1. Information We Collect
The information we collect depends on how you use desifounder.a) Account and Profile Information
When you create or update an account, we may collect:- First and last name
- Username
- Email address
- Authentication information
- Profile picture
- Phone number, if provided (private)
- Date of birth, if provided (private)
- Gender, if provided (private)
- Location, if provided
- Website
- Industry
- Bio
- Social media links
- Other information you choose to add to your profile
b) User-Submitted Content
We collect information and content that you voluntarily submit to the Platform, including:- Spotlight projects and launches
- Community Feed posts
- Comments and replies
- Likes and other interactions
- Event information
- Service listings
- Funding-related submissions
- Referral activity
- Profile information
- Images, links, descriptions, and other materials you upload
- Information included in communications with us
c) Activity and Platform Usage
We may collect information about how you interact with the Platform, such as:- Pages and sections you visit
- Features you use
- Posts or projects you interact with
- Search or discovery activity
- Likes, comments, follows, reports, and similar actions
- Account and session activity
- Device and browser information
- IP address
- Approximate technical or geographic information derived from your connection
- Error logs and diagnostic information
d) Payment and Transaction Information
If you purchase a paid feature or service, we may collect information relating to the transaction, such as:- The product or service purchased
- Purchase date and amount
- Transaction or payment reference
- Payment status
- Billing information where required
e) Communications
If you contact us, we may retain the information you provide, including your email address, message, attachments, and other information necessary to respond to your request. We may also retain communications relating to reports, complaints, disputes, account issues, legal requests, or other Platform-related matters.f) Cookies and Similar Technologies
We may use cookies and similar technologies to:- keep you signed in;
- remember preferences;
- maintain security;
- understand how the Platform is used;
- improve functionality and performance; and
- measure traffic and usage.
2. How We Use Your Information
We may use information we collect to:- create and manage your account;
- provide and operate Platform features;
- display your profile, projects, posts, services, or events where applicable;
- enable communication and networking between users;
- operate Spotlight and related launch features;
- process purchases and provide paid services;
- send account-related messages and notifications;
- respond to support requests;
- verify accounts or submissions where necessary;
- prevent spam, fraud, abuse, and other misuse;
- investigate reports and enforce our Terms and policies;
- protect the security and integrity of the Platform;
- understand Platform usage and improve our products;
- troubleshoot technical problems;
- develop and test new features;
- communicate important service updates;
- send promotional or marketing communications where permitted and where applicable choices are provided; and
- comply with legal obligations or respond to lawful requests.
3. Public Information
desifounder is a community and discovery platform. Some information you submit is intended to be publicly visible. Depending on the feature, this may include:- your name and username;
- profile picture;
- bio;
- website and social links;
- projects;
- Spotlight submissions;
- Community Feed posts and comments;
- service listings;
- event information; and
- other information you choose to publish publicly.
4. Spotlight and Promotional Features
If you submit a project to Spotlight, we may use the information and materials you provide to publish and promote that project according to the Spotlight option you select. This may include displaying your project:- on Spotlight;
- in the Community Feed;
- in promotional or discovery sections;
- in newsletters;
- on desifounder social media;
- in promotional materials; or
- through other channels used to operate or promote desifounder.
5. How We Share Information
We do not sell or rent your personal data. We may share information in the following circumstances:a) With Other Users and the Public
Information you intentionally publish publicly may be visible to other users or the general public.b) With Service Providers
We may share information with trusted third-party providers that help us operate the Platform, such as providers for:- hosting and infrastructure;
- authentication;
- payment processing;
- analytics;
- email and communications;
- security;
- storage;
- technical support; and
- other essential Platform services.
c) For Legal and Safety Reasons
We may disclose information when reasonably necessary to:- comply with applicable law;
- respond to lawful requests or legal process;
- protect our rights or property;
- investigate fraud, abuse, or security incidents;
- protect users or the public; or
- enforce our Terms and other policies.
d) Business Transfers
If desifounder is involved in a merger, acquisition, restructuring, investment, sale of assets, or similar business transaction, information may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to applicable law.e) With Your Direction or Consent
We may share information where you ask us to do so or where you have provided the required consent.6. Data Retention
We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, including to:- provide our services;
- maintain your account;
- meet legitimate operational needs;
- resolve disputes;
- enforce agreements;
- prevent abuse and fraud; and
- comply with legal, accounting, tax, or regulatory requirements.
7. Your Choices and Controls
Depending on the feature and applicable law, you may be able to:- update your profile information;
- change your account settings;
- manage certain visibility settings;
- remove content you have submitted;
- manage notification preferences;
- unsubscribe from certain promotional emails;
- request access to personal information;
- request correction of inaccurate information;
- request deletion of personal information;
- withdraw consent where processing is based on consent; and
- raise a privacy or data-related complaint.
8. Withdrawal of Consent
Where we process personal data based on your consent, you may withdraw that consent, subject to applicable law. We will provide reasonable means to withdraw consent. Withdrawal of consent does not affect processing that was lawfully carried out before the withdrawal. If certain information is necessary to provide a service or maintain an account, withdrawing consent may mean that some features become unavailable or that your account or certain functionality must be restricted.9. Account Suspension and Moderation
If an account or content violates our Terms, Code of Conduct, Content Policies, or applicable law, we may suspend, restrict, or terminate the account or remove the relevant content. Information relating to reports, moderation actions, security incidents, or enforcement may be retained where reasonably necessary to protect the Platform, investigate abuse, comply with legal obligations, or prevent repeated violations.10. Data Security
We take reasonable measures designed to protect personal information against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, alteration, or disclosure. However, no website, application, network, or storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. You are also responsible for keeping your account credentials confidential and for taking reasonable steps to protect your account. If we become aware of a personal-data breach that requires notification under applicable law, we will take the steps required by applicable law.11. Third-Party Websites and Services
The Platform may contain links to third-party websites, products, services, social networks, payment providers, or other external platforms. Once you leave desifounder or interact directly with a third party, that third party’s privacy policy and terms may apply. We are not responsible for the privacy practices, security, content, or policies of third-party services. We recommend reviewing their privacy policies before providing personal information.12. Children’s Privacy
desifounder is intended for users aged 16 and above. We do not knowingly permit children under 16 to create accounts or use account-based features of the Platform. If we learn that we have collected personal information from a person under the applicable minimum age without the required authorization, we may take reasonable steps to delete or restrict that information and account. Where applicable law requires additional consent, authorization, or safeguards for users who are minors, we will follow those requirements. If you believe a person below the permitted age has created an account, please contact us.13. Data Protection Under Indian Law
Where applicable, desifounder processes personal data in accordance with applicable Indian data-protection laws, including the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and applicable rules and regulations as they come into force. Where the DPDP framework applies to our processing:- desifounder may act as a Data Fiduciary and the individual to whom personal data relates may be a Data Principal;
- we will provide appropriate notices describing the personal data being collected and the purposes for which it is processed;
- personal data will be processed for lawful purposes and on the basis permitted by applicable law;
- where consent is the applicable basis, we will seek consent in a manner intended to be free, informed, specific, and unambiguous;
- we will provide appropriate means to withdraw consent where consent is the basis for processing;
- we will provide applicable mechanisms for exercising data rights;
- we will take reasonable security measures appropriate to the nature of the personal data;
- we will retain personal data only for as long as reasonably necessary for the applicable purpose or as required by law; and
- we will provide appropriate channels for privacy-related complaints and grievances.