Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

• Personal Information: Name, email address, profile picture, and professional background.
• Location Data: When you use our "Nearby Map" feature, we collect precise geographical coordinates (latitude/longitude) to connect you with local opportunities.
• User-Generated Content: Startup ideas, industry inputs, budget parameters, signals, comments, and direct messages.
• Financial Information: We use third-party payment gateways (like Razorpay) for subscriptions. We do not store raw credit card or banking details on our servers.

2. AI Data Processing & Third-Party LLMs

Starto utilizes advanced Artificial Intelligence to generate Market Reports and Action Plans. By utilizing these features:

• Your specific queries (industry, budget, location) are processed by third-party Large Language Models (LLMs).
• We do not use your Personally Identifiable Information (PII) to train external third-party AI models.
• However, do not submit highly sensitive, non-patented trade secrets into the general AI analysis prompt.

3. Data Retention and Deletion

We retain your personal data only for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you services. If you choose to delete your account, your profile and associated data will be removed from active databases within 30 days. Residual copies may remain in secure, encrypted backups for up to 90 days for legal and compliance auditing purposes.

4. Data Sharing & Third Parties

We never sell your personal data to data brokers. We only share information with:

• Service Providers: Cloud hosting, AI processing partners, and payment gateways strictly bound by confidentiality agreements.
• Other Users: Information you voluntarily make public on your profile or the "Nearby Map."
• Legal Authorities: When required by a valid legal subpoena, court order, or to prevent imminent physical harm.

5. Your Rights (Under DPDP Act, 2023)

As an Indian user, you have the right to:

• Request access to your personal data.
• Request correction or erasure of your personal data.
• Nominate an individual to exercise these rights in the event of your death or incapacity.
• Withdraw consent at any time (though this may affect your ability to use the platform).

6. Contact & Grievance Officer

To exercise your privacy rights or file a grievance regarding data usage, please contact our Data Protection Officer at: startoindiaofficial@gmail.com. We aim to respond to all legitimate requests within 30 days.