The Start Box

The Start Box by Stride Media

Talent Terms & Conditions

These Talent Terms & Conditions (“Terms”) govern participation as a rider, trainer or equestrian personality (“Talent”) on The Start Box platform operated by Stride Media Management Limited (Registered Company Number: 17223025), trading as The Start Box (“Company”, “we”, “us”, “our”).

By registering for a Talent account and ticking the acceptance box during onboarding, you confirm that:

  • you have read these Terms;
  • you understand these Terms; and
  • you agree to be legally bound by them.

If you do not agree to these Terms, you will not be able to register or participate as Talent on the Platform.

1. Appointment

The Company appoints the Talent to provide personalised digital content services through The Start Box platform, including:

  • personalised voice notes;
  • personalised video messages;
  • related promotional content connected to the platform.

The Talent participates on an independent contractor basis only.

Nothing in these Terms creates:

  • employment;
  • partnership;
  • agency;
  • joint venture

between the Parties.

2. Brand Structure

The Parties acknowledge that:

  • “The Start Box” is the consumer-facing brand and platform operated by Stride Media Management Limited;
  • Stride Media Management Limited manages all operational, commercial and customer-facing aspects of the platform;
  • all customer relationships, fulfilment processes and commercial arrangements remain under the control of the Company.

3. Term

Talent participation begins upon account approval and acceptance of these Terms.

The agreement shall continue for:

  • Two (2) years

unless terminated earlier in accordance with these Terms.

4. Platform Protection

During the Term, the Talent agrees not to participate in, promote, create or operate substantially similar paid personalised equestrian message services which directly compete with The Start Box without prior written consent from the Company.

This includes participation through:

  • competing equestrian-focused platforms;
  • personal websites;
  • social media channels;
  • independently operated fan-message services.

This restriction applies specifically to:

  • paid personalised equestrian message platform services.

For the avoidance of doubt, this does NOT restrict:

  • general social media activity;
  • sponsorship work;
  • coaching or clinics;
  • charity content;
  • interviews;
  • non-commercial fan interactions;
  • general promotional activity.

5. Talent Services

Talent agrees to:

  • provide personalised voice notes and/or videos requested through the Platform;
  • complete accepted requests within reasonable timeframes where possible;
  • maintain professional conduct;
  • comply with platform guidelines and applicable laws.

Talent retains discretion regarding:

  • delivery style;
  • tone;
  • presentation;

provided content remains appropriate for the Platform.

The Company reserves the right to reject or remove any content deemed:

  • offensive;
  • defamatory;
  • discriminatory;
  • unlawful;
  • commercially damaging;
  • inconsistent with brand standards.

6. Customer Requests

All customer requests shall be managed exclusively through The Start Box platform.

Talent shall not:

  • communicate directly with customers unless authorised;
  • accept direct payment from platform customers for platform-related requests;
  • circumvent the Platform booking process.

The Company retains sole discretion regarding:

  • request approval;
  • moderation;
  • pricing;
  • refunds;
  • customer management.

7. Pricing & Revenue Share

Pricing is determined by the Company.

Current standard pricing may include:

  • Personalised Voice Notes;
  • Personalised Video Messages.

Revenue shall be split:

  • 50% Talent / 50% Company

unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Payments shall be made periodically following successful completion of customer orders.

8. Platform Rules & Availability

Talent may:

  • set availability preferences;
  • pause bookings;
  • set monthly booking caps;
  • switch off priority requests.

The Company reserves the right to:

  • suspend Talent accounts;
  • pause listings;
  • remove profiles;
  • refuse participation

where reasonably necessary to protect:

  • customers;
  • the Platform;
  • brand reputation;
  • operational quality.

9. Intellectual Property & Promotional Rights

Talent retains ownership of:

  • their name;
  • image;
  • likeness;
  • voice;
  • personal brand.

Talent grants the Company a worldwide, non-exclusive licence during the Term to:

  • display Talent profiles;
  • use submitted content;
  • promote The Start Box;
  • create social media marketing content;
  • use excerpts/screenshots for promotional purposes.

The Company shall not sell or commercially licence Talent content outside platform promotion without consent.

10. Confidentiality

Talent agrees to keep confidential:

  • customer information;
  • operational systems;
  • platform strategy;
  • commercial terms;
  • internal business information.

This obligation survives termination.

11. Non-Circumvention

Talent agrees not to intentionally redirect platform customers away from The Start Box for substantially similar services during the Term.

11A. Post-Term Platform Protection

For a period of two (2) years following termination, cancellation or removal from The Start Box platform, the Talent agrees that they shall not:

  • establish or operate a substantially similar personalised equestrian messaging platform which directly competes with The Start Box using confidential information, operational knowledge or commercially sensitive information obtained through participation on the Platform;
  • knowingly assist in the creation or operation of a directly competing equestrian-focused personalised messaging platform using confidential information or intellectual property connected to The Start Box;
  • solicit riders or customers of The Start Box for the purpose of transferring them to a directly competing platform.

For the avoidance of doubt, this restriction applies specifically to:

  • equestrian-focused personalised messaging marketplace platforms substantially similar to The Start Box.

This clause does not restrict the Talent from:

  • general equestrian work;
  • sponsorship activity;
  • coaching;
  • social media activity;
  • content creation;
  • brand partnerships;
  • general business activity unrelated to directly competing personalised equestrian messaging platforms.

11B. Confidential Information & Intellectual Property Protection

Talent acknowledges that during participation on The Start Box platform they may receive access to confidential and commercially sensitive information including:

  • customer information;
  • rider information;
  • pricing structures;
  • operational processes;
  • workflows;
  • marketing strategy;
  • platform functionality;
  • business plans;
  • internal systems;
  • unpublished commercial information.

Talent agrees:

  • not to disclose confidential information to third parties;
  • not to share platform processes, workflows or operational systems externally;
  • not to copy, reproduce or distribute proprietary platform materials;
  • not to use confidential information for the benefit of competing businesses;
  • not to attempt to replicate platform systems or commercially sensitive operational processes using information obtained through participation on the Platform.

These obligations survive termination of participation on the Platform.

12. Independent Contractor Status

Talent is solely responsible for:

  • taxes;
  • insurance;
  • accounting obligations;
  • national insurance/social charges;
  • legal compliance connected to their earnings.

The Company does not provide:

  • salary;
  • pension;
  • holiday pay;
  • sick pay;
  • employment benefits.

13. Termination & Cancellation

Either Party may terminate participation:

  • on 30 days’ written notice; or
  • immediately in the event of:
    • serious misconduct;
    • reputational damage;
    • unlawful behaviour;
    • material breach.

Talent may request cancellation of their membership through their rider dashboard on the Platform.

Upon submission of a cancellation request:

  • the request shall be sent to the Company for review;
  • the Talent profile may remain active during the notice period unless otherwise agreed;
  • outstanding approved customer orders should continue to be fulfilled where reasonably possible.

The Company reserves the right to:

  • pause bookings during the notice period;
  • approve or decline cancellation requests where necessary to protect operational integrity or outstanding customer obligations.

Upon termination:

  • pending approved orders should be completed where reasonably possible;
  • platform protection obligations shall cease;
  • outstanding earned payments remain payable.

14. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company shall not be liable for:

  • indirect loss;
  • reputational consequences arising from customer reactions;
  • platform downtime;
  • delayed customer requests;
  • customer misuse of content.

Total liability shall not exceed sums paid to the Talent within the preceding three months.

15. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by the laws of England and Wales.

Any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

16. Acceptance

By ticking the acceptance checkbox during onboarding and creating a Talent account, the Talent confirms acceptance of these Terms & Conditions and enters into a legally binding agreement with the Company.

See also our Privacy Policy & Website Terms.