Startupedia:Privacy policy
Last updated: May 31, 2025
Overview
Startupedia is committed to empowering entrepreneurs through a collaborative platform that provides tools, resources, and community support for startups. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, protect, and share your Personal Information when you use our website, mobile apps, or related services (collectively, "Startupedia"). By using Startupedia, you agree to the practices described in this Policy.
We prioritize transparency and collect minimal Personal Information. We do not sell or rent your Personal Information to third parties for marketing purposes.
What Information We Collect
Information You Provide
- Account Creation: You can use Startupedia without an account, but if you choose to create one, we require only a username and password. Providing an email address is optional for features like password recovery or notifications.
- Public Contributions: Content you post, such as project updates, forum posts, or comments, is publicly visible and linked to your username (if logged in) or IP address (if not logged in).
- Optional Information: You may voluntarily provide additional details, such as demographic information (e.g., industry focus or location), through surveys or profile settings. We will specify whether this information is public or private.
Information Collected Automatically
- Usage Data: We collect data about how you interact with Startupedia, including pages visited, features used, and session duration, to improve our platform.
- Device Information: We receive details like your device type, browser, operating system, and IP address, which may indicate your general location.
- Cookies and Similar Technologies: We use cookies and local storage to enhance functionality, such as remembering your preferences or tracking usage patterns. You can manage cookie settings in your browser, though disabling them may affect some features.
- Location Data: With your consent, we may use GPS or other technologies to offer location-based content, like nearby startup events. You can disable this in your device settings.
- Metadata: Uploaded content, like images, may include metadata (e.g., timestamp or location). Adjust your device settings to prevent this.
How We Use Your Information
We use your information to:
- Enhance Startupedia’s usability, security, and functionality.
- Provide personalized content, such as tailored resources or event suggestions.
- Analyze usage trends to improve our services and understand user needs.
- Send optional notifications or updates, such as news about Startupedia or changes to followed projects, with your consent.
- Protect against spam, fraud, or abuse and ensure compliance with our policies.
We share your Personal Information only in the following cases:
- With Your Consent: We share information for specific purposes if you agree, such as connecting your profile with a partner organization.
- Public Contributions: Content you post publicly, like forum posts, is visible to everyone and may be redistributed by others.
- Service Providers: We share information with third-party providers (e.g., hosting or analytics services) to operate Startupedia. These providers are bound by confidentiality agreements to protect your data.
- Legal Obligations: We may disclose information if required by a valid legal process, such as a court order, and will notify you when possible unless legally prohibited.
- Protection of Startupedia and Others: We may share information to prevent harm, enforce our policies, or address security threats, such as fraud or vandalism.
- Research and Development: We may share non-personal or aggregated data with researchers or developers to improve Startupedia, with safeguards to protect your privacy.
How We Protect Your Information
We use industry-standard technical and organizational measures, such as encryption and access controls, to protect your Personal Information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. However, no system is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
We will never request your password via email. If you receive such a request, please report it to privacy@startupedia.com.
How Long We Keep Your Information
We retain Personal Information only as long as necessary to provide our services, improve Startupedia, or comply with legal obligations. Most Personal Information is deleted or anonymized within 90 days, except for public contributions, which remain linked to your username or IP address for transparency. Non-personal data may be retained indefinitely for analytics.
Your Rights
You have the right to:
- Access or update your Personal Information via your account settings.
- Request deletion of certain Personal Information by contacting us, though public contributions cannot be fully removed due to their permanent nature.
- Opt out of notifications or location-based features through your settings.
- Request a copy of your data for transfer to another service.
To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@startupedia.com. We will respond in accordance with applicable laws.
Important Information
Location of Startupedia
Startupedia is operated from the United States. By using our services, you consent to your Personal Information being processed and stored in the U.S. and potentially transferred to other countries with varying data protection laws.
Do Not Track (DNT) Signals
We do not share your Personal Information for marketing purposes, so we do not alter our practices based on DNT signals. Learn more in our FAQ.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Policy to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Significant changes will be announced on Startupedia and via email (if you’ve provided one) at least 30 days before they take effect. Minor changes, like grammatical corrections, will be posted with at least 3 days’ notice. Continued use of Startupedia after updates constitutes acceptance of the revised Policy.
Contact Us
For questions or to exercise your rights, email us at privacy@startupedia.wiki or write to:
- Startupedia Privacy Office
- 123 Innovation Drive
- San Francisco, CA 94105
- USA
For data protection queries in the European Economic Area or United Kingdom, contact our representative:
- Data Protection Representative
- 123 Innovation Drive
- San Francisco, CA 94105
- USA
- Email: dpo@startupedia.wiki
You may also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.