# Explore Agreement **Version 1.0** *Published and maintained as open source by Merge Combinator under CC BY 4.0. Used to clearly document early partnership exploration, including expectations and deliverables for partners and entrepreneurs. This agreement can stand alone, but it does not limit other agreements or rights. Suggest a change at: github.com/mergecombinator/standard.* --- This agreement is between **{{first_party_name}}** (the first party) and **{{counterparty_name}}** (the second party), effective **{{effective_date}}**. For thirty days after the effective date, the parties will evaluate whether to pursue this opportunity together: > {{opportunity}} --- ## 1. What each party produces Each party will deliver one concrete result by the date below. Each result should be small enough to complete within thirty days alongside normal work. | Party | Deliverable | Due date | |---|---|---| | First party | {{deliverable_mc}} | {{deliverable_mc_date}} | | Second party | {{deliverable_cp_1}} | {{deliverable_cp_1_date}} | | {{deliverable_cp_2_who}} | {{deliverable_cp_2}} | {{deliverable_cp_2_date}} | *A concrete result could be a prototype tested with five users, ten customer interviews with notes, a written acquisition-path assessment, three introductions followed by completed calls, or a one-page technical assessment.* If a party does not deliver, the Explore ends on the review date with no penalty or claim. That result is still useful because it tells the parties not to proceed. The deliverable exists so that, thirty days later, the parties can review evidence instead of remembering a conversation. ## 2. The review **Review date: {{review_date}}** (thirty days from the effective date) On the review date, the parties meet once, review the work, and choose one: - **Proceed.** Sign the Pursue Agreement and assign roles. - **Stop.** Walk away. Nothing is owed. - **Extend once.** Agree in writing to thirty more days and name new deliverables. There is no second extension. ## 3. What moves this to Pursue All three of the following have to be true. Anything less is a stop or an extension. 1. **Every party produced what they named.** 2. **Demand exists outside this room.** At least five people who are not friends of the team described the problem in their own words, or one party has a written expression of interest, a letter of intent, or money on the table. 3. **Every core role needed for Pursue has a named owner.** The person does not have to be permanent, but they must own the role through Pursue. ## 4. Confidentiality, both directions Each party may share information that is not public. The receiving party will use it only to evaluate this opportunity, protect it with at least the care used for its own confidential information, and share it only with people who need it and are bound by these same terms. This obligation lasts two years from the effective date. It does not apply to information already public through no fault of the receiving party, already held by the receiving party, developed independently, or received from a third party with no duty of confidence. It also does not apply when a law, regulation, or court requires disclosure. When legally permitted, the party required to disclose will notify the other first. ## 5. What each party keeps Each party keeps everything it brought and everything it produces under section 1. Neither party assigns, licenses, or transfers any intellectual property, data, or other rights under this agreement. If the parties decide to create something jointly, they will agree in writing on ownership and permitted use before creating it. ## 6. No exclusivity Each party remains free to talk to anyone, work on anything, and pursue this opportunity separately or with others. Neither party restricts whom the other hires, works with, or sells to. ## 7. No money, no equity, no obligation to continue Neither party owes the other a fee, a share, or reimbursement. Each party bears its own costs. Either party may end this agreement before the review date, for any reason, without explanation or penalty. ## 8. It expires on its own This agreement ends on the review date unless both parties sign an extension or a Pursue Agreement. Section 4 survives for its full two years. ## 9. Entire agreement This is the entire agreement between the parties on this subject and replaces all prior discussions and agreements about it. Any change must be in writing and signed by both parties. The laws of {{governing_state}} govern this agreement. --- **First party** Name {{mc_signer_name}} Signature {{mc_signature}} Title {{mc_signer_title}} Date {{mc_sign_date}} **Second party** Name {{cp_signer_name}} Signature {{cp_signature}} Title {{cp_signer_title}} Date {{cp_sign_date}} --- ## Merge fields (for Sign) Every blank in this document is a named token, `{{like_this}}`. The tokens below are the complete set. Nothing else in the text changes when a copy is filled in. The section 1 table is **fixed at three rows** so a frozen AcroForm PDF can express it. The third row is optional and renders blank when unused. | Field | Type | Notes | |---|---|---| | `first_party_name` | text | Legal name of the first party. Sign defaults this to Merge Combinator, LLC | | `counterparty_name` | text | Legal name of the second party | | `effective_date` | date | | | `opportunity` | long text | Two lines | | `deliverable_mc` | text | | | `deliverable_mc_date` | date | | | `deliverable_cp_1` | text | | | `deliverable_cp_1_date` | date | | | `deliverable_cp_2_who` | text | Responsible party for the optional third row. Blank if unused | | `deliverable_cp_2` | text | Third row, blank if unused | | `deliverable_cp_2_date` | date | Blank if unused | | `review_date` | date | Effective date plus 30 | | `governing_state` | text | | | `mc_signature` | text | Typed name, filled when Merge countersigns | | `mc_signer_name` | text | Filled when Merge countersigns | | `mc_signer_title` | text | Filled when Merge countersigns | | `mc_sign_date` | date | Filled when Merge countersigns | | `cp_signature` | text | Typed name, filled when the counterparty signs | | `cp_signer_name` | text | Filled when the counterparty signs | | `cp_signer_title` | text | Filled when the counterparty signs | | `cp_sign_date` | date | Filled when the counterparty signs | ## Changelog - **1.0** (2026-10-01) First published version. Drafts before this date are in the repository history.