Privacy policy

Startupathon is a hiring and accelerator program operated by Persist Ventures (“we,” “us,” or “our”). This privacy policy applies to the Startupathon website and related services (collectively, the “Platform”).

If you have questions about this policy or your data, contact us at hirings@persistventures.com.

We collect information you provide directly and data generated when you use the Platform.

Account and authentication

• Name and email address
• Password (stored in hashed form; we never store plain-text passwords)
• Profile photo, if you sign in with Google or upload an image
• Email verification and one-time login codes

Candidate profile and applications

• Phone number, location, headline, and bio
• Professional links (LinkedIn, GitHub, portfolio)
• Resume, skills, experience, education, and availability
• Role applications, assignment submissions, and related materials you upload
• Interview scheduling details and communications related to your candidacy

Automatically collected information

• Device and browser type, IP address, and user agent
• Session and authentication cookies required to keep you signed in
• Log data such as pages visited, actions taken, and timestamps

We use personal information to:

• Create and manage your account and authenticate you
• Operate the Platform and provide hiring-related features
• Process and review your applications, assignments, and interview progress
• Communicate with you about your account, applications, and program updates
• Send transactional emails such as verification codes and password resets
• Improve security, prevent fraud, and troubleshoot technical issues
• Comply with legal obligations and enforce our terms

We do not sell your personal information. We do not use your data for third-party advertising.

Where applicable data protection laws require a legal basis, we rely on:

• Contract — to provide the Platform and process your applications
• Legitimate interests — to secure the Platform, improve our services, and communicate about your candidacy
• Consent — where required, such as for optional communications or certain cookies
• Legal obligation — when we must retain or disclose information to comply with law

We may share personal information with:

• Service providers that help us run the Platform, including hosting, email delivery, file storage, and authentication providers (such as Google Sign-In)
• Hiring teams and reviewers involved in evaluating your application for a specific role
• Professional advisors such as lawyers or auditors, under confidentiality obligations
• Authorities when required by law, legal process, or to protect rights, safety, and security
• Successors in connection with a merger, acquisition, or asset sale, subject to this policy

We require service providers to handle personal information only for the purposes we specify and in accordance with applicable law.

We use essential cookies and similar technologies to maintain your session, remember preferences, and protect the Platform. These are necessary for core functionality such as signing in and staying authenticated.

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling essential cookies may prevent you from using certain features, including account access.

We retain personal information for as long as needed to provide the Platform, evaluate and manage applications, resolve disputes, enforce our agreements, and meet legal requirements.

When information is no longer required, we delete or anonymize it within a reasonable period, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law.

We implement administrative, technical, and organizational measures designed to protect personal information, including encryption in transit, access controls, and secure storage for uploaded files.

No method of transmission or storage is completely secure. If you believe your account has been compromised, contact us immediately at hirings@persistventures.com.

We may process and store information in the United States and other countries where we or our service providers operate. Those locations may have data protection laws that differ from those in your country.

Where required, we use appropriate safeguards for cross-border transfers of personal information.

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

• Access the personal information we hold about you
• Correct inaccurate or incomplete information
• Request deletion of your information, subject to legal exceptions
• Object to or restrict certain processing
• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent
• Receive a portable copy of information you provided
• Lodge a complaint with a data protection authority

You can update much of your profile information directly in your account. For other requests, email hirings@persistventures.com. We may need to verify your identity before responding.

The Platform is intended for individuals who are at least 18 years old (or the age of majority in their jurisdiction). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us information, contact us and we will take appropriate steps to delete it.

The Platform may contain links to third-party websites or services, such as company sites or professional profiles. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those third parties. We encourage you to review their policies before providing personal information.

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will post the updated policy on this page and revise the “Last updated” date. Continued use of the Platform after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

For privacy-related questions or requests, contact Persist Ventures at hirings@persistventures.com.