Privacy policy

What this policy covers

This policy describes how Georgia Kickstart Fund handles information through this website, our application and pitch forms, program communications, and founder check-ins. It applies to information we receive for these activities. Other services you visit or use have their own privacy policies.

Information we receive

• Contact and participation details: names, email addresses, phone numbers, student affiliation, graduation information, company names, roles, and information you provide about your participation.
• Applications and founder updates: business descriptions, requested funding, milestones, pitch links and materials, and information you choose to share about company operations, revenue, fundraising, intellectual property, and program outcomes.
• Communications and consent: messages, survey responses, communication preferences, and SMS permission or opt-out records. Consent records may include the phone number, date, method, disclosure shown, and confirmation response.
• Technical information: our hosting and form providers may receive IP addresses, browser and device information, page requests, timestamps, approximate location derived from an IP address, and security or error logs when you use their services.

Provide only information reasonably needed for the program. Do not send passwords, Social Security numbers, bank credentials, or sensitive personal records through these forms or text messages.

How we use information

We use information to evaluate applications, administer grants, maintain company and contact records, support founders, respond to requests, conduct program check-ins, assess outcomes, keep records, protect our services, and meet legal obligations. SMS messages are sent only under the separate enrollment process described in our SMS Messaging Policy.

Who may receive information

Information may be available to Kickstart team members, advisors, and reviewers who need it for the program, and to service providers that support hosting, forms, records, email, and messaging. Our current website uses Notion for applications and records and Fillout for company-specific pitch updates. Messaging providers and carriers may process phone numbers, consent records, and message content to deliver and support the SMS program.

We may disclose information when legally required or reasonably necessary to protect rights, safety, or the security of our services. We do not sell or rent personal information or share it for third-party advertising.

SMS privacy: We do not sell, rent, or share phone numbers or text-messaging opt-in data and consent with third parties or affiliates for their marketing or promotional purposes. We provide SMS information to messaging providers and carriers as needed to operate and support the program, and may disclose it when required by law. We do not authorize providers to use SMS consent to enroll you in another sender’s program. Providers also have their own applicable legal obligations.

Public company and team information

The site includes public company profiles, founder names, and team information. Submitting an application, pitch, or SMS response does not by itself authorize publication of private financial details, pitch materials, or message content. Contact us to request a correction to a public profile or discuss information you do not want displayed.

Cookies and external services

We do not add advertising pixels or behavioral advertising tools to this website. Portfolio searches and filters run in your browser and are not submitted to us. Our fonts are hosted with the site.

Hosting services and embedded forms may use cookies or similar technologies for operation, security, preferences, and service measurement. When an embedded form loads, your browser connects to that provider. Browser settings can restrict cookies, but doing so may affect forms or sign-in. You can contact us by email if an embedded form is not suitable for you.

For provider information, see Notion’s privacy information and Fillout’s privacy policy. Visiting social media, company websites, or other external links is subject to those services’ own practices.

Retention and security

We retain information for as long as reasonably needed for program administration, grant and outcome records, legitimate recordkeeping, and applicable legal requirements. Consent and limited suppression records may be retained to demonstrate permission and honor a request not to receive messages. A deletion request may therefore not remove every record immediately.

We use reasonable safeguards appropriate to the information and services involved. No internet service or transmission is completely secure. Keep company-specific invitation links private and let us know if a link or record appears to have been accessed without permission.

Your choices and requests

You may ask to access, correct, or delete information you provided, ask about its use, or raise a privacy concern by emailing leadership@georgiakickstart.com. We may need to verify your identity without requesting unnecessary sensitive information. We will respond as required by applicable law and explain relevant limits, including records we must retain.

For SMS, reply STOP or contact the help address in our SMS Messaging Policy. You can decline SMS without losing eligibility for a grant. Withdrawing SMS consent does not automatically stop necessary non-SMS program communications or erase an application.

Audience and applicable protections

Our website and program are intended for the University of Georgia student entrepreneurship community based in Georgia, United States. The program serves this community and is not offered to the general public outside it. The website remains publicly accessible, including to members of our community while traveling. Visiting from another state or country does not expand program eligibility or determine which privacy laws apply.

Information is handled using United States-based program operations and service providers that may process information in other locations. Our intended-audience statement does not waive applicable privacy rights or legal obligations.

The site is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly seek their personal information. Contact us if you believe a child under 13 has submitted information. Nothing in this policy removes rights or obligations that apply under the law.

Updates and contact

We will post policy changes with an updated effective date and provide additional notice or obtain consent where required. Contact Georgia Kickstart Fund at leadership@georgiakickstart.com with privacy questions.