Privacy Policy

FounderBridge ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard data when you apply to join or use the FounderBridge platform.

1. Information We Collect

When you submit a founder application, we collect:

• Personal identifiers: name, email address, LinkedIn URL
• Professional information: company name, website, location, startup stage, industry
• Self-reported preferences: what you are looking for, what you can offer, founder bio
• Consent records: newsletter opt-in, terms acceptance

We do not collect payment information, government IDs, or sensitive personal data.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information you provide to:

• Review and process your membership application
• Match you with other relevant founders in the network
• Facilitate warm introductions between members
• Send the FounderBridge weekly newsletter (if you opt in)
• Feature you in the Founder Spotlight (if you consent)
• Improve our matching algorithm and platform quality

We do not sell your personal data to third parties. We do not use your information for targeted advertising.

3. How We Share Your Information

Your profile information is shared only with:

• Approved members: Your profile (excluding your email) is visible to other approved FounderBridge members in the directory.
• Matched founders: When we facilitate an introduction, we share your name, company, and relevant profile context with the other founder.
• Newsletter recipients: If you opt in to the Founder Spotlight, your name, company, and spotlight content will be included in our newsletter.
• Service providers: We may use third-party tools (e.g., email delivery, database hosting) that process data on our behalf under data processing agreements.

4. Data Retention

We retain your application data for as long as your membership is active. If your application is rejected, we retain your data for 12 months in case of re-application, then delete it. You may request deletion at any time by emailing privacy@founderbridge.net.

5. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate data
• Request deletion of your data
• Withdraw consent for newsletter communications at any time
• Request that we not facilitate introductions using your profile

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at privacy@founderbridge.net.

6. Cookies

We use minimal cookies for session management and basic analytics. We do not use third-party advertising cookies. You can disable cookies in your browser settings, though some platform features may not function correctly.

7. Security

We implement industry-standard security measures including HTTPS encryption, access controls, and regular security reviews. However, no system is completely secure and we cannot guarantee absolute security of your data.

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify members of material changes via email. Continued use of FounderBridge after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

9. Contact

For privacy-related questions or requests, contact us at privacy@founderbridge.net.