminly course content is developed by qualified educators and reviewed for age-appropriateness, cultural sensitivity, and alignment with recognized educational frameworks (CASEL, OECD 2030, World Economic Forum future skills). Content undergoes editorial review before publication.

20.2 Student Responses and Reflections

Some lessons include reflective prompts and activities where students write personal responses. These responses are:

• Stored securely and accessible only to the student and, where applicable, their parent/guardian or institutional administrator
• Not publicly visible to other students or users
• Not used for advertising, profiling, or any purpose other than the student’s educational experience
• Not actively monitored by Shiminly staff in real time

20.3 Safeguarding

Shiminly takes safeguarding seriously. While our platform is self-paced and does not include live interaction between students and instructors, we recognize our responsibility to the wellbeing of young learners.

• If a parent, guardian, educator, or institutional administrator becomes aware of a concerning student response (including indications of self-harm, abuse, or danger), they should contact their local safeguarding authority or emergency services immediately
• Institutional administrators may report safeguarding concerns observed through NovaTrax reporting to safeguarding@shiminly.com
• Shiminly will cooperate with law enforcement and child protection authorities as required by law

Shiminly is not a reporting entity under mandatory reporting laws. Educators and institutional administrators who use Shiminly’s platform retain their own mandatory reporting obligations under applicable law.

21. Force Majeure

Shiminly shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performing its obligations under these Terms if such failure or delay results from circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to:

• Natural disasters, epidemics, or pandemics
• Acts of war, terrorism, or civil unrest
• Government actions, regulations, or sanctions
• Power outages, internet disruptions, or telecommunications failures
• Cyberattacks, DDoS attacks, or system compromises
• Failure of third-party service providers (including LearnWorlds, Stripe, PayPal, or hosting providers)

In the event of a force majeure event, Shiminly will make reasonable efforts to resume services as soon as practicable and will communicate with affected users about the status and expected resolution. If a force majeure event prevents service delivery for more than 30 consecutive days, affected users may request a pro-rata refund for the inaccessible period.

22. Assignment and Change of Control

You may not assign or transfer your rights or obligations under these Terms without Shiminly’s prior written consent.

Shiminly may assign or transfer these Terms, including all rights and obligations, to a successor entity in connection with a merger, acquisition, reorganization, sale of all or substantially all assets, or similar transaction. In such event:

• We will notify users of the assignment through our website or email
• The successor entity will be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy
• Your data will be transferred to the successor entity subject to the protections described in our Privacy Policy
• You will have the right to terminate your account and request data deletion if you do not wish to continue under the successor entity

23. Institutional Indemnification

When Shiminly provides services to schools, colleges, universities, or other institutions:

• The institution represents and warrants that it has obtained all necessary parental consents before providing student data to Shiminly, or that it is operating under an applicable exception (such as FERPA’s school official exception or COPPA’s school exception)
• The institution agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Shiminly from claims arising from the institution’s failure to obtain required consents or comply with its own privacy obligations
• Shiminly agrees to process institutional student data solely for the educational purposes specified in the institutional agreement and in compliance with applicable laws
• Specific indemnification terms are detailed in individual institutional agreements. Contact legal@shiminly.com for institutional contracts

24. Modifications to Terms

Shiminly may modify these Terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated through our website or email. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance. If you disagree, discontinue use.

25. Termination

Shiminly may suspend or terminate access for Terms violations without prior notice. Upon termination:

• Access to course content is revoked
• Certificates and badges earned before termination remain valid
• No refund for accounts terminated due to Terms violations

You may terminate your account by contacting courses@shiminly.com.

26. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States, without regard to conflict of law principles.

Disputes shall be resolved through binding arbitration in Marlborough, Massachusetts, under the American Arbitration Association rules. You waive the right to a jury trial or class action.

For EU/EEA users: Nothing in these Terms limits your right to bring proceedings before the courts of your country of residence or to lodge complaints with your local data protection authority. Mandatory consumer protection laws of your country of residence apply.

For Indian users: Disputes may also be resolved in accordance with the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the DPDPA, 2023 grievance mechanism.

For users in other jurisdictions: Where mandatory local consumer protection laws provide greater protections than these Terms, those local laws shall apply to the extent required.

27. Severability

If any provision is found invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions continue in full force. The invalid provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary.

28. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and applicable institutional agreements, constitute the entire agreement between you and Shiminly. These Terms supersede all prior agreements, representations, and understandings.

29. Contact Us

Questions about these Terms:

Shiminly Inc.
293 Boston Post Road, Suite 301
Marlborough, MA 01752, USA

• General Inquiries: courses@shiminly.com
• Legal and Compliance: legal@shiminly.com
• Privacy: privacy@shiminly.com
• Accessibility: accessibility@shiminly.com
• Safeguarding: safeguarding@shiminly.com
• Website: shiminly.com