Cloudflare, Inc. The Cold Start: The Pitch Competition

Official Rules

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS CONTEST. A PURCHASE OR PAYMENT WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA, AND WHERE PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED BY LAW.

1. Sponsor: The Cold Start: The Pitch Competition (“Contest”) is sponsored by Cloudflare, Inc., 101 Townsend Street, San Francisco, CA 94107 (“Sponsor”).

2. Contest Period: The Contest will begin on September 10, 2026 at 9:00 AM PDT (“Start Time”) and end on October 2, 2026 at 11:59 PM PDT (“Contest Period”). Sponsor’s computer or that of its designee shall serve as the official time keeping device for the Contest.

3. Eligibility: To enter and be eligible to win, entrants (“Entrants”) must: (1) be a legal resident of the United States or Canada; (2) be eighteen (18) years of age or older as of the Start Time; (3) represent a company or startup that has raised less than USD $10,000,000 in total funding as of the Start Time and is not in stealth mode, waitlist-only, or idea-only stage; and (4) have a real product or working prototype. The Contest is subject to all applicable laws and regulations, and is void where prohibited. The following individuals are not eligible to enter or win the Contest:

   • Individuals subject to sanctions or otherwise designated on any list of prohibited or restricted parties, including but not limited to the lists maintained by the U.S. Government (e.g., the Specially Designated Nationals List and Foreign Sanctions Evaders List of the U.S. Department of Treasury, and the Entity List of the U.S. Department of Commerce), the United Kingdom, the European Union or its Member States, or other applicable government authority;
   • Employees, officers, and directors of Sponsor, its affiliates, subsidiaries, and agencies, and their immediate families (parents, siblings, children, and spouses of each, regardless of where they live) and members of the households (whether related or not) of such employees, officers, and directors; and
   • Employees, officers, and directors of any federal, state, local, or foreign government department, agency, public sector enterprise, or state-owned entity.

4. How to Enter: During the Contest Period, Entrants must complete and submit an application at https://forms.gle/oBoBwUD5CVhqXqRu6 (the “Application”). To submit a valid Application, Entrants must provide all required information and indicate their agreement to these Official Rules by selecting “Yes” on the Terms and Conditions within the Application form (each completed Application, a “Submission”). All Submissions must be received by the end of the Contest Period. Submissions received after the end of the Contest Period, or that are incomplete, illegible, or otherwise not in compliance with these Official Rules, will be void. Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, misdirected, or incomplete Submissions. By submitting an Application, Entrant confirms that their company and representatives meet all eligibility requirements set forth in Section 3. Sponsor reserves the right to verify the eligibility of any Entrant at any time. All Submissions must abide by the following criteria (“Submission Criteria”):

   • Submissions must describe how Cloudflare fits into the Entrant’s stack and use Cloudflare’s developer platform to build their application.
   • Submissions must be Entrant’s own original content and creation. Entrants may not copy or otherwise plagiarize Submissions from any source, nor may Submissions include third-party copyrighted material or artwork without the copyright holder’s permission. By entering, Entrants warrant that their Submissions do not infringe any third party’s rights, and that they have obtained any necessary permissions from all relevant third parties to submit the Submissions. Entrants hereby agree to indemnify Sponsor against any and all claims from any third party for any use by Sponsor of the Submissions.
   • Submissions may not contain personal attacks on anyone or any discernible product, including competitor products.
   • Submissions may not involve weapons, sexual content, political content, illegal activity, or other content or subject matter that Sponsor, in its sole discretion, determines to be inappropriate.

   Sponsor reserves the right to exclude any Submission that it believes, in its sole discretion, does not meet the Submission Criteria or otherwise violates these Official Rules. Persons may not enter using robotic, programmed, or any other automated means of entry. Each Entrant is limited to one (1) Submission.

5. Conditions of Entry: By entering, Entrants (1) acknowledge compliance with these Official Rules, including all eligibility requirements, and (2) agree to be bound by the decisions of the Sponsor and/or judges, made in their sole discretion, which shall be final and binding in all matters relating to this Contest. The Official Rules do not supersede but work in conjunction with the Cloudflare Website and Online Services Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. ENTRANTS WHO HAVE NOT COMPLIED WITH THESE OFFICIAL RULES ARE SUBJECT TO DISQUALIFICATION AND ALL ASSOCIATED SUBMISSIONS WILL BE VOID. Sponsor is not responsible for late, lost, damaged, stolen, misdirected, mutilated, garbled, incomplete, undelivered, or inaccurate Submissions. Proof of transmission does not constitute proof of delivery. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any Entrant’s entry in the Contest or entitlement to a prize, if, in the sole discretion of the Sponsor, it determines or suspects that the Entrant has attempted to undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest by cheating, hacking, deception, or other fraudulent, deceptive or unfair playing practices (including any Submissions generated by script, macro, robotic, programmed, or any other automated means and Submissions by any means which subvert the entry process). If a dispute arises regarding who entered the Submission, the Submission will be deemed to be submitted by the authorized account holder associated with the entry. “Authorized account holder” is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an email address, by an Internet access provider, online service provider, or other organization responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the email address.

6. Finalist Selection: From eligible Submissions received during the Contest Period, Sponsor will select five (5) finalists (“Finalists”) based on (1) product quality (20%), (2) market opportunity and traction (20%), (3) team and pitch strength (20%), (4) the range of Cloudflare products and services used, and (5) variety of industries represented (20%), scored on a scale of 1–5. In the event of a tie, Finalists will be determined by the highest score in the “product quality” category. Finalists will be notified in advance of Cloudflare Connect and will each have ten (10) minutes to present their company live on stage at Cloudflare Connect, Moscone West, San Francisco, California, on October 19, 2026. Sponsor may provide reasonable travel and hotel accommodations and tickets to Cloudflare Connect for up to two (2) representatives per Finalist, as determined by Sponsor. Finalists are responsible for passports, visas, travel documents, incidentals, meals, personal expenses, and any costs not approved by Sponsor. Travel benefits are not transferable or redeemable for cash.

7. Winner Selection: Potential winners will be announced at Cloudflare Connect. The judging criteria will be the same as the Finalist Selection criteria described in Section 6, above. The decision of judges will be final. The potential winners may be sent a declaration of eligibility and liability / intellectual property / publicity release (“Release”). The potential winners must be physically present at Cloudflare Connect to be eligible.

8. Prizes: The following prizes will be awarded in connection with the Contest:

   • Grand Prize (1 winner): One (1) Finalist selected by the judges will receive (i) a billboard advertisement in San Francisco, California, the content, placement, and specifications of which shall be determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion (Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”): USD 100,000); (ii) USD 500,000 in Cloudflare platform credits valid for twelve (12) months starting from the date the prize is awarded (ARV: USD 500,000); and (iii) an invitation to the Cloudflare Connect VIP Speakers Dinner (ARV: USD 200).
   • Secondary Prize (1 winner): One (1) Finalist selected by live audience vote will receive USD 100,000 in Cloudflare platform credits valid for twelve (12) months starting from the date the prize is awarded (ARV: USD 100,000).

   Actual retail value of the prize may differ from stated ARV and Sponsor will not award any difference between actual value and ARV. Prize recipients are solely responsible for any taxes associated with prize acceptance. Prizes are not transferable or redeemable for cash.

9. License: By participating in the Contest, each Entrant grants Sponsor the right, without limitation, to use the Entrant’s name, city, state, likeness, photo, and/or Submission (“Content”) in connection with the Contest for promotional, advertising or other purposes, and to display the Content in any media now known or hereinafter developed. Entrants further agree to grant to the Sponsor a world-wide, royalty free, non-exclusive, perpetual, irrevocable license to reproduce and use the Content for any purpose whatsoever without compensation or further permission, including but not limited to an irrevocable and perpetual, royalty-free, worldwide right, in all media (now known or later developed) to assign, sub-license, use, publish, edit, adapt, modify, alter, reproduce, distribute, broadcast, display, copyright, create derivative works or otherwise exploit the Content for commercial or non-commercial use, and without compensation to the Entrant. If requested, Entrants will sign any documentation that may be required for Sponsor or its designees to make use of the non-exclusive rights Entrant is granting to Sponsor. Additionally, the Entrant agrees to provide Sponsor with the GitHub repository or URL of their Submission.

10. Privacy: Sponsor will collect personal information about Entrants when they participate in the Contest. Sponsor will use and share personal information in order to fulfill the requirements of the Contest. For example, the Sponsor may share personal information with third parties who help to administer the Contest. By participating in the Contest and agreeing to these Official Rules, Entrant hereby consents to the Sponsor using Entrant’s personal information in this manner. Information submitted to Sponsor as part of the Contest will be treated in accordance with the privacy policy located at https://user.xiaoitweb.top/privacypolicy/.

11. Release: By participating in the Contest, Entrants agree: (1) to be bound by these Official Rules and any other documents required by Sponsor herein and by the decisions of the Sponsor, and to waive any right to claim ambiguity in this Contest, these Official Rules or any other documents required by Sponsor herein, (2) to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Sponsor and its officers, directors, employees, shareholders, representatives and agents (collectively, “Released Parties”) from and against any and all liability, claims, losses, damages, demands, causes of action, penalties and expenses arising out of or related to any statement, action or failure to act by Entrant during or in connection with his/her participation herein and/or any breach or alleged breach of these Official Rules or of any other documents required by Sponsor and, (3) not to sue and to hereby irrevocably and unconditionally release, discharge and hold harmless the Released Parties from any and all liabilities, claims and demands of any kind or nature whatsoever, in law or equity, whether known or unknown, which recipient (or recipient’s successors-in-interest, heirs and/or agents) ever had, now have, or in the future may have against the Released Parties, including, but not limited to claims arising out of or related to personal injury (including death) and/or damage, theft, loss or any other harm resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from (i) participation in the Contest or any Contest related activity, (ii) the acceptance, possession, misuse or use of the prize, (iii) the use of any of the rights granted herein (including, without limitation, the use and exploitation of the Content), (iv) any malfunction or other problem with any Contest website, webpage, or mobile application, (v) any error in the collection or retention of entry information, and (vi) any typographical or other error in the printing, offering or announcement of any prize.

12. Limitations of Liability: RELEASED PARTIES ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR: (1) ANY INCORRECT OR INACCURATE INFORMATION, WHETHER CAUSED BY AN ENTRANT, PRINTING, TYPOGRAPHICAL OR OTHER ERRORS OR BY ANY OF THE EQUIPMENT OR PROGRAMMING ASSOCIATED WITH OR UTILIZED IN THE CONTEST; (2) TECHNICAL FAILURES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO MALFUNCTIONS, INTERRUPTIONS, OR DISCONNECTIONS IN PHONE LINES OR NETWORK HARDWARE OR SOFTWARE; (3) UNAUTHORIZED HUMAN INTERVENTION IN ANY PART OF THE ENTRY PROCESS OR THE CONTEST; (4) PRINTING, TYPOGRAPHICAL, TECHNICAL, COMPUTER, NETWORK OR HUMAN ERROR WHICH MAY OCCUR IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE CONTEST, THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE PRIZES OR IN ANY CONTEST-RELATED MATERIALS; (5) LATE, LOST, UNDELIVERABLE, INACCESSIBLE, CORRUPTED, DAMAGED, DELETED OR STOLEN ENTRIES; OR (6) ANY INJURY OR DAMAGE TO PERSONS OR PROPERTY WHICH MAY BE CAUSED, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, FROM ENTRANT’S PARTICIPATION IN THE CONTEST OR RECEIPT OR USE OR MISUSE OF ANY PRIZE. EXCEPT WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW, EVERYTHING REGARDING THIS CONTEST, INCLUDING THE PRIZE, IS PROVIDED “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT.

13. Termination / Suspension / Modification of Contest: If for any reason this Contest is not capable of running as planned, including, but not limited to, infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud or any other causes beyond the reasonable control of Sponsor which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, fulfillment or proper conduct of the Contest, Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to terminate, modify, or suspend the Contest. Sponsor may also disqualify or prohibit an Entrant from participating in the Contest or winning a prize in this or any other promotion conducted by Sponsor if, at its sole discretion, it determines that said Entrant has violated the Official Rules or has threatened or is attempting to undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest by cheating, hacking, deception or other unfair playing practices (including the use of automated quick-entry programs), or intending to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other Entrants or Sponsor’s representatives. ANY ATTEMPT BY AN ENTRANT TO DELIBERATELY UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST MAY BE IN VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS. SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK REMEDIES AND DAMAGES (INCLUDING ATTORNEY’S FEES) FROM ANY SUCH ENTRANT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW, INCLUDING CRIMINAL PROSECUTION.

14. Mandatory Arbitration: BY ENTERING THE CONTEST, EACH ENTRANT AGREES THAT DISPUTES WILL BE RESOLVED AS FOLLOWS: THE CONTEST IS GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, WITHOUT REGARD TO ANY CONFLICTS OF LAW PROVISIONS. ALL DISPUTES, CLAIMS OR DEMANDS THAT RELATE TO THESE OFFICIAL RULES OR THE CONTEST WILL FIRST BE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE OTHER PARTY AND WILL BE RESOLVED INDIVIDUALLY, WITHOUT RESORT TO ANY FORM OF CLASS ACTION. THE RECEIVING PARTY SHALL HAVE SIXTY (60) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF SUCH NOTICE TO REMEDY THE DESCRIBED BREACH OR VIOLATION AND NOTIFY THE COMPLAINING PARTY IN WRITING OF THE RESOLUTION. IF THE DISPUTE, CLAIM OR DEMAND IS NOT RESOLVED TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE COMPLAINANT WITHIN SIXTY (60) DAYS, THE COMPLAINANT MAY REQUEST AN INFORMAL RESOLUTION CONFERENCE (MEDIATION), WHICH IF AGREED TO BY THE OTHER PARTY WILL BE SCHEDULED TO OCCUR WITHIN TWENTY-ONE (21) DAYS OF THE WRITTEN RESPONSE. EACH PARTY SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE REPRESENTED AT SUCH A CONFERENCE BY COUNSEL AND WILL ENSURE THAT A DECISION-MAKER WITH FULL AND COMPLETE AUTHORITY TO RESOLVE THE DISPUTE ATTENDS THE CONFERENCE. SUCH CONFERENCE WILL BE IN FRONT OF A THIRD PARTY MEDIATOR CHOSEN BY THE PARTIES. IF THE PARTIES DO NOT AGREE TO CONFERENCE OR ARE UNABLE TO RESOLVE A DISPUTE AFTER SUCH A CONFERENCE, THE PARTIES AGREE THAT EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION FOR ANY DISPUTE, CLAIM OR DEMAND RELATED IN ANY WAY TO THESE RULES WILL BE DECIDED BY BINDING ARBITRATION. ALL DISPUTES BETWEEN THE PARTIES, OF WHATSOEVER KIND OR NATURE ARISING OUT OF THESE RULES, SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO JAMS (www.jamsadr.com) FOR BINDING ARBITRATION UNDER ITS APPLICABLE RULES THEN IN EFFECT, BEFORE ONE ARBITRATOR TO BE MUTUALLY AGREED UPON BY BOTH PARTIES IN THE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. THE PARTIES AGREE TO SHARE EQUALLY IN THE ARBITRATION COSTS INCURRED.

15. List of Winners: A list of winners will be available upon request for one (1) year after the announcement of the winners. Please send any request for such a list to marissa@cloudflare.com. The names of the potential winners may, at the sole discretion of the Company, be posted on the Company’s website.