Best PRoblems Terms & Conditions
Nullwest “Best Problems” Contest — Official Terms & Conditions
Last Updated: February 20, 2026
Sponsor: Nullwest, Inc. (“Nullwest” or “Sponsor”)
Contest Page / Entry: https://nullwest.com/best-problem
Contact: best-problem@nullwest.com
By submitting an entry, you (“Entrant,” “you,” “your”) agree to these Official Terms & Conditions (“Terms”).
`1) Contest Overview
Nullwest is running a contest called “Best Problems” (the “Contest”), inviting businesses to submit a description of a real business problem (each a “Submission”). Nullwest may select one Submission to receive a free Proof of Concept (“PoC”) from Nullwest, with an estimated value of $12,000–$20,000 USD (the “Prize”), subject to these Terms.
The Contest may be promoted in connection with the IFA conference, but no conference attendance is required to enter or win.
2) Contest Period
The Contest begins immediately upon posting of these Terms on the Contest Page and ends at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on February 28, 2026 (the “Contest Period”).
Nullwest’s systems and timekeeping will be the official time for the Contest.
3) Eligibility
The Contest is open worldwide where permitted by law. You are eligible if, at time of entry:
You are at least 18 years old (or the age of majority where you live), and
You are submitting on behalf of a company or organization you represent and you have authority to bind that company to these Terms, and
You can legally receive services from a U.S.-based provider (including under applicable sanctions/export laws).
Not eligible: Employees, officers, and directors of Nullwest, and their immediate family members or household members, and any vendors directly involved in administering the Contest.
Void where prohibited. You are responsible for ensuring your participation is lawful in your jurisdiction.
4) How to Enter
To enter, submit a Submission during the Contest Period via the Contest Page: https://nullwest.com/best-problem.
No purchase necessary.
Multiple Submissions permitted. Each distinct Submission may be treated as a separate entry.
One winner maximum (unless Sponsor states otherwise in writing).
5) Submission Guidelines and Requirements
Your Submission must:
Describe a real business problem, opportunity, or workflow challenge.
Be accurate to the best of your knowledge.
Be your original work or material you are authorized to share.
Your Submission must not:
Include confidential, proprietary, or trade secret information you are not comfortable sharing without an NDA.
Include unlawful content, personal data you lack permission to share, or content that infringes another party’s rights.
Include malware, instructions for wrongdoing, or anything that could harm others.
Important confidentiality note: Submissions are not confidential. Do not submit information you consider confidential or proprietary unless you are comfortable that Nullwest may review it without confidentiality obligations.
6) Judging and Selection; No Obligation to Award
Nullwest will evaluate Submissions using criteria that may include (at Sponsor’s discretion):
Clarity and specificity of the problem
Potential business impact
Feasibility of a PoC within Sponsor’s scope and timeframe
Novelty/insight and learning value
Fit with Nullwest’s capabilities and availability
Sponsor may select zero winners. If Sponsor determines that no Submission is suitable, Sponsor is not required to award the Prize.
All decisions by Sponsor are final and binding.
7) Prize Description
Prize: A free Proof of Concept built by Nullwest for the selected winner, valued at approximately $12,000–$20,000 USD.
7.1 PoC Scope and Format
The PoC is intended to demonstrate feasibility and may include, for example, prototype software, scripts, diagrams, technical documentation, or a demo environment (collectively, “PoC Deliverables”). Exact scope will be defined by Sponsor and coordinated with the winner.
7.2 Timing
Nullwest will use commercially reasonable efforts to deliver the PoC within approximately two (2) months after winner confirmation and kickoff, depending on scheduling and winner responsiveness.
7.3 Winner Cooperation Required
Winner must timely provide reasonable access to relevant stakeholders, systems, requirements, and non-confidential information needed to build the PoC. If winner is unresponsive or unable to participate, Sponsor may disqualify the winner and/or select an alternate or award no Prize.
7.4 No Cash Alternative; No Transfer
No substitution, transfer, or cash equivalent is permitted except at Sponsor’s discretion. Sponsor may modify Prize details if necessary while maintaining comparable value.
8) Ownership of PoC Deliverables (Winner Owns)
Subject to winner’s compliance with these Terms and execution of any required paperwork, winner will own the PoC Deliverables provided as part of the Prize.
However:
Any pre-existing tools, templates, libraries, methods, know-how, or reusable components that Nullwest already owned or developed independently of the winner’s Submission (“Nullwest Background Technology”) remain owned by Nullwest.
If the PoC includes any third-party software or open-source components, those are governed by their respective licenses.
Nullwest may require the winner to sign a short PoC agreement confirming scope, delivery, and the ownership allocation described above.
9) Intellectual Property in Submissions; No IP Protection; Sponsor May Build Similar Products
9.1 You Keep Ownership of Your Submission
As between you and Sponsor, you retain ownership of your Submission (excluding any Sponsor materials).
9.2 License You Grant to Sponsor
By submitting, you grant Sponsor a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, irrevocable license to use, reproduce, adapt, modify, evaluate, and create derivative works from your Submission for purposes of:
administering the Contest,
evaluating and discussing the problem internally,
improving Sponsor services, and
developing or offering products and services that may relate to, compete with, or overlap your Submission.
9.3 No Obligation; No Confidentiality; No Compensation
Sponsor is not responsible for protecting your ideas, and your Submission does not create any obligation for Sponsor to compensate you, credit you, keep the Submission confidential, or grant you any rights in Sponsor’s products or services.
Sponsor may already be working on similar ideas, or may independently develop similar solutions in the future, and you agree Sponsor has no liability for doing so—even if such work is similar to your Submission.
10) Winner Notification and Verification
Sponsor will attempt to notify the selected winner via the contact information provided in the Submission.
Sponsor may require verification, including proof of identity/authority and signing a declaration of eligibility and release. If a potential winner cannot be reached, fails verification, declines the Prize, or does not respond within twenty-one (21) days of notice, Sponsor may disqualify that entrant and select an alternate or award no Prize.
11) Publicity
Unless prohibited by law, winner agrees that Sponsor may use the winner’s company name and a high-level description of the winning problem and/or PoC results for promotional purposes only with the winner’s prior written consent.
12) Privacy and Communications; Promotional Messages
By entering, you agree Sponsor may collect and use your contact information and Submission details to:
administer the Contest and communicate with you about your Submission, and
send you promotional or informational messages about Sponsor’s services.
You may opt out of promotional messages at any time by following unsubscribe instructions (if provided) or by contacting Sponsor at best-problem@nullwest.com.
Sponsor’s privacy practices are described in: [link to Nullwest Privacy Policy].
13) Disclaimers; No Warranty
THE CONTEST AND ANY PRIZE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” SPONSOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.
The PoC is for demonstration/validation purposes and may not be production-ready.
14) Limitation of Liability
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, SPONSOR WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS, REVENUE, DATA, OR GOODWILL, ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO THE CONTEST, SUBMISSIONS, OR THE PRIZE.
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, SPONSOR’S TOTAL LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE CONTEST WILL NOT EXCEED $100 USD.
Some jurisdictions do not allow certain limitations, so parts of this section may not apply to you.
15) Entrant Representations; Indemnity
You represent that:
you have the rights and permissions needed to submit the Submission, and
your Submission does not violate any law or third-party rights.
You agree to indemnify and hold Sponsor harmless from claims arising out of your Submission or your breach of these Terms.
16) Taxes
Winner is responsible for any applicable taxes, reporting, or fees associated with receiving the Prize. Sponsor does not provide tax advice.
17) Governing Law; Venue
These Terms and the Contest are governed by the laws of the State of Washington, USA, without regard to conflict-of-law rules.
Any dispute must be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Whatcom County, Washington, and you consent to their jurisdiction.
18) General Conditions
Sponsor may disqualify any entrant who tampers with the entry process, violates these Terms, or submits false information.
Sponsor may modify, suspend, or cancel the Contest if fraud, technical failures, or other factors impair integrity, as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion.
If any provision is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in effect.
19) Not Sponsored by IFA
The Contest begins immediately upon posting of these Terms on the Contest Page and ends at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on February 28, 2026 (the “Contest Period”).
20) Questions
For questions, contact: best-problem@nullwest.com