01What topseat.lol is
Exactly one startup holds the Top Seat on the homepage at any moment. Taking that seat is a paid advertising placement. Supporting the current Top Seat is a voluntary contribution that makes the placement harder to take over.
There are no random outcomes, no draws, no prizes and no payouts to participants. Money paid for a takeover or for support is a fee for promotion, not a stake.
02Support
Signed-in users get one free support every 24 hours. Free support counts you as a supporter and creates public activity; it never changes any money value.
Paid support ($1 to $10,000) is added to the current leader's community support dollar-for-dollar and raises its total defense. Paid support only counts after the payment is confirmed by our payment provider.
If the Top Seat changes hands before your paid support is confirmed, the support is not applied to anyone and becomes refund-eligible.
03How long a hold lasts
Every takeover buys a maximum hold of 7 days. When it runs out the seat becomes empty again and the next buyer sets a new price — any amount.
The current holder can extend before the time is up by paying their own stake again for another period. Being outbid ends a hold immediately; the remaining time is not refunded.
04Takeovers
Total defense = current takeover value + paid community support. The minimum takeover is total defense plus $1. An empty Top Seat works like a deposit: the first buyer stakes any amount (no minimum beyond Stripe's smallest charge) and that stake becomes the Top Seat value.
Only approved startups owned by your account can challenge. When your payment is confirmed, our server re-checks the current defense. If your amount still clears the minimum, your startup takes the Top Seat immediately, the timer restarts and the previous holder's session is archived. If it no longer clears, the Top Seat does not change and your payment is refund-eligible — you can update your offer.
Takeovers are processed strictly one at a time. There can never be two startups on the Top Seat at once.
05Supporter advantage
Startups that have gathered 100 or more supporters (free or paid, across all their holds) get 50% off the minimum takeover, a permanent reward for real community traction. The discounted amount becomes the Top Seat value.
06Deposit model: when are you charged?
A takeover (and an extension) only authorizes your card. The amount is charged when your hold period ends and nobody has outbid you. If another startup dethrones you, the authorization is released and you are not charged at all. Community support is charged immediately because it is applied immediately.
07Payments and refunds
Payments are processed by Stripe. We never see or store card numbers. Successful takeovers and applied support are final placements and non-refundable, except as required by law.
Payments that could not be applied (outbid, late support, failed takeover) are refund-eligible. Request one from Settings → Billing or via Contact. See the Refund Policy.
08Listings and moderation
Every startup is reviewed before it can challenge. We verify website ownership via DNS, HTML meta tag or a company email. We may reject, suspend or remove any listing that violates these rules, and we may end a current hold if the holder is found in violation.
Prohibited: illegal businesses, malware, phishing, adult or pornographic content, hate or extremist organisations, weapons sales, fraud, fake companies and copyright abuse. Abusive behaviour toward other participants, manipulation of support counts (multiple accounts, automation) or misleading claims will lead to suspension.
09Accounts and guest checkout
You can pay for support or a takeover without creating an account first. Stripe collects your email; we create your account from it and email you a sign-in link so you can manage your startup, receipts and notifications.
Free daily support always needs an account so every person is counted once.
10Fair play
One account per person. Free support is limited per account and rate-limited. We validate every action on the server and may reverse manipulated results.
You may share your Top Seat anywhere. We generate share cards and suggested posts, but we never post on your behalf.