Terms & Conditions
MENTAT Advisors
Advisor Platform
Terms & Conditions
MBA Advisor Agreement
A Note on the Spirit of This Agreement
MENTAT is built on a simple belief: that exceptional strategic minds do their best work inside a structure that respects their intelligence, will use its best efforts to ensure their credibility by choosing ethical clients and projects, and connects them with problems worthy of their talent. This Agreement is designed with that belief at its center. It sets clear obligations — because quality and trust require them — but it is not a document of control. It is a shared commitment between professionals who have chosen to build something together. Every clause that protects MENTAT also protects you. Every standard that applies to your work is the same standard that makes your participation here valuable.
By clicking “Accept”, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by all the terms and conditions set out in this Agreement. If you do not agree, you may not join or participate in the MENTAT Advisors platform.
Article 1 — Definitions
For the purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set out below:
"MENTAT Advisors", "MENTAT", or "Platform" refers to the platform operator and the strategic advisory platform bearing this name.
"Advisor" or "Consultant" refers to any MBA-qualified professional admitted to and operating within the MENTAT network.
"MDAF" means the MENTAT Decision Architecture Framework, the proprietary methodological system governing all project work on the platform.
"MQCC" means the MENTAT Quality Control Charter, the integrated quality assurance system governing quality, compliance, and performance standards.
"Lead MBA" refers to the Advisor assuming primary operational responsibility for a client engagement.
"Peer MBA" refers to the Advisor acting as independent reviewer and quality assurance counterpart on a given project.
"Client" refers to any organization or individual accepted by MENTAT through the Strategic Gatekeeping process.
"Deliverable" refers to any output, report, recommendation, analysis, or document produced by an Advisor in the course of a project, in any form.
"Written Material" refers to any document, report, presentation, memorandum, recommendation, analysis, or other written or electronic communication produced by the Advisor in the course of or in connection with a project.
"Intermediate Deliverable" refers to the interim output produced at the diagnostic phase of a project for Client validation, as required by the MDAF.
"Engagement" refers to a specific project mandate assigned to an Advisor through the platform.
"Deliverable Fee" refers to the rate proposed by the Advisor for a specific Engagement.
"Availability Contingent" refers to the number of hours per month the Advisor declares available for platform Engagements.
"Client-Supplied Information" refers to any data, documents, representations, or information provided by or on behalf of a Client to the Advisor in connection with an Engagement.
"Knowledge Loop" or "Intellectual Capital Loop" refers to the post-project contribution obligation through which every Engagement feeds the collective knowledge base of the network.
"Founders" refers to the founding partners of MENTAT Advisors, who retain supervisory authority over platform standards.
"Strategic Business Advice" refers to advisory services of a strategic, organizational, or commercial nature, which do not constitute legal, tax, accounting, or regulated financial advice.
Article 2 — Admission Requirements & Eligibility
MENTAT’s selectivity is your credential. Admission standards protect every Advisor on the network.
2.1 MBA Requirement
Admission to the MENTAT platform is reserved exclusively for professionals holding a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from a recognized institution. Proof of qualification must be provided upon application and may be verified by MENTAT at any time during the term of this Agreement.
2.2 Selection Process
Admission is not automatic upon submission of credentials. MENTAT reserves the right to evaluate each applicant against its positioning standards and to decline any application at its sole discretion. The platform is a structured advisory platform, not an open marketplace. Admission criteria include, without limitation: demonstrated seniority of decision-making experience, prior exposure to complex strategic problems, and compatibility with the methodological discipline required by the MDAF.
2.3 Ongoing Eligibility
Continued participation on the platform is conditional on ongoing compliance with all provisions of this Agreement. MENTAT reserves the right to suspend or terminate an Advisor’s access where eligibility conditions are no longer met, following the procedure set out in Article 10.
2.4 Profile and Visibility
Each Advisor will have a profile on the platform reflecting their experience, areas of expertise, and availability. MENTAT will use reasonable efforts to match Advisors to Engagements that are consistent with their declared expertise and professional background. Advisors are encouraged to keep their profile current and accurate, as profile quality directly influences Engagement matching.
Article 3 — Nature of the Relationship
You are a partner, not a resource. The structure exists to protect quality, not to control you.
MENTAT considers each Advisor an operational partner. The relationship is collaborative and intellectually equal. However, this Agreement does not create an employment relationship, a labor relationship, or any relationship of subordination between MENTAT and the Advisor. The Advisor is not an employee of MENTAT, nor a simple subcontractor or vendor.
The Advisor operates as an independent professional. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as creating a partnership, joint venture, agency, franchise, or employment relationship. The Advisor is solely responsible for all tax, social security, insurance, and regulatory obligations arising from their independent professional activity.
The Advisor retains full analytical autonomy: freedom to formulate hypotheses, propose solutions, and interpret data. The Advisor does not retain methodological autonomy: the sequential phases of the MDAF are mandatory and may not be skipped or modified unilaterally. The MDAF is the shared language of the network. It is what makes every Advisor’s work mutually legible, defensible, and scalable.
Analytical autonomy yes — methodological autonomy no. The method is not a constraint on talent. It is the condition that makes talent credible.
Article 4 — Scope of Services & Regulatory Boundaries
Knowing the boundaries of your mandate protects you as much as it protects the platform.
4.1 Strategic Business Advice Only
Advisors on the MENTAT platform provide Strategic Business Advice exclusively. Nothing produced by an Advisor in the course of an Engagement shall constitute, or be presented as constituting, legal advice, tax advice, accounting advice, auditing services, or regulated financial advice of any kind (including, without limitation, investment advice, portfolio management, or insurance mediation).
Where the scope of an Engagement touches areas that require input from a licensed legal, tax, financial, or other regulated professional, the Advisor must proactively identify this to MENTAT and recommend that the Client seek appropriately qualified professional advice. This obligation is not optional and forms part of the Advisor’s duty of care.
4.2 Regulatory and Licensing Compliance
The Advisor represents and warrants that they hold all licenses, registrations, and professional qualifications required by applicable law to provide the services they offer through the platform. It is the Advisor’s sole responsibility to ensure that their advisory activities on the platform remain at all times within the boundaries of their licensed competence and comply with applicable professional regulations, codes of conduct, and ethical standards.
Where an Advisor’s regulated professional status (e.g., bar admission, financial services license) is relevant to an Engagement, this must be declared on the Advisor’s platform profile. MENTAT does not supervise Advisors’ compliance with their individual professional regulatory obligations, and the Advisor indemnifies MENTAT for any regulatory breach arising from their conduct.
4.3 No Guarantee of Outcomes
Strategic Business Advice is inherently forward-looking and subject to uncertainty. The Advisor makes no warranty, express or implied, that any recommendation, analysis, or deliverable will achieve any particular commercial, financial, or strategic outcome for the Client. The Advisor’s obligation is to apply rigorous professional methodology, not to guarantee results.
Article 5 — Acceptance of the MDAF Methodology
The MDAF is what makes MENTAT a common platform, not a directory. A platform of professionals sharing the same standard and where clients and projects are chosen ethically and with focus on preserving this standard.
5.1 Mandatory Framework
By accepting these Terms, the Advisor expressly agrees to apply the MENTAT Decision Architecture Framework (MDAF) in its entirety on every project conducted through the platform. The MDAF is not optional. Its five components are mandatory and sequential.
5.2 The Five Components
Strategic Gatekeeping: Client acceptance decisions are made exclusively through the Founders’ gatekeeping process. The Advisor may not accept client mandates outside this process.
Consultant Alignment System: The Advisor agrees to participate in project alignment, including the preparation of a Project Charter, sharing of timelines and milestones with the Peer MBA, and attendance at any required briefing sessions.
Diagnostic Intelligence Engine: Every problem must be formulated as a decision. A minimum of two alternative hypotheses must be constructed. All data sources must be traceable. Strategic risk mapping and a formal decision tree are mandatory.
Decision Structuring Matrix: Every Deliverable must include an explicit, unambiguous recommendation. Purely descriptive reports are prohibited. The prescribed structure (executive summary, scenario analysis, economic impact, risk map, final recommendation, implementation roadmap) is mandatory.
Intellectual Capital Loop: After each project, the Advisor must produce an anonymized insight note and an internal learning note. This is a mandatory condition for formal project closure.
5.3 Non-Negotiable Standards
A project is not MDAF-compliant unless: the deliverable contains an explicit and unambiguous recommendation; at least two alternative scenarios have been analyzed; a risk assessment covering strategic, financial, and operational risks is included; and the Knowledge Loop contribution has been completed.
5.4 Phase Sequence
The order of MDAF phases is binding and may not be altered. This is an example of a standard timeline which runs over eight weeks, for orientation only: Weeks 1 — Gatekeeping and Matching; Weeks 2–3 — Diagnostic work; Week 4 — Intermediate Deliverable; Weeks 5–6 — Finalization and Peer Review; Week 7 — Delivery; Week 8 — Knowledge Loop.
Article 6 — Roles and Responsibilities
6.1 Lead MBA
The Lead MBA guides problem structuring, constructs and validates alternative hypotheses, ensures the robustness and traceability of data, produces the explicit final recommendation, and completes the Knowledge Loop contribution. The Lead MBA bears primary professional responsibility for the quality of the Deliverable.
6.2 Peer MBA
The Peer MBA is an integral part of the quality system, not a formality. The Peer MBA challenges assumptions, verifies logical coherence, validates the structure of the Deliverable against MDAF standards, and formally reports any deviations. No Deliverable may be presented to a Client without completed Peer Review. The Peer MBA’s role is intellectually equal to that of the Lead MBA and is compensated based on the provisions herein.
6.3 Founders
The Founders retain authority over client acceptance, Lead MBA nomination, final Deliverable validation, and enforcement of quality standards. The Founders are also responsible for communicating platform developments, methodology updates, and network opportunities to Advisors in a timely and transparent manner.
Article 7 — Financial Terms & Availability
Clarity on fees and availability protects both sides and makes collaboration predictable.
7.1 Declaration of Availability Contingent
Upon joining the platform and thereafter on a monthly basis (or at intervals specified by MENTAT), the Advisor shall declare their Availability Contingent: the maximum number of hours per month genuinely available for platform Engagements. This declaration must be made in good faith. Any material reduction in declared availability requires fourteen (14) days’ advance notice. MENTAT will respect the Advisor’s declared availability and will not request work beyond the declared contingent without express agreement.
7.2 Obligation to Submit Offers and Time Estimates
When MENTAT requests the Advisor’s participation in a project, the Advisor undertakes to respond with a written offer or time estimate within seventy-two (72) hours of receipt of the request. The offer shall specify: the proposed Deliverable Fee; any conditions or assumptions; and any constraints on availability relevant to the project timeline.
The obligation to submit an offer does not create an obligation to accept every Engagement. Advisors may decline Engagements, and doing so in good faith will not affect their standing on the platform. However, systematic non-responsiveness inconsistent with the declared Availability Contingent will be addressed through the performance monitoring process.
7.3 Acceptance and Commencement Obligation
Once MENTAT accepts the Advisor’s offer, the Advisor is bound to make themselves operationally available and to initiate their active contribution within a maximum of twenty-four (24) hours of notification of acceptance, unless a different commencement date is expressly agreed in writing. This obligation applies regardless of whether acceptance is communicated on a business day or otherwise. Failure to commence without prior written notice and legitimate cause constitutes a material breach of this Agreement.
7.4 Fee Payment and Invoicing
The Advisor shall invoice MENTAT for completed and approved work in accordance with the accepted offer and MENTAT’s invoicing procedures. Payment shall be made within sixty (60) days of receipt of a valid invoice. MENTAT commits to prompt payment and to notifying the Advisor of any dispute regarding an invoice within ten (10) business days of receipt. Where a dispute arises, MENTAT will pay the undisputed portion within the standard payment period and the parties will resolve the disputed portion in good faith.
7.5 Expenses
Unless expressly agreed in writing in advance, fees are inclusive of all costs and expenses. Reimbursement of pre-approved out-of-pocket expenses (travel, accommodation, third-party tools) requires prior written approval from MENTAT and valid receipts.
7.6 Fee Review
Advisors are encouraged to review their Deliverable Fee on a periodic basis. MENTAT commits to engaging in good faith with any fee review request and to providing transparent feedback where a proposed fee is not consistent with the platform’s commercial constraints. MENTAT will communicate market fee benchmarks to Advisors on an annual basis to support informed fee-setting.
7.7 No Guarantee of Engagements
This Agreement does not guarantee any minimum volume of work, Engagements, or income. MENTAT makes no representation as to the frequency or volume of projects available to any individual Advisor.
Article 8 — Deliverable Process, Revisions & Project Closure
Clear project boundaries protect the Advisor from scope creep and the Client from ambiguity.
8.1 Formal Delivery
A Deliverable is formally delivered when transmitted to the Client through the MENTAT platform or such other channel as is agreed in the project documentation. Upon formal delivery, the Advisor’s primary obligation on that Engagement is fulfilled, subject to the revision and closure provisions below.
8.2 Intermediate Deliverable
The Intermediate Deliverable produced is a working document for Client alignment purposes only. It is confidential and does not constitute a final recommendation. The Client may not act upon the Intermediate Deliverable as a substitute for the final Deliverable. If the Client terminates the Engagement after receiving the Intermediate Deliverable, the Advisor is entitled to partial payment from the agreed Deliverable Fee, and MENTAT will invoice the Client accordingly.
8.3 Revisions
The accepted offer for each Engagement shall specify the number of revision rounds included within the agreed fee (if not specified, one round of revisions is included as standard). A revision is defined as a request to refine, adjust, or clarify content within the scope of the original Engagement. A revision does not include requests that expand the scope of the original problem, introduce new hypotheses or scenarios not part of the original analysis, or require additional primary research. Scope expansions are treated as new Engagements and require a new offer.
8.4 Formal Project Closure
A project is formally closed, and the Advisor’s obligations on that Engagement are discharged, when: the final Deliverable has been delivered; the Peer Review has been completed and signed off; and the Knowledge Loop contribution (anonymized insight note and learning note) has been submitted. MENTAT will issue a formal closure confirmation to the Advisor upon completion of all three conditions, such a confirmation will determine the date from which the final payment obligation of MENTAT becomes due and payable, and shall serve as conclusive evidence that all conditions precedent to payment have been satisfied. Without this final confirmation, the Advisor will not be entitled to any fee.
Article 9 — Quality Control Obligations (MQCC)
9.1 Three-Level Quality System
The Advisor agrees to operate within the three-level MENTAT Quality Control Charter (MQCC):
Level 1 — Client & Project Control: applied before project acceptance. Includes Strategic Fit Review and Risk Pre-Assessment. Projects scoring below 3 on the Strategic Fit Score (5-point scale, four dimensions) will be declined.
Level 2 — Method & Logic Control: applied during the project. Includes the Diagnostic Integrity Check (five mandatory criteria) and Peer Review Protocol. Any missing criterion triggers a temporary project block.
Level 3 — Deliverable & Impact Control: applied before delivery and post-delivery. Includes Executive Clarity Audit and Impact Tracking at 3–6 months.
9.2 Peer Review Protocol
The Peer MBA completes a structured review form scoring logical robustness, data quality, and clarity of recommendation on a scale of 1–5. A score below 3 on any dimension requires mandatory revision. The Peer MBA’s review must be constructive and specific: the review form shall identify the precise issue and suggest the corrective action required.
9.3 Performance Monitoring and Feedback
Each Advisor’s performance is evaluated on: methodological compliance, analytical robustness, communicative clarity, and Knowledge Loop contribution. Ratings are on a scale of 1–5. An average below 3 triggers a formal review. MENTAT commits to sharing performance feedback with each Advisor on a project-by-project basis and to conducting a structured annual review of each Advisor’s participation. Feedback will be constructive, specific, and delivered with the intent of supporting the Advisor’s development within the network.
Article 10 — Escalation and Disciplinary Procedure
The escalation process is designed to correct problems, not to punish people. The goal is always alignment.
In the event of a material deviation from the MDAF or any other material breach of this Agreement, the following binding escalation process applies:
Step 1 — Peer Notification: the Peer MBA formally identifies and reports the deviation through the structured reporting mechanism, specifying the nature and impact of the deviation.
Step 2 — Founder Review: the Founders assess the severity of the deviation and, wherever possible, contact the Advisor directly and in good faith to understand the context before reaching any determination.
Step 3 — Mandatory Correction: the Lead MBA is required to bring the work into compliance within a defined timeframe. MENTAT will provide specific guidance on the corrective action required.
Step 4 — Suspension: in the event of failure to correct, or recurrence, the Advisor’s access to the platform may be suspended or permanently terminated.
Each step is mandatory if the relevant condition is satisfied. Wherever possible, MENTAT will seek to resolve issues through dialogue before escalating to formal measures. An Advisor subject to a disciplinary review has the right to respond in writing before a final determination is made. Art. 8.4 will be applicable in all projects.
Article 11 — Client Acceptance & Strategic Gatekeeping
All client engagements must be originated through and approved by MENTAT. The Advisor may not independently accept client mandates in the name of or in association with MENTAT. Client acceptance is governed by the Strategic Gatekeeping process requiring: direct access to the actual decision-maker; a genuinely strategic (not operational) problem; a budget consistent with strategic work; and a client open to rigorous critical engagement. If fewer than two of the four criteria are satisfied, the project is automatically declined and the Advisor has no authority to override this determination.
Article 12 — Liability of the Advisor & Platform
12.1 Advisor’s Independent Professional Liability
The Advisor is solely and exclusively liable for the content, accuracy, completeness, and professional quality of any Written Material produced by them in the course of or in connection with any Engagement. This liability arises directly from the Advisor’s independent professional standing and is not diminished or transferred by the Advisor’s participation on the MENTAT platform, nor by MENTAT’s application of its quality framework.
12.2 Warrantees for MENTAT
The Advisor guarantees the quality of their work (not the client's final economic outcome) and is therefore responsible for:
Professional quality of the work
Accuracy and completeness of analyses, data, and sources used
Compliance with the agreed scope
Confidentiality
Intellectual property of the materials used
Professional conduct
Liability for their own violations/errors
12.3 Reliance on Client-Supplied Information
The Advisor’s analysis and Written Material are necessarily based on the information available at the time of the Engagement. The Advisor is entitled to rely on Client-Supplied Information as accurate and complete without independent verification, unless the Engagement scope expressly requires data verification or audit. Where a Deliverable is later found to contain errors or inaccuracies attributable directly to incorrect or incomplete Client-Supplied Information, the Advisor’s liability shall be proportionally reduced to the extent that the error was caused by that information, provided that the Advisor processed the information in good faith and with reasonable professional care.
The Advisor shall note in every Deliverable the material Client-Supplied Information relied upon and any significant assumptions made in the analysis. This protects both the Advisor and the Client.
12.4 Limitation of MENTAT’s Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, MENTAT’s total liability to the Advisor arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall not exceed the total fees paid to the Advisor by MENTAT in the three (3) months preceding the event giving rise to the claim. MENTAT shall not be liable for any indirect, consequential, special, or punitive damages.
Article 13 — Confidentiality
The Advisor agrees to treat all information relating to MENTAT Clients, projects, methodologies, pricing, and internal processes as strictly confidential during the term of this Agreement and indefinitely after its termination. The Advisor may not disclose to any third party: Client identities or the nature of their engagements; proprietary MENTAT methodologies; Deliverables, insights, or learning notes produced in the course of a project; fee structures or commercial terms; or any information marked as confidential.
Knowledge Loop outputs shall be anonymized before sharing within the MENTAT network and may not be shared outside the network without prior written consent. MENTAT likewise commits to maintaining the confidentiality of the Advisor’s professional information, fee rates, and any personal information shared in connection with the Agreement.
Article 14 — Intellectual Property
All proprietary methodologies, frameworks, tools, templates, and systems belonging to MENTAT Advisors — including but not limited to the MDAF, MQCC, and all associated components — remain the exclusive property of MENTAT Advisors. The Advisor may use these tools solely for the purpose of performing Engagements on the platform and may not replicate, commercialize, or teach these methodologies outside the platform without prior written consent.
Knowledge Loop contributions (anonymized insights and learning notes) produced by Advisors become part of the MENTAT collective knowledge base. The Advisor grants MENTAT a non-exclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, and build upon such contributions within the platform. In recognition of the Advisor’s contribution to the collective knowledge base, MENTAT commits to making the aggregated insights of the Knowledge Loop available to all active Advisors as a professional development resource.
Project Deliverables produced for Clients belong to the respective Client, subject to any specific agreement between MENTAT and the Client. The Advisor retains no independent right to use or exploit Client Deliverables outside the scope of the project.
Article 15 — Use of Third-Party Resources, Subcontracting & AI Tools
Quality and confidentiality must be preserved regardless of the tools or support used.
15.1 No Subcontracting Without Approval
The Advisor may not subcontract, delegate, or otherwise transfer any part of an Engagement to any third party (including research assistants, analysts, or other consultants) without the prior written consent of MENTAT. Where consent is granted, the Advisor remains fully responsible for the quality and confidentiality of all work produced by any permitted third party, and must ensure that any such party is bound by confidentiality obligations at least equivalent to those in this Agreement.
15.2 Use of Artificial Intelligence Tools
The Advisor may use artificial intelligence tools and software to support their work, provided that: the use of such tools does not result in the transmission of Client-Supplied Information or confidential data to any AI system that stores, trains on, or discloses user inputs; the Advisor remains fully responsible for reviewing, validating, and standing behind any output generated with AI assistance; and any AI-assisted analysis complies with all MDAF standards and the Advisor’s professional obligations. The Advisor must disclose to MENTAT any AI tools used in the production of a Deliverable where those tools had a material role in the analysis.
15.3 Third-Party Data and Research Sources
Where the Advisor uses third-party data, research, or benchmark sources in producing a Deliverable, all such sources must be identified and cited in the Deliverable. The Advisor is responsible for ensuring that the use of such sources does not infringe any third-party intellectual property rights and that any applicable license terms are respected.
Article 16 — Record Keeping & Audit Rights
The Advisor shall maintain complete and accurate records of all work performed in connection with each Engagement, including working notes, data sources, analytical models, and communications with the Client, for a period of five (5) years following formal project closure. These records must be maintained in a form that is retrievable and legible.
MENTAT reserves the right, upon reasonable written notice and at its own cost, to review the Advisor’s project records in the event of a Client complaint, a legal or regulatory proceeding, or a quality review arising from an Engagement. The Advisor agrees to cooperate fully with any such review and to provide access to relevant records within ten (10) business days of request. MENTAT will treat all records reviewed under this clause as confidential and will use them solely for the purpose of the review.
Article 17 — Conflicts of Interest
The Advisor shall promptly disclose to MENTAT any actual or potential conflict of interest in connection with any Engagement or prospective Engagement, including: any financial or commercial interest in a Client or Client’s competitor; any personal or professional relationship with a Client’s key stakeholders that could compromise objectivity; any concurrent advisory relationship with a Client’s direct competitor; and any other circumstance that could reasonably be perceived to impair the Advisor’s independence.
Disclosure of a conflict does not automatically disqualify an Advisor from an Engagement. MENTAT will assess each disclosed conflict in good faith and, where possible, will seek to find a workable solution (such as appropriate information barriers or adjusted scope). Failure to disclose a known conflict of interest constitutes a material breach of this Agreement.
Article 18 — Non-Solicitation
18.1 Non-Solicitation of Clients
During the term of this Agreement and for twenty-four (24) months following its termination, the Advisor shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit, approach, or accept work from any Client introduced to the Advisor through the MENTAT platform, outside of the MENTAT platform and without MENTAT’s prior written consent. This restriction applies regardless of whether initial contact was made by the Advisor or by the Client. For the avoidance of doubt, this restriction does not apply to Clients with whom the Advisor had a pre-existing relationship that was formally declared prior to or at the commencement of the relevant Engagement.
18.2 Non-Solicitation of Advisors
During the term of this Agreement and for twelve (12) months following its termination, the Advisor shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit, induce, or encourage any other Advisor on the MENTAT platform to terminate or reduce their engagement with MENTAT or to join any competing advisory platform, network, or service.
18.3 Remedy
The Advisor acknowledges that a breach of this Article would cause MENTAT irreparable harm for which monetary damages alone would be an inadequate remedy, and that MENTAT shall be entitled to seek injunctive or other equitable relief in addition to any other remedies available.
Article 19 — Anti-Bribery, Anti-Corruption & Sanctions Compliance
The Advisor represents, warrants, and undertakes that, in connection with any Engagement or the performance of this Agreement, they will not, directly or indirectly: offer, promise, give, request, agree to receive, or accept any bribe, kickback, facilitation payment, or other improper payment or advantage to or from any person or entity; engage in any conduct that would constitute an offence under any applicable anti-bribery, anti-corruption, or anti-money laundering laws; engage in any transaction with, or provide services to, any person or entity subject to applicable international sanctions or trade restrictions.
The Advisor shall maintain adequate procedures designed to prevent bribery and corruption by any persons associated with them in connection with this Agreement. Any breach of this Article constitutes a material breach of this Agreement entitling MENTAT to terminate immediately, and the Advisor shall indemnify MENTAT for all losses, fines, penalties, and costs arising from such breach.
Article 20 — Data Protection
Each party agrees to comply with all applicable data protection and privacy laws in connection with the performance of this Agreement. The Advisor shall process personal data relating to Clients, MENTAT personnel, or any other individual solely for the purposes of performing their obligations under this Agreement and strictly in accordance with MENTAT’s data handling guidelines as communicated from time to time.
The Advisor shall not retain, copy, or use personal data beyond what is strictly necessary for the Engagement, and shall delete or securely return all personal data upon the conclusion of the Engagement or upon MENTAT’s written request. In the event of an actual or suspected personal data breach, the Advisor shall notify MENTAT without undue delay and in any event within forty-eight (48) hours of becoming aware, and shall cooperate fully in any required regulatory notification or remediation.
Article 21 — Representations and Warranties
The Advisor represents and warrants to MENTAT, at the time of accepting this Agreement and on a continuing basis throughout its term, that:
they hold a valid MBA degree and all other professional qualifications, licences, and registrations required to provide the advisory services contemplated by this Agreement;
they are not subject to any contractual, regulatory, or legal restriction that would prevent them from entering into or performing this Agreement;
the performance of their obligations will not infringe any third-party intellectual property rights;
all information provided to MENTAT in connection with their application and ongoing participation is true, accurate, and not misleading;
they will perform all Engagements with the skill, care, diligence, and professional standards reasonably expected of a senior MBA-qualified strategic advisor;
they are not currently the subject of any regulatory investigation, disciplinary proceeding, or professional sanctions that would materially affect their ability to provide the services contemplated by this Agreement.
Article 22 — Publicity and Use of Names
The Advisor may not, without the prior written consent of MENTAT, reference or disclose in any public communication (including but not limited to LinkedIn profiles, CVs, websites, presentations, or media interviews): the identity of any MENTAT Client; the nature, subject matter, or outcome of any Engagement; or any specific Written Material produced in the course of an Engagement.
The Advisor may state that they are a member of the MENTAT Advisors network and describe their general area of practice on the platform, provided that such description is accurate and does not imply endorsement of any specific outcome or client relationship. MENTAT will provide Advisors with approved language for describing their platform affiliation upon request. MENTAT reserves the right to feature Advisors (by name and professional summary only, without Engagement details) in platform marketing materials, subject to the Advisor’s consent.
Article 23 — MENTAT’s Commitments to Advisors
A partnership works both ways. These are MENTAT’s obligations to you.
In addition to its payment obligations under Article 7, MENTAT commits to the following in its relationship with Advisors:
Transparency: MENTAT will communicate platform strategy, methodology updates, and any changes to the terms of participation in a clear and timely manner.
Fair matching: MENTAT will use reasonable efforts to match Advisors to Engagements consistent with their declared expertise, seniority, and availability, and will not systematically favor certain Advisors without objective justification.
Feedback: MENTAT will provide constructive, project-level feedback to all Advisors and will conduct a structured annual review with each active Advisor.
Professional development: MENTAT will provide access to the collective Knowledge Loop as a professional development resource and will organize periodic network events, knowledge-sharing sessions, and methodological updates for Advisors.
Prompt payment: MENTAT will pay valid invoices within sixty (60) days and will notify Advisors of any invoice dispute within ten (10) business days.
Respect: MENTAT will treat all Advisors with the professional respect due to senior independent practitioners and will address any concerns raised by Advisors in good faith and without delay.
MENTAT’s success is built on yours. These commitments are not aspirations — they are obligations.
Article 24 — Termination
24.1 Termination by Either Party
Either party may terminate this Agreement upon thirty (30) days’ written notice to the other, without cause. Where an Engagement is in progress at the time of notice, the parties will agree in good faith on the transition of that Engagement before termination takes effect.
24.2 Immediate Termination by MENTAT
MENTAT may terminate or suspend an Advisor’s access with immediate effect in the event of: material breach of any provision of this Agreement; persistent failure to comply with the MDAF following escalation; conduct damaging MENTAT’s reputation or client relationships; misrepresentation of qualifications or professional background; breach of the anti-bribery or sanctions provisions of Article 19; or insolvency, bankruptcy, or regulatory disqualification of the Advisor.
24.3 Termination of a Specific Engagement
Either party may terminate a specific Engagement upon written notice where: the Client withdraws the mandate; the Engagement scope changes so materially that the original offer no longer applies; or a conflict of interest arises that cannot be resolved. Upon termination of a specific Engagement, the Advisor is entitled to payment for all hours worked to the date of termination at the agreed Deliverable Fee, regardless of which party initiated the termination, unless the termination was caused by the Advisor’s own material breach.
24.4 Survival
Termination of this Agreement does not extinguish obligations that by their nature survive, including: confidentiality (Article 13); intellectual property (Article 14); non-solicitation (Article 18); liability and indemnification (Article 12); anti-bribery and sanctions (Article 19); data protection (Article 20); record keeping (Article 16); and publicity (Article 22).
Article 25 — Force Majeure
Neither party shall be liable for any delay or failure to perform their obligations under this Agreement to the extent caused by circumstances beyond their reasonable control, including natural disasters, acts of government, pandemic, war, or failure of essential telecommunications infrastructure. A party seeking to rely on this clause must notify the other party promptly and take all reasonable steps to mitigate the impact of the relevant event. If a force majeure event continues for more than thirty (30) days, either party may terminate the affected Engagement (but not the Agreement itself) upon written notice, with fees due for work completed to that point.
Article 26 — Amendments
MENTAT reserves the right to amend these Terms & Conditions at any time. Advisors will be notified of material amendments through the platform with at least fifteen (15) days’ advance notice. Continued participation following notification constitutes acceptance of the revised terms. Where an amendment materially and adversely affects the Advisor’s rights or commercial position, the Advisor may terminate their participation within the notice period without penalty, with fees due for all work completed to the date of termination.
Article 27 — Governing Law and Dispute Resolution
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Romania. The parties commit to attempting to resolve any dispute through good-faith negotiation within thirty (30) days of one party notifying the other of the dispute in writing. If the dispute cannot be resolved through negotiation within that period, it shall be submitted to the exclusive binding arbitration under the rules of the Arbitral Courts of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce seated in Timisoara.
Article 28 — Miscellaneous
28.1 Entire Agreement
This Agreement, together with any project-specific documentation issued through the MENTAT platform, constitutes the entire agreement between MENTAT and the Advisor in respect of the Advisor’s platform participation and supersedes all prior representations, understandings, or agreements, whether written or oral.
28.2 Priority of Documents
In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between this Agreement and any project-specific documentation (including project briefs, acceptance letters, or scope documents), the terms of this Agreement shall prevail unless the project-specific documentation expressly and specifically states that it overrides a named provision of this Agreement.
28.3 Severability
If any provision of this Agreement is found to be invalid or unenforceable under applicable law, that provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable, and the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.
28.4 Waiver
No failure or delay by MENTAT in exercising any right or remedy under this Agreement shall constitute a waiver of that right or remedy. A waiver of any breach shall not be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach of the same or any other provision.
28.5 Assignment
The Advisor may not assign, transfer, or subcontract any rights or obligations under this Agreement without MENTAT’s prior written consent. MENTAT may assign its rights and obligations to any successor entity or in connection with a reorganization of its business, subject to fifteen (15) days’ notification to the Advisor. The Advisor may terminate this Agreement without penalty within that notification period if the assignment materially affects their interests.
28.6 Notices
All notices under this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered via the platform’s official communication channel or by email to the addresses registered by each party on the platform. Notices are deemed received on the day of transmission if sent before 18:00 on a business day, or on the next business day otherwise.
28.7 Language
This Agreement is executed in English. Where translations are provided for informational purposes, the English language version shall prevail in the event of any inconsistency.
Acceptance Declaration
By clicking the “Accept & Join MENTAT” button, I confirm that:
I hold an MBA degree from a recognized institution and all professional qualifications required to provide the advisory services described in this Agreement.
I have read and understood these Terms & Conditions in their entirety.
I agree to be bound by all obligations set out herein, including the mandatory application of the MDAF methodology, the liability and indemnification provisions of Article 12, the financial and availability commitments of Article 7, and the non-solicitation provisions of Article 18.
I understand that joining MENTAT means accepting a binding methodological framework and a shared commitment to quality, not merely a marketplace listing.
I acknowledge that I am solely liable for the professional quality and accuracy of any Written Material I produce in the course of any Engagement.
I confirm that I currently hold or will obtain professional indemnity insurance as required by Article 12.5 and will provide evidence of such coverage upon request.
I look forward to contributing to and benefiting from the collective excellence of the MENTAT network.