Privacy Policy

Effective Date: [Insert Date]

1. Introduction

Next Horizon Foundry ("we," "us," or "our") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard information when you interact with our websites, products, services, and any related applications (collectively, the "Services").

By accessing or using our Services, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please discontinue use of our Services.

2. Information We Collect

We may collect the following categories of information:

2.1 Information You Provide to Us

• Contact information (e.g., name, email address, phone number, company name, job title)
• Account information (e.g., username, password, profile details)
• Business information (e.g., startup details, funding interests, pitch content, documents you upload)
• Communications (e.g., messages you send us, feedback, support requests)
• Marketing preferences (e.g., your choices regarding newsletters or promotional materials)

2.2 Information Collected Automatically When you use our Services, we may automatically collect:

• Device and usage data (e.g., IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers)
• Log data (e.g., pages viewed, referring/exit pages, date and time of access, time spent on pages)
• Cookies and similar technologies data (e.g., web beacons, pixels, local storage) that help us recognize your browser and remember certain information

2.3 Information from Third Parties We may receive information about you from:

• Service providers (e.g., analytics providers, payment processors)
• Business partners (e.g., incubators, accelerators, or partner platforms)
• Publicly available sources (e.g., professional profiles, company websites)

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• To provide, operate, maintain, and improve our Services
• To create and manage your account
• To communicate with you, including responding to inquiries and providing customer support
• To send administrative information, such as updates to our terms or policies
• To personalize and enhance your experience (e.g., content recommendations, tailored communications)
• To analyze usage and performance of our Services and develop new features
• To support startup evaluation, matching, and related business processes when you choose to participate in such programs
• To conduct research, surveys, and other business activities relevant to startups and innovation
• To detect, prevent, and address fraud, security incidents, and other harmful or illegal activities
• To comply with legal obligations and enforce our terms, agreements, and rights

4. Legal Bases for Processing (Where Applicable)

Where required by law (such as in certain jurisdictions outside the United States), we rely on one or more of the following legal bases to process your personal information:

• Your consent
• Performance of a contract with you or to take steps at your request before entering into a contract
• Compliance with a legal obligation
• Our legitimate interests, such as operating, improving, and securing our Services and conducting business in the startup ecosystem

5. Cookies and Similar Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Remember your settings and preferences
• Keep you signed in
• Understand how you use the Services
• Improve performance and user experience

You may control cookies through your browser settings. If you disable cookies, some features of the Services may not function properly.

6. How We Share Your Information

We may share your information with:

6.1 Service Providers We share information with trusted vendors, consultants, and other service providers who perform services on our behalf, such as hosting, analytics, customer support, and payment processing. These parties are authorized to use your information only as necessary to provide services to us.

6.2 Business Partners and Startup Ecosystem Participants When relevant to our Services and with appropriate safeguards, we may share certain business-related information (for example, startup profiles, pitch materials, or company details you choose to submit) with:

• Potential partners, mentors, or advisors
• Investors or funding sources
• Accelerators, incubators, and related programs We do so to facilitate connections and opportunities within the startup ecosystem. Where required, we will seek your consent before such sharing.

6.3 Legal and Compliance We may disclose information if we believe in good faith that such action is necessary to:

• Comply with applicable laws, regulations, legal processes, or government requests
• Protect the rights, property, or safety of Next Horizon Foundry, our users, or others
• Enforce our terms and policies or investigate potential violations

6.4 Business Transfers In connection with a merger, acquisition, financing, reorganization, sale of assets, or similar business transaction, your information may be transferred as part of the transaction. We will take reasonable steps to ensure the confidentiality of any personal information involved in such transactions.

7. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to:

• Provide the Services to you
• Fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Policy
• Comply with legal, tax, and accounting obligations
• Resolve disputes and enforce agreements

When personal information is no longer required, we will take reasonable steps to delete, anonymize, or otherwise render it unusable.

8. Data Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, alteration, or disclosure. However, no method of transmission over the internet or method of electronic storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. Your Choices and Rights

Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal information
• Request deletion of your personal information
• Object to or restrict certain processing of your personal information
• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent
• Request a copy of your personal information in a portable format (data portability)

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the contact details provided in the "Contact Us" section below. We may need to verify your identity before responding to your request.

10. Children’s Privacy

Our Services are not directed to children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn that a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, we will take reasonable steps to delete such information. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact us.

11. International Data Transfers

Our Services are operated in the United States. If you access our Services from outside the United States, your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States or other countries where our service providers are located. These locations may have data protection laws that are different from those in your country. We take steps to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place when we transfer personal information across borders.

12. Third-Party Links and Services

Our Services may contain links to third-party websites, services, or applications. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those third parties. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites or services you visit or use.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the "Effective Date" at the top of this page and, where appropriate, provide additional notice (such as by posting a prominent notice on our website or sending you a notification). Your continued use of the Services after the updated Privacy Policy becomes effective indicates your acceptance of the changes.

14. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us at:

Next Horizon Foundry [Insert Contact Email Address] [Insert Mailing Address]

We will make reasonable efforts to respond to your inquiry in a timely manner.