The service
Philly Software Exchange is an independent platform connecting Philadelphia small businesses with college students for software projects. We review submissions and help with matching. We are not a university program, employer, staffing agency or party to the project agreement between a business and student.
Posting, applying and matching are free. A project itself may be paid or voluntary, as stated in its listing. No platform matching fee is currently required. Any future fee would be disclosed before a user chooses to incur it.
Your account and submissions
Use an email address you control, provide accurate information, and represent only yourself or a business you are authorized to act for. Keep sign-in codes and complete private tracking links secure. Do not impersonate someone, submit misleading opportunities, access another person’s account, or interfere with the service.
Only submit content you are entitled to share. Do not include confidential business data, passwords, tax identifiers, bank details, malicious files or material that violates another person’s rights. You keep ownership of your submitted content and permit us to store and display it as needed to operate the service, review applications and make the introductions described in the privacy policy.
Review and matching
Submitting a project does not guarantee publication, an applicant, a match or a completed project. Applying does not guarantee selection, payment or employment. We may decline or close inappropriate, misleading, unsafe or out-of-scope listings and restrict misuse of the platform.
Businesses may request separate application answers, work examples or an interview. A candidate proposal is a chance to review suitability. A platform review or introduction is not a background check, credential verification or guarantee of anyone’s abilities or reliability. Each party should assess whether the project and working relationship are suitable.
Use your dashboard to check applications, interview invitations and next steps. Businesses and students arrange interviews through the provided process and respond to updates. Wait for the match to be released before beginning project work.
Agree directly before starting
The business and student must agree in writing on scope, deliverables, deadlines, hours, revisions, compensation or volunteer status, expenses, payment dates, ownership of work, portfolio permission, maintenance and how the arrangement can end. A listing, interview or match approval alone is not that project agreement.
Businesses pay students directly through the method the parties agree on. Philly Software Exchange does not collect, hold or distribute student compensation and does not guarantee payment or provide escrow. Do not give a student unnecessary access to sensitive systems; agree on secure access and remove it when work ends.
Lawful work and taxes
Both parties are responsible for meeting the rules that apply to their arrangement. Businesses must determine the correct worker classification and meet applicable pay, payroll and reporting obligations. Calling work “volunteer” or calling someone a student or contractor does not determine its legal status. Students are responsible for understanding and meeting their own tax obligations; the platform does not verify tax payment or withhold taxes on student compensation.
Use official guidance or qualified professional advice for questions about worker classification, unpaid work, taxes or a project contract. The platform does not decide those issues for the parties.
Problems, ending projects and deleting accounts
Discuss scope changes, missed deadlines and compensation concerns directly with the other party. Contact phillysoftwareexchange@gmail.com for matching help or to report misuse. We can review platform activity and help with introductions; we cannot guarantee a resolution to a project or payment dispute.
You may leave using self-service account deletion in My dashboard. Review the consequences carefully: listings close, applications and uploaded PDFs are removed, related matches end and all website sessions are revoked. Other users retain their own submissions with a removed-project reference where needed. Previously shared copies cannot be recalled. Deletion does not cancel payment or other obligations already agreed directly with another party.
Availability and changes
The platform may change, pause or experience interruptions. Keep your own copies of important project agreements and work. We do not promise uninterrupted availability or particular project outcomes. We will update these terms when the service changes and show the revision date. Questions about the service or these terms can be sent to the contact email above.