Home / Privacy Policy
Privacy

Privacy Policy

We take your privacy seriously. This policy explains what data we collect, why we collect it, and how you can control it.

Effective: 1 January 2025 ~10 min read
01

Data Controller

Forge the Team Ltd ("we", "us", "our") is the data controller responsible for your personal data. We are registered in England and Wales and subject to the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

If you have any questions about how we process your personal data, please contact our Data Protection Officer at [email protected].

02

Data We Collect

We collect personal data in the following categories:

Category
Examples
Source
Identity
Name, username, profile photo
You, directly
Contact
Email address, phone number
You, directly
Professional
Company name, role, sector, investment range
You, directly
Content
Video pitches, messages, comments
You, via the Platform
Usage
Views, swipes, connection history, session data
Automatically collected
Technical
IP address, device type, OS, browser
Automatically collected
Financial
Subscription tier, billing history (not card numbers)
You & payment processor

We do not collect special category data (e.g. health, biometric, or racial data) and do not knowingly collect data from individuals under 18.

03

How We Use Your Data

We use your personal data for the following purposes:

  • Creating and managing your account and profile
  • Delivering and personalising the Platform experience, including algorithmic content curation
  • Facilitating connections between founders and investors
  • Processing payments and managing subscriptions
  • Communicating with you about product updates, support, and legal notices
  • Detecting and preventing fraud, abuse, and security incidents
  • Analysing Platform performance and improving our services
  • Complying with legal obligations
04

Lawful Basis for Processing

We rely on the following lawful bases under the UK GDPR to process your personal data:

  • Contract — Processing necessary to provide the Platform services under our Terms & Conditions
  • Legitimate Interests — For analytics, security, and improving the Platform, where these interests are not overridden by your rights
  • Legal Obligation — Where processing is required by law (e.g. financial records)
  • Consent — For optional marketing communications, which you may withdraw at any time
05

Sharing Your Data

We do not sell your personal data. We share your data only in the following limited circumstances:

  • Other users — Your public profile, pitch videos, and professional information are visible to other registered users as part of the Platform's core functionality
  • Service providers — Third-party processors who assist with hosting, payments, analytics, and customer support (all bound by data processing agreements)
  • Legal authorities — Where required to comply with a court order, regulatory obligation, or to protect the safety of our users
  • Business transfers — In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale, your data may be transferred to the successor entity
06

Data Retention

We retain your personal data for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you with the Platform services. When you delete your account, we will delete or anonymise your personal data within 30 days, except where:

  • We are required to retain it by law (e.g. financial records for 6 years)
  • It is necessary for legitimate business purposes such as resolving disputes
  • Anonymised aggregated data that cannot identify you
07

Your Rights

Under the UK GDPR, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:

Access

Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you

Rectification

Correct inaccurate or incomplete data

Erasure

Request deletion of your data ("right to be forgotten")

Restriction

Restrict processing of your data in certain circumstances

Portability

Receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format

Objection

Object to processing based on legitimate interests or direct marketing

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at [email protected]. We will respond within one month. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk.

08

Cookies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to maintain your session, remember your preferences, and understand how you use the Platform. These include:

  • Essential cookies — Required for the Platform to function (e.g. authentication)
  • Analytics cookies — Help us understand usage patterns and improve the Platform (requires consent)
  • Preference cookies — Remember your settings and personalisation choices

You can manage your cookie preferences through your device or browser settings. Note that disabling certain cookies may affect Platform functionality.

09

International Transfers

Some of our service providers operate outside the UK and European Economic Area. Where we transfer personal data internationally, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as UK adequacy decisions or Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the ICO, to protect your data to a level equivalent to UK GDPR standards.

10

Children's Privacy

The Platform is not directed at individuals under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us immediately at [email protected] and we will take steps to delete that data.

11

Policy Updates

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal obligations. When we make material changes, we will notify you by email or in-app notification at least 14 days in advance. The "Effective" date at the top of this page indicates when the policy was last revised.

12

Contact & DPO

For any privacy-related enquiries, to exercise your rights, or to contact our Data Protection Officer, please reach out via:

Data Protection Officer

Forge the Team Ltd

[email protected]

Open contact form