Why identity verification is essential and why it’s a paid service

At Buildner, we are deeply committed to creating a secure, trustworthy, and fair environment for our global community of architects and designers. As one of the world’s leading architecture competition organizers, we understand the importance of maintaining the integrity of our platform, which is why we have implemented Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures. This move is not just about compliance; it’s about ensuring that every competition we host is fair, secure, and transparent.

The importance of identity verification

When participants join our competitions, they trust us to safeguard the fairness and integrity of the process. Identity verification is a critical part of this trust. By verifying the identities of all participants, we ensure that prize money is securely transferred to the rightful winners, preventing issues like identity theft and fraud. This also encourages winners to comply with appropriate tax regulations, helping to maintain legal integrity across our platform.

Moreover, KYC helps us prevent the misrepresentation or impersonation of identities. By confirming that each participant is who they claim to be, we uphold the accuracy and legitimacy of the information presented in user profiles. This fosters a community built on trust, where participants can confidently engage with one another.

Our commitment to KYC also extends to copyright compliance. By verifying the identities of our participants, we can ensure that all submitted work is original and that participants hold the necessary copyrights. This helps us preserve the fairness of our competitions and protects the intellectual property of our community.

Furthermore, KYC procedures enable us to comply with international regulations by preventing participation from individuals on international sanctions lists or from banned countries. This aligns with our internal policies and furthers our goal of maintaining a secure and compliant platform.

Our partnership with Veriff and Architects' Network (an.pro)

Through the Architects' Network platform, which seamlessly integrates Veriff, we leverage cutting-edge technology to ensure the highest level of security for our participants. Veriff’s advanced system, supported by certifications like ISO/IEC 27001:2013 and SOC 2 - Type II, enables us to handle your personal information with the utmost care. Their AI-powered verification process utilizes biometrics and sophisticated authentication methods to protect against identity theft and account takeovers.

By verifying your identity through Veriff, you help us create a safer and more reliable environment for everyone on our platform. This integration underscores our commitment to providing a secure, professional space where architects and designers can confidently showcase their talents and collaborate.

Why there is a $4.95 USD service fee for identity verification

As a specialized service provider, Veriff charges a fee for the use of their advanced identity verification technology. This fee covers the costs of maintaining and improving the robust verification infrastructure that is essential for protecting our community. Because we believe in the value of a secure and trustworthy platform, we have integrated this service into our process, ensuring that every participant’s identity is verified to the highest standards.

We understand that adding a service fee for identity verification might raise questions. However, this fee is a necessary investment in the security and integrity of our competitions. By paying for verification, you are not only protecting your own identity but also contributing to the overall trustworthiness of the Buildner platform. This ensures that our competitions remain fair, transparent, and compliant with all relevant legal and ethical standards.

In essence, this small fee is a contribution to maintaining the high standards that we at Buildner have set for our competitions. It’s about ensuring that our platform remains a place where creativity can flourish, where the competition is fair, and where every participant can feel secure knowing that their identity and work are protected.

We appreciate your understanding and support as we continue to uphold the values of trust, security, and fairness that are at the core of Buildner.