Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how FoundingTeams Ltd (“FoundingTeams,” “we,” “us,” “our”) collects, uses, shares, and protects personal data when you use FoundingTeams.ai (the “Site”) and our matchmaking services (together, the “Service”). It applies to Founders, Talent, Corporate Partner users, and anyone else who visits the Site, and should be read alongside our Terms and Conditions.

FoundingTeams Ltd is the data controller for the personal data described in this policy. By using the Service, you agree to the collection and use of data as set out here.

1. Personal Data We Collect

Account and profile data. Name, email, phone number, location, education, employment history, skills, portfolio links, and CV or resume content, whether you provide it directly or it is generated through our AI screening tools.

Application and screening content. Startup pitches, PRDs, screening answers, and any other material submitted through our AI startup application screener or AI PRD screener.

Placement data. Time-tracking records, weekly ratings given and received, daily status updates, and messages exchanged through the Service in connection with a placement.

Payment data. Billing name, address, and payment details. We do not store full card numbers ourselves; these are handled directly by our third-party payment processors.

Referral data. Who referred you, and who you refer, if you take part in our referral programme.

Corporate Partner data.If you access the Service through a Corporate Partner's hosted programme, we also process data your Corporate Partner or its employees provide about you in that context.

Marketing and case study data. Your name, headshot, job title, and quotes, but only where you have separately given us permission, such as when submitting a completed case study for publication.

Usage data. IP address, device and browser type, pages visited, and time spent, collected automatically as you use the Site.

Cookies. Small files stored on your device that keep you signed in, remember your preferences, and help secure the Site. See Section 9.

2. How We Use Your Data, and Our Legal Basis

Where we rely on legitimate interests, we have weighed that interest against your rights and freedoms and concluded our processing is proportionate. You can ask us for more detail on any of these at any time.

3. Automated Decision-Making

Our AI screening tools score and generate suggestions on startup applications and PRDs. These scores inform, but do not replace, human review, and every acceptance decision is made or approved by a person. If you believe an automated score has been applied unfairly, you can request a human review using the contact details in Section 15.

4. Your Choices

You can decline to provide certain personal data, but doing so may mean we cannot place you in the marketplace, process your application, or provide parts of the Service that depend on it. Where we rely on your consent, such as for marketing or a case study, you can withdraw it at any time without affecting the lawfulness of anything we did before you withdrew it.

5. Who We Share Your Data With

• Matched counterparties.If Talent are matched to a Founder's Startup, we share the profile and contact information necessary for them to work together, subject to confidentiality expectations we set for the placement. Once shared for this purpose, each party is separately responsible for how they handle that data in their own direct relationship; FoundingTeams is not responsible for a matched counterparty's use of your data outside the Service.
• Corporate Partners, where you access the Service through their hosted programme.
• Payment processors, to process cash fees. We require them to protect your data to at least the standard required by card network rules.
• Service providers, including hosting, analytics, communications, and AI infrastructure providers, who process data on our behalf under contract and only for the purposes we specify.
• Professional advisers, such as lawyers and accountants.
• Regulators and law enforcement, where required by law, or where we believe in good faith it is necessary to protect our rights or property, investigate wrongdoing, or protect anyone's safety.
• A buyer or successor, if FoundingTeams is involved in a merger, acquisition, financing, sale of assets, or, in the unlikely event of insolvency, a similar process.

We do not sell your personal data, and we do not share it with third parties for their own marketing without your consent.

6. International Data Transfers

Our Talent and Founders are based worldwide, and some of our service providers are based outside the UK, including in the United States and India. Where we transfer personal data outside the UK or European Economic Area, we use appropriate safeguards, including the UK International Data Transfer Addendum or Standard Contractual Clauses, or rely on transfers to jurisdictions recognised by the UK government as providing adequate protection.

7. Data Retention

We keep personal data for as long as your account is active, and for a reasonable period afterward to meet legal, tax, and accounting obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. Application data for Founders or Talent who are not accepted onto the platform is retained for up to 24 months in case a suitable placement arises later, unless you ask us to delete it sooner. Usage data is generally retained for a shorter period, except where needed for security or legal reasons.

8. Your Rights

Depending on where you live, you have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you;
• Correct inaccurate data;
• Request deletion of your data;
• Restrict or object to certain processing;
• Receive your data in a portable format;
• Withdraw consent at any time, where we rely on consent;
• Complain to your local data protection authority. UK residents can contact the Information Commissioner's Office at ico.org.uk.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the details in Section 15. We may ask you to verify your identity before acting on a request.

9. Cookies & Do Not Track

We use session, preference, and security cookies to run the Site and keep it secure, and may use analytics cookies to understand how the Service is used. You can control cookies through your browser settings, though parts of the Service may not work properly if you disable them. We do not currently respond to browser “Do Not Track” signals.

10. Links to Other Sites

The Site may link to third-party websites, including Startups built by our Founders and Talent. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of any site we do not operate, and encourage you to review the privacy policy of any site you visit.

11. Children

The Service is not directed at anyone under 18, consistent with the eligibility requirement in our Terms and Conditions, since using the Service means entering binding equity and services arrangements. We do not knowingly collect personal data from anyone under 18. If we learn that we have, we will delete it.

12. Security

We use reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal data, including access controls and encryption in transit, and the practices described in the Security Disclosures section of our Terms and Conditions. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee the absolute security of your data. If we become aware of a breach affecting your data, we will notify you and any relevant regulator as required by law.

13. Business Transfers

If FoundingTeams is involved in a merger, acquisition, financing, or sale of some or all of its assets, personal data may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will require any successor to handle your data consistently with this Privacy Policy.

14. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. For material changes, we will give at least 14 days' notice by email or a notice on the Site before they take effect, and update the date at the top of this page.

15. Contact Us

FoundingTeams Ltd — [Registered office address] — Company number: [Companies House number]

Privacy questions or requests: