Privacy Policy

Inception Studio ("we," "us," or "our") is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We are committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website at inceptionstudio.org (the "Site") and use our services.

1. Information We Collect

Information You Provide

We collect information that you voluntarily provide when you interact with our Site, including:

• Application forms: Name, email address, and other details you submit when applying to our programs.
• Nominations: Information you provide when nominating a founder candidate.
• Newsletter subscriptions: Your email address when you subscribe to our newsletter.
• Sponsor inquiries: Contact information you provide when reaching out about sponsorship.
• Event registrations: Information you provide when registering for events through our Site.

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our Site, certain information may be collected automatically through third-party services embedded on our pages. This may include your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, and browsing behavior. We do not operate our own analytics tracking scripts on this Site; however, third-party services we use (described in Section 4) may collect such data in accordance with their own privacy policies.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Process and evaluate program applications and nominations.
• Send newsletters and communications you have opted into.
• Respond to inquiries from potential sponsors and partners.
• Manage event registrations and logistics.
• Improve our Site and services.
• Comply with legal obligations.

3. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our Site uses cookies set by third-party services embedded on our pages. These include cookies placed by HubSpot (our form and CRM provider) to enable form functionality and remember your preferences. Third-party event platforms (such as Luma) embedded on our Site may also set cookies when you interact with their content.

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may limit your ability to use certain features of our Site, such as submitting forms.

Where required by applicable law (including in the EEA, the United Kingdom, and Japan), we will request your consent before non-essential cookies are set and provide a way to manage your preferences. Essential cookies needed for core functionality, such as submitting a form, may always be set.

4. Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services that may collect or process your data:

• HubSpot: Hosts our forms (applications, nominations, newsletter sign-ups) and serves as our CRM. HubSpot may set cookies and collect data in accordance with its own privacy policy.
• Luma: Hosts our event calendar and event registration. Luma collects registration data under its own privacy policy.
• Zeffy: Processes event ticketing for certain events.
• Dover: Manages our job postings and career applications.
• Decile Hub: Facilitates fundraising commitments.
• Google Fonts: Serves web fonts. Google may collect anonymized usage data when fonts are loaded.
• Cloudflare: Hosts and delivers our Site. Cloudflare may collect standard server logs.

Each of these services operates under its own privacy policy. We encourage you to review their policies to understand how they handle your data.

5. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share your information in the following limited circumstances:

• Service providers: With the third-party services listed above, solely to operate our Site and programs.
• Legal requirements: When required by law, subpoena, or other legal process.
• Protection of rights: To protect our rights, privacy, safety, or property, or that of others.
• Consent: With your consent or at your direction.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy, or as required by law. Application data is retained to maintain records of our programs. You may request deletion of your data at any time by contacting us.

7. Data Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your personal information. All data is transmitted over HTTPS. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

8. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information.
• Opt-out: Unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time using the link in our emails.
• Data portability: Request your data in a portable format.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at the email address below.

9. California Privacy Rights

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). You have the right to know what personal information we collect, request its deletion, and opt out of any sale of personal information. We do not sell personal information. To exercise your rights, contact us at the email address below.

10. European Economic Area, United Kingdom, and Switzerland (GDPR)

If you are located in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or Switzerland, we process your personal data under one or more of the following legal bases:

• Consent — for example, when you subscribe to our newsletter. You may withdraw your consent at any time.
• Legitimate interests — to operate, evaluate, and improve our programs and to communicate with our community, where those interests are not overridden by your rights.
• Performance of a contract — to take steps at your request before, or in the course of, your participation in a program.
• Legal obligation — to comply with applicable law.

In addition to the rights described in Section 8, you may object to or request restriction of our processing, withdraw consent at any time, and lodge a complaint with your local data protection supervisory authority. Because we operate from the United States, your data is transferred there; where required, we rely on appropriate safeguards such as the European Commission's Standard Contractual Clauses. To exercise these rights, contact us at the email address below.

11. Japan (Act on the Protection of Personal Information)

If you are located in Japan, we handle your personal information in accordance with Japan's Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI). In particular:

• Purpose of use: We use your personal information for the purposes described in Section 2 and will not use it beyond those purposes without your consent, except as permitted by law.
• Provision to third parties: We share personal information with the service providers listed in Section 4 to operate our programs and do not otherwise provide it to third parties without your consent, except as permitted by law.
• Cross-border transfer: Because we operate from the United States, your personal information will be transferred to and stored in the United States, a foreign country, with your consent.
• Your requests: You may request disclosure, correction, addition, deletion, or suspension of use of your personal information.

To make a request or ask about our handling of personal information under the APPI, contact us at the email address below.

12. International Users

Our Site is operated from the United States. If you are accessing our Site from outside the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States, where data protection laws may differ from those of your jurisdiction. By using our Site, you consent to such transfer and processing.

13. Children's Privacy

Our Site and services are intended for individuals who are at least 18 years old and are not directed to children. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If a program is ever opened to minors, we will obtain verifiable consent from a parent or legal guardian before collecting a minor's personal information. If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under 18 without such consent, we will take steps to delete it promptly.

14. Changes to This 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. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your information.

15. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your privacy rights, please contact us at:

Inception Studio
Email: organizers@inceptionstudio.org