Ismene.ai · The Counsel Project

Terms of Service

Effective date: April 2026 · Operated by Luminous Consulting LLC

Attorney review in progress. These terms are effective immediately and will be reviewed by legal counsel within 30 days of platform launch.

1. Acceptance of terms

By accessing or using The Counsel Project platform at ismene.ai ("Platform"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms") and our Privacy Policy. These Terms are between you and Luminous Consulting LLC ("we," "us," or "our"). If you do not agree, do not use the Platform.

2. Age requirement

You must be at least 13 years old to use this Platform. By registering, you confirm that you are 13 or older. If you are under 18, you represent that your parent or guardian has reviewed and agrees to these Terms on your behalf.

3. Platform description

The Counsel Project is an AI-powered college and career counseling platform. It provides career exploration tools, college planning guidance, AI-generated recommendations, and access to a marketplace of independent counselors. The Platform is for informational and guidance purposes only and does not constitute professional academic, legal, financial, or psychological advice.

4. Account registration

You must create an account to access most Platform features. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activity under your account. You must provide accurate information during registration, including your date of birth.

5. Subscriptions and payments

The Platform offers a 30-day free trial with full access, after which continued use of premium features requires a paid subscription. Subscriptions are billed monthly. Counselor sessions are charged separately at rates set by independent counselors, with a 15–20% platform fee. All payments are processed by Stripe. Refunds are handled on a case-by-case basis — contact manish@ismene.ai.

6. Independent counselors

Counselors available through the Platform are independent contractors, not employees of Luminous Consulting LLC. We verify counselor identity and track session completion and ratings, but we do not guarantee the quality or outcome of any counseling session. Your relationship with a counselor is directly between you and that counselor.

7. AI-generated content

The Platform uses AI to generate personalized recommendations and guidance. AI-generated content is provided for informational purposes only. We do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of AI-generated recommendations. Always verify important information (deadlines, admissions requirements, financial aid) from official sources.

8. User content

You retain ownership of content you upload (transcripts, activity records, etc.). By uploading content, you grant us a limited license to process and use that content to provide Platform services. You are responsible for ensuring you have the right to upload any content you submit.

9. Prohibited conduct

You may not use the Platform to impersonate others, upload false or misleading information, attempt to access other users' accounts or data, use automated means to scrape or extract data, or engage in any activity that violates applicable law.

10. Intellectual property

The Platform, including its design, code, content, and AI systems, is owned by Luminous Consulting LLC and protected by intellectual property laws. You may not copy, modify, or distribute any part of the Platform without our written permission.

11. Disclaimer of warranties

The Platform is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind. We do not warrant that the Platform will be uninterrupted, error-free, or that AI recommendations will lead to specific outcomes (college acceptances, career placements, etc.).

12. Limitation of liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Luminous Consulting LLC shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from your use of the Platform. Our total liability to you shall not exceed the amount you paid us in the 12 months preceding the claim.

13. Governing law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of California. Any disputes shall be resolved in the courts of Contra Costa County, California.

14. Changes to terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by email or in-app notification. Continued use of the Platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

15. Contact

Questions about these Terms? Contact us at: Luminous Consulting LLC, manish@ismene.ai.