EVENT PARTICIPATION WAIVER, RELEASE OF LIABILITY, AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK AGREEMENT

Black Business Coalition

Effective Date: June 12, 2026

This Event Participation Waiver, Release of Liability, and Assumption of Risk Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into by and between the participant (“Participant,” “I,” “Me,” or “My”) and the Black Business Coalition (“BBC,” “we,” “our,” or “us”).

By registering for, attending, participating in, volunteering at, exhibiting at, sponsoring, presenting at, or otherwise participating in any Black Business Coalition event, conference, workshop, seminar, networking function, training program, business expo, community gathering, virtual event, webinar, meeting, competition, fundraiser, social event, or related activity (collectively, the “Event”), Participant agrees to the terms of this Agreement.

1. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION

I understand and acknowledge that my participation in the Event is completely voluntary.

I freely choose to participate and assume full responsibility for any risks associated with my attendance and participation.

2. ASSUMPTION OF RISK

I acknowledge that participation in the Event may involve certain inherent risks, including but not limited to:

Personal injury
Illness
Accidents
Slips, trips, and falls
Property damage
Theft or loss of personal belongings
Transportation-related incidents
Exposure to communicable illnesses
Exposure to third-party conduct
Equipment-related incidents
Food-related reactions or allergies
Physical activity risks
Weather-related conditions
Crowd-related incidents

I voluntarily assume all risks, known or unknown, foreseeable or unforeseeable, associated with my participation.

3. RELEASE OF LIABILITY

To the fullest extent permitted by law, I release, waive, discharge, and covenant not to sue the Black Business Coalition and its:

Officers
Directors
Employees
Volunteers
Independent contractors
Affiliates
Sponsors
Vendors
Exhibitors
Speakers
Event hosts
Venue owners
Venue operators
Strategic partners
Representatives
Agents

(collectively, the “Released Parties”)

from any and all claims, demands, causes of action, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, expenses, injuries, or claims arising from or related to my participation in the Event.

This release includes claims based on negligence to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

4. MEDICAL TREATMENT AUTHORIZATION

In the event of an emergency, I authorize the Black Business Coalition and Event personnel to seek emergency medical treatment on my behalf if deemed necessary.

I understand and agree that:

The BBC has no obligation to provide medical assistance.
I am responsible for all medical expenses incurred.
The BBC is not responsible for the quality or outcome of any medical treatment received.

5. HEALTH AND FITNESS REPRESENTATION

I represent and warrant that:

I am physically and mentally capable of participating in the Event.
I have disclosed any condition that may pose a risk to myself or others when required.
I will comply with all safety instructions and event rules.

I understand that participation may not be appropriate for every individual.

6. PERSONAL PROPERTY

I understand that I am solely responsible for my personal property.

The BBC shall not be liable for:

Lost property
Stolen property
Damaged property
Misplaced belongings

Participants are encouraged to safeguard their valuables at all times.

7. PROFESSIONAL AND BUSINESS INTERACTIONS

The Event may provide networking opportunities, business introductions, referrals, educational content, and interactions with vendors, sponsors, exhibitors, speakers, service providers, and other participants.

I understand and agree that:

The BBC does not endorse any participant, speaker, vendor, sponsor, exhibitor, or business.
The BBC does not verify all statements made during the Event.
Any business relationship entered into is solely between the parties involved.
The BBC is not responsible for disputes arising from business interactions.

Participants are encouraged to perform their own due diligence before entering into business relationships.

8. NO GUARANTEE OF BUSINESS RESULTS

The BBC does not guarantee:

Business opportunities
Customers
Clients
Leads
Contracts
Partnerships
Funding
Revenue
Sales
Earnings
Sponsorships
Investments

Any business success stories, testimonials, examples, or presentations are provided for informational purposes only.

Individual results will vary.

9. PHOTO, VIDEO, AUDIO, AND MEDIA RELEASE

I understand that photographs, videos, livestreams, recordings, interviews, testimonials, and other media may be captured during the Event.

I grant the Black Business Coalition an irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free right and license to:

Photograph me
Record me
Capture my image
Capture my likeness
Record my voice
Use my name
Use my business name
Use my testimonial

for purposes including:

Marketing
Advertising
Social media
Websites
Promotional materials
Press releases
Educational materials
Event recaps
Future event promotion

I waive any right to compensation arising from such use.

10. VIRTUAL EVENT PARTICIPATION

For webinars, livestreams, online meetings, and virtual events, I acknowledge that:

Internet interruptions may occur.
Technology failures may occur.
Access may be temporarily unavailable.
Recordings may be made.

The BBC shall not be responsible for technology failures outside its reasonable control.

11. CODE OF CONDUCT

Participants agree to conduct themselves professionally and respectfully.

Prohibited conduct includes:

Harassment
Discrimination
Threats
Violence
Intoxication that disrupts the Event
Illegal activity
Disruptive behavior
Unauthorized solicitation
Unauthorized recording of confidential sessions

The BBC reserves the right to remove participants without refund for violations of this Code of Conduct.

12. EVENT CHANGES

The BBC reserves the right to:

Modify schedules
Change speakers
Change venues
Change event formats
Cancel sessions
Reschedule events
Cancel events entirely

Such changes may occur without prior notice.

The BBC shall not be liable for costs incurred by participants as a result of such changes.

13. FORCE MAJEURE

The BBC shall not be liable for cancellation, delay, or interruption of any Event due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including:

Natural disasters
Severe weather
Public health emergencies
Government actions
Civil unrest
Labor disputes
Power outages
Technology failures
Acts of God

14. INDEMNIFICATION

I agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Released Parties from any claims, damages, liabilities, costs, expenses, or losses arising from:

My participation in the Event.
My conduct during the Event.
My violation of Event rules.
Injury or damage caused by me to others.

15. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE BBC SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR:

Lost profits
Lost business opportunities
Lost income
Travel expenses
Lodging expenses
Indirect damages
Consequential damages
Special damages
Incidental damages

arising from participation in any Event.

16. GOVERNING LAW

This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia without regard to conflict of law principles.

17. DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Any dispute arising from this Agreement shall be resolved through binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA).

The arbitration shall occur in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Participants waive the right to a jury trial.

18. CLASS ACTION WAIVER

Participants agree that any claims shall be brought solely on an individual basis.

Participants waive any right to participate in:

Class actions
Collective actions
Representative actions
Private attorney general actions

19. SEVERABILITY

If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

20. ENTIRE AGREEMENT

This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement regarding participation in the Event and supersedes prior discussions or understandings concerning the subject matter herein.

21. ELECTRONIC CONSENT

Participant agrees that checking an acceptance box, submitting an event registration form, registering online, electronically signing, or attending an Event constitutes acceptance of this Agreement and creates a legally binding electronic signature under applicable law, including the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (E-SIGN Act).

22. CONTACT INFORMATION

Black Business Coalition

Website:
https://blackbusinesscoalition.org

For questions regarding this Event Participation Waiver, please contact the Black Business Coalition through the contact information provided on the official website.

PARTICIPANT ACKNOWLEDGMENT

BY REGISTERING FOR, ATTENDING, OR PARTICIPATING IN ANY BLACK BUSINESS COALITION EVENT, I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT:

✓ I HAVE READ THIS AGREEMENT.

✓ I UNDERSTAND THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH PARTICIPATION.

✓ I VOLUNTARILY ASSUME ALL RISKS.

✓ I RELEASE THE BLACK BUSINESS COALITION FROM LIABILITY TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

✓ I CONSENT TO THE USE OF MY IMAGE, VOICE, AND LIKENESS AS DESCRIBED HEREIN.

✓ I UNDERSTAND THAT BUSINESS RESULTS, LEADS, CUSTOMERS, CONTRACTS, AND EARNINGS ARE NOT GUARANTEED.

✓ I AGREE TO BE LEGALLY BOUND BY THIS AGREEMENT.