1. Introduction
The Foundry Circle ("we," "us," "our," or "Company") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website and use our services.
We operate a free peer accountability network for early-stage founders. Protecting the privacy and security of founder data is fundamental to our mission.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Information You Provide Directly
Application & Registration
- Name, email address, phone number (optional)
- Location
- Company/idea name
- Description of what you're building
- Current business stage
- How you're balancing with your day job
- Immediate goals
- Resource needs (technical support, co-founder search, mentorship, etc.)
- Background information
During Participation
- Attendance records
- Progress updates shared during weekly calls
- Blockers and challenges discussed
- Messages in our Slack community
- Feedback provided to peers
Communication
- Email correspondence
- Support tickets
- Survey responses
- Feedback submitted via forms
2.2 Information Collected Automatically
Website Usage
- IP address
- Browser type and version
- Operating system
- Referral source
- Pages visited and time spent
- Cookies and similar tracking technologies
Video Calls
- Call duration and participation
- Audio/video content (for the duration of the call only, not recorded unless you consent)
2.3 Information from Third Parties
If you log in via LinkedIn or other social platforms, we may receive basic profile information. We do not store payment card details directly—payment processors handle that.
3. How We Use Your Information
3.1 Core Service Delivery
- Placing you in the appropriate cohort tier
- Organizing and running weekly accountability calls
- Facilitating peer connections and co-founder matching
- Providing access to community resources and Slack workspace
- Tracking attendance and progress (for accountability purposes)
3.2 Communication
- Sending reminders for weekly calls
- Providing updates about The Foundry Circle
- Responding to your inquiries and support requests
- Sending newsletters (if you opt in)
- Following up on application status
3.3 Insights & Improvement
- Analyzing aggregated, anonymized data about founder progress and outcomes
- Identifying trends and patterns to improve the program
- Building anonymized case studies about founder journeys (with permission only)
- Measuring program effectiveness
3.4 Legal & Safety
- Ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations
- Protecting against fraud and abuse
- Enforcing our Terms of Use
- Responding to legal requests or regulatory inquiries
4. How We Share Your Information
4.1 We Do NOT Share Personal Data
Your personal information is NOT sold, traded, or shared with third parties for marketing purposes.
4.2 Sharing Within The Circle
Your name, role, and basic profile are visible to other members of The Foundry Circle community on:
- The community member directory (visible to members only)
- Weekly call participant lists
- Slack community profiles
You have control over how much detail is shared. You can request to remain anonymous or limit visibility.
4.3 Incubator & Accelerator Partnerships
If an incubator or accelerator expresses interest in meeting with you:
- We will ALWAYS ask your permission first
- We will only share information with your explicit opt-in consent
- You maintain control over whether to be introduced
4.4 Service Providers
We share limited information with service providers who help us operate:
| Service | Data Shared | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Slack | Name, email, profile info | Community communication |
| Google Workspace | Name, email, basic profile | Shared documents and resources |
| Airtable | Name, email, progress data | Attendance tracking, cohort management |
| Google Meet | Name, email | Video call participation |
| Netlify | Email (for newsletter signup) | Website hosting and forms |
All service providers are bound by confidentiality agreements and data processing agreements.
4.5 Legal Requirements
We may disclose your information if required by law:
- Court orders
- Government requests
- Legal process
- To protect our rights, privacy, safety, or property
- To prevent fraud or abuse
5. Data Retention
We retain your information for as long as you are an active member of The Foundry Circle or we have a legitimate business need to retain it.
5.1 Retention Timeline
- Active members: Retained during participation
- Inactive members: Data retained for 12 months after last activity, then reviewed for deletion
- Anonymized data: Retained indefinitely for program analytics and insights
- Legal obligations: Retained as required by applicable law (typically 7 years)
6. Your Privacy Rights
Depending on your location, you may have the following rights:
6.1 Right to Access
You have the right to request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
6.2 Right to Correction
You can request that we correct any inaccurate or incomplete information.
6.3 Right to Deletion
You can request deletion of your personal data. We will delete information that identifies you, though we may retain anonymized versions for program analytics.
6.4 Right to Opt-Out
You can opt out of:
- Marketing communications and newsletters
- Being featured in testimonials or case studies
- Incubator introductions
- Any non-essential communications
6.5 Right to Data Portability
You can request your data in a portable, machine-readable format.
6.6 Right to Withdraw Consent
If we process your data based on consent, you can withdraw that consent at any time.
7. Data Security
7.1 Security Measures
We implement industry-standard security practices:
- Encrypted data transmission (SSL/TLS)
- Secure authentication for platform access
- Regular security reviews
- Access controls limiting who can view your data
- Employee confidentiality agreements
7.2 Limitations
No security system is 100% secure. While we work hard to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security against all threats.
7.3 Your Responsibility
You are responsible for:
- Keeping your passwords confidential
- Logging out of shared devices
- Not sharing your access credentials
8. Cookies & Tracking
8.1 Website Cookies
Our website uses cookies to:
- Remember your preferences
- Track website usage (Google Analytics)
- Provide essential functionality
- Improve user experience
8.2 Cookie Control
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect website functionality.
8.3 Third-Party Analytics
We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use our site. Google Analytics collects pages visited, time on site, browser type, and general location data. See Google's privacy policy.
9. Third-Party Links & Services
Our website and services may contain links to third-party websites and services. We are not responsible for their privacy practices. We encourage you to review their privacy policies.
9.1 Third Parties We Use
- Slack: Community platform (privacy)
- Google Workspace: Documents and collaboration (privacy)
- Airtable: Data management (privacy)
- Google Meet: Video calls (privacy)
- Netlify: Website hosting (privacy)
- ConvertKit: Email newsletters (privacy)
10. Children's Privacy
The Foundry Circle is not intended for anyone under 18. We do not knowingly collect information from children. If we discover we have collected data from a minor, we will delete it promptly.
11. International Compliance
11.1 GDPR (European Union & EEA)
If you're in the EU/EEA, we comply with GDPR:
- Legal basis for processing: Legitimate interest and consent
- You have the rights outlined in Section 6
- Our Data Protection Officer can be contacted at hello@thefoundrycircle.com
11.2 CCPA (California)
If you're in California, we comply with CCPA:
- You have the right to know, delete, and opt-out
- We do not sell personal information
- We provide these rights at no cost
11.3 Privacy Act 2020 (New Zealand)
If you're in Aotearoa, we comply with NZ Privacy Principles:
- We collect and hold personal information lawfully and fairly
- We only use information for the stated purpose
- You can access and correct your information
- Contact us at hello@thefoundrycircle.com for inquiries
12. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy as our practices evolve or legal requirements change. When we make material changes:
- We'll update the "Last Updated" date
- We'll notify members via email if changes significantly affect privacy rights
- Continued use of our services constitutes acceptance of changes
13. Contact & Data Subject Requests
13.1 General Questions
- Email: hello@thefoundrycircle.com
- Website: https://thefoundrycircle.com
13.2 Privacy Requests (Access, Deletion, Correction)
To exercise your privacy rights, email hello@thefoundrycircle.com with:
- Your full name
- Email address used for The Foundry Circle
- Clear description of your request (access, deletion, correction, etc.)
We will respond within 10 business days (or as required by law).