Terms of Service

Last updated: October 24, 2025

Company: Surentech (“Surentech,” “we,” “us,” or “our”)

Product: Suren mobile app and related websites/APIs (the “App” or “Service”)

Contact: support@surentech.com

Address: San Jose, California, USA

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) form a binding agreement between you and Surentech. By creating an account, accessing, or using the Service, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Service.

1) What Suren Does

Suren lets students record debates on their own device, generate transcripts, and receive AI-assisted annotations and coaching feedback.

Audio is uploaded for processing. Audio files are uploaded to our servers and sent to third-party transcription services (AssemblyAI) for processing. Surentech does not permanently store your audio files on Surentech servers after transcription is complete.
Transcripts & coaching are processed in the cloud. We receive transcription text generated from your audio and generate coaching feedback, then return those outputs to you.

We use third-party providers (e.g., automated speech recognition and language models) to process audio and create coaching. Quality is high under good conditions, but results vary with device placement, overlapping speakers, and background noise. Outputs (transcripts/coaching) are not guaranteed to be error-free.

2) Eligibility & Accounts

Age. You must be 13+ to use the Service. If you are 13–17, you represent that you have permission from a parent/guardian (or a school/coach with authority) to use the Service.
No users under 13. We do not knowingly permit users under 13. If we learn a user is under 13, we may disable the account.
Registration. Use requires account sign-in via Google Sign-In, Apple Sign-In, or email/password. Keep your credentials confidential; you’re responsible for account activity.

3) Permitted Use (Debate Only) & Prohibited Conduct

Suren is for debate practice and coaching.

You may:

Record your own debates on your device and submit transcripts to receive coaching.
Use transcripts and coaching for your personal learning.

You may not:

Use the Service for non-debate purposes (e.g., general note-taking for classes/meetings).
Spy on or secretly record others; obtain all legally required permissions from participants.
Misuse our APIs, scrape/circumvent limits, or build competing services from our outputs.
Upload/generate illegal, harassing, hateful, or rights-infringing content.
Reverse engineer, interfere with, or harm the Service or infrastructure.

We may suspend/terminate accounts for violations.

4) Your Content (Ownership) & License to Surentech

You own your content. You keep full ownership of:

(a) your audio recordings,

(b) your transcription text, and

(c) the generated coaching feedback outputs created for you.

Ownership is independent of where the files live (e.g., audio on-device, transcripts/coaching on our servers).
Our IP. Surentech retains all rights in the App, codebase, models, prompts, UI/UX, and systems that enable the Service.
License to operate the Service. You grant Surentech a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to host, store, process, analyze, transmit, display, and create derivative works from your content solely to:

operate, maintain, and provide features of the Service;
research, develop, and improve quality/safety/reliability;
comply with law and enforce these Terms.

Aggregated/De-identified data. We may use de-identified/aggregated data derived from usage to operate and improve the Service; we will not attempt to re-identify such data.

5) Storage, Retention & Locations

Audio files. Uploaded to our servers and sent to third-party transcription services for processing. Surentech does not permanently store your audio files on Surentech servers after transcription is complete.
Transcripts/coaching. Stored by Surentech when transcripts are generated from your audio and coaching is created. We also maintain limited operational logs (e.g., request metadata).
Retention. We retain transcripts, coaching, and related logs as needed to provide and improve the Service and for legitimate business, security, or legal purposes. Backups/logs may persist for a reasonable period.
Cross-border processing. Data may be processed in the U.S. and other countries where we and our providers operate.

6) Deletion, Account Closure & Data Choices

On-device deletion. Deleting a recording on your device removes that audio from your device only; it does not delete transcripts/coaching already processed by Surentech.
Account & data deletion. You can delete your account and all associated data through the self-serve account deletion feature in the App, which permanently deletes your account, transcripts, coaching outputs, and associated data from Surentech systems. This includes deletion of AssemblyAI transcripts and revocation of Apple Sign-In tokens (if applicable). Alternatively, to request account closure and data deletion via email, contact support@surentech.com. We will delete or de-identify account data from active systems to the extent reasonably possible; some data may remain in backups, security logs, or where retention is legally permitted/required. Note: OpenAI API data is automatically deleted after 30 days per OpenAI’s policies.
School/team use. If you access Suren through a school/team license, additional data practices may apply.

7) Privacy & Third-Party Providers

Your use is also governed by our Privacy Policy. Highlights:

Transcripts are processed by third-party processors (e.g., automated speech recognition and language models). Their terms/privacy practices apply.
We apply appropriate security safeguards, but no system is perfectly secure.

8) Accuracy & Use of Outputs

Informational only. AI-generated transcripts/coaching can be incomplete or incorrect. You are responsible for reviewing and deciding how to use outputs.
No guarantees. We do not warrant accuracy, reliability, or suitability for competitions or other purposes.

9) Feedback; Beta Features

Feedback. If you send ideas/suggestions, you grant Surentech a perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free license to use them without restriction or compensation.
Betas. Preview/beta features may be unstable or change at any time.

10) Intellectual Property

The Service (software, models, UI/UX, logos, trademarks, and other content) belongs to Surentech or its licensors and is protected by law. Except as expressly granted, all rights are reserved.

11) Third-Party Links/Services

We are not responsible for third-party content, terms, or privacy practices. Your dealings with third parties are solely between you and them.

12) Changes to the Service

We may modify, suspend, or discontinue features at any time (e.g., to improve performance, change providers, or address safety). Where reasonably possible, we’ll give notice of material changes.

13) Updates to These Terms

We may update these Terms periodically. For material changes, we will provide notice (e.g., email to your account address or in-app notice). Updates are effective when posted unless stated otherwise. Continued use after changes means you accept the updated Terms.

14) Support & Dispute Process

Support. Use the in-app feedback flow or email support@surentech.com.
Informal resolution first. Before any formal dispute, email us a written notice and work with us in good faith for 30 days to resolve informally.
Governing law & venue. California law governs (conflict rules excluded). Exclusive venue for non-arbitrable claims: state/federal courts in Santa Clara County, California.

15) Warranties & Disclaimers

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, SURENTECH AND SUPPLIERS DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ACCURACY, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, AND ANY ARISING FROM COURSE OF DEALING OR USAGE. WE DO NOT WARRANT THE SERVICE WILL BE ERROR-FREE, UNINTERRUPTED, OR SECURE.

16) Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, SURENTECH AND ITS AFFILIATES/OFFICERS/EMPLOYEES/AGENTS/SUPPLIERS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR LOSS OF PROFITS, GOODWILL, DATA, OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY.

TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ALL CLAIMS WILL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF US$100 OR AMOUNTS YOU PAID TO SURENTECH (IF ANY) IN THE 12 MONTHS BEFORE THE EVENT.

Some jurisdictions don’t allow certain limits; the above applies to the fullest extent permitted.

17) Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Surentech and its affiliates/officers/employees/agents from claims, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising from: (a) your content; (b) your use of the Service; (c) your violation of these Terms or law; or (d) recording/transcribing others without required consent.

18) Termination

By you. Stop using the Service anytime; to request account closure, email support@surentech.com.
By us. We may suspend/terminate access (with or without notice) if we reasonably believe you violated these Terms, pose a risk, or for other legitimate reasons (including Service shutdown).
Survival. Sections that by nature should survive (ownership, privacy, disclaimers, limitations, indemnities, governing law) survive termination.

19) Export & Compliance

Comply with all applicable export, sanctions, and technology control laws. Do not use the Service where prohibited.

20) Miscellaneous

Entire agreement. These Terms are the entire agreement regarding the Service.
Severability. If a provision is unenforceable, the rest remains in effect.
No waiver. Failure to enforce is not a waiver.
Assignment. You may not assign without our consent; we may assign in a merger, acquisition, reorganization, or asset sale.
Headings. For convenience only.

21) Contact

Questions about these Terms or the Service: support@surentech.com

Summary (non-binding)

Company/Product: Surentech (company), Suren (app).
Ownership: You own your audio recordings, transcription text, and generated coaching feedback outputs.
Storage: Audio is uploaded for transcription processing; transcripts/coaching live on our servers.
Deletion: Use the self-serve account deletion feature in the App or email support@surentech.com to request account/data deletion (some backups/logs may persist).
Use: Debate-only; no spying or general note-taking.
Accuracy: High quality under good conditions, but not guaranteed.
Law/limits: California law; standard warranty disclaimers and liability limits apply.