Privacy Policy

At iStart Valley, we are deeply committed to protecting your privacy. As a nonprofit accelerator for entrepreneurs and innovators, we work with students, parents, mentors, sponsors, and community partners. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share, and safeguard your information when you visit our website, participate in our programs, or engage with our services.

By using our website and programs, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy.

1. Information We Collect

We may collect the following types of information:

Personal Information: Your name, email address, phone number, mailing address, and other details you provide when applying for programs, signing up for events, or making donations.
Student Information: School details, grade level, academic interests, and parent/guardian contact information (with consent required for minors under 18).
Technical Information: Device type, IP address, browser type, operating system, and website usage data through cookies and analytics tools.
Financial Information: Limited payment details for program fees or donations, which are securely processed by third-party payment providers (we do not store your full credit card information).

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

Administer and improve our programs and services.
Communicate updates, resources, certificates, and event invitations.
Issue awards and recognitions (e.g., certificates, digital badges).
Process payments, donations, and sponsorships.
Improve website functionality and user experience.
Comply with legal, accreditation, and reporting requirements.

3. Sharing & Disclosure

We respect your trust and do not sell or rent your personal information. Information may be shared only as follows:

Program Support: With mentors, judges, or volunteers to facilitate participation.
Sponsors & Partners: In aggregated or non-identifiable formats unless explicit consent is provided.
Service Providers: With trusted vendors (e.g., Accredible, HubSpot, AWS, payment processors) to support operations.
Legal Compliance: When required to comply with laws or protect the rights, safety, and property of iStart Valley or its participants.

4. Youth Privacy & Parental Consent

We recognize the importance of protecting children’s privacy.

Participation of students under 18 requires parental/guardian consent.
We do not knowingly collect information from children without proper consent.
Parents/guardians may request access to, correction of, or deletion of their child’s data by contacting us (see Section 11).

5. Cookies & Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to analyze website traffic, improve functionality, and personalize user experience.

You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings.
Third-party tools (e.g., Google Analytics, HubSpot) may also collect usage information.

6. Data Retention & Security

We retain information only as long as needed for program delivery, legal compliance, or historical record-keeping.
We use encryption, secure servers, and restricted access to safeguard your data.
While we take strong measures, no system is 100% secure; we cannot guarantee absolute protection.

7. Your Rights

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

Access, update, or delete your personal information.
Opt out of email communications at any time.
Withdraw parental consent for minors.
Request a copy of the data we hold about you.
To exercise these rights, please contact us (see Section 11).

8. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to external websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites and encourage you to review their policies.

9. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Updates will be posted on this page with a revised effective date. Significant changes will be communicated via email or website notice.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy, please contact us using the “Contact US” form.