How we handle ideas and confidentiality

Sharing an idea takes trust. This page explains what to share, and when, so that you can decide what's right for you.

1. Your first submission is non-confidential

Our enquiry and application forms only ask for a non-confidential summary: the problem, who has it, and the product you have in mind. Please don't include source code, trade secrets, proprietary algorithms, confidential business documents or other sensitive information.

2. We check for conflicts before engaging

Before an engagement is approved, we consider our existing products, work we've developed independently, and commitments we've already made to other clients. If there's an overlap that matters, we'll tell you.

3. Confidential detail comes after an agreement

If we both want to go further, we'll explain our confidentiality process and agree an appropriate confidentiality agreement before asking for detailed materials.

4. Accepted projects are documented

• The scope, ownership terms and responsibilities are written down and agreed.
• Access to repositories, documents and tools is limited to the people working on the project.
• Specialists who join a project agree to confidentiality and intellectual property terms before they get access.

What a confidentiality agreement can and can't do

A confidentiality agreement protects the specific information you share with us. It doesn't make an idea exclusively yours, and it can't prevent anyone, including us, from independently developing similar ideas without using your confidential information. Ideas in the same space often arise independently.

Questions about this process? Email hello@hatchandship.com.