1. Introduction

VentureMerit (“we,” “us,” or “our”) is operated by VentureMerit (registered in Andhra Pradesh, India). This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information when you use our platform at venturemerit.com and any associated services, APIs, and mobile applications (collectively, the “Service”).

By accessing or using the Service, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with our practices, please do not use the Service.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide

• Account Information: Name, email address, organization name, role/title, and password when you create an account.
• Evaluation Data: Startup descriptions, business models, market information, and any other content you submit for evaluation.
• Contact Information: Information you provide when contacting us, including messages, feedback, and support requests.
• Payment Information: Billing details processed securely through our third-party payment provider (Razorpay). We do not store full payment card numbers.
• Coupon Data: Promo or invite codes and referral sources used at registration.

2.2 Information We Collect Automatically

• Usage Data: Pages visited, features used, evaluation frequency, report downloads, and interaction patterns.
• Device Information: Browser type, operating system, screen resolution, device identifiers, and IP address.
• Performance Data: Page load times, error logs, and API response metrics.
• Cookies & Similar Technologies: See our Cookie Policy for details.

2.3 Information from Third Parties

• Authentication Providers: If you sign in with Google or other SSO providers, we receive your name, email, and profile picture.
• Analytics Services: Aggregated analytics data from tools such as Google Analytics (anonymized IP).

3. How We Use Your Information

We use collected information for the following purposes:

• Provide the Service: Run evaluations, generate reports, manage your account, and deliver platform features.
• Improve the Platform: Analyze usage patterns to enhance features, fix bugs, and optimize performance.
• Communicate: Send transactional emails (report delivery, account changes), product updates, and marketing communications (with your consent).
• Security: Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and unauthorized access to the Service.
• Legal Compliance: Comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes.
• Support: Respond to your questions, feedback, and support requests.

Important: We do not use your evaluation data (startup descriptions, business details) to train our AI models. Your intellectual property and startup information remain completely confidential.

4. Data Sharing & Disclosure

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

• Service Providers: Trusted third parties that help us operate the Service (hosting, payment processing, analytics, email delivery) under strict data processing agreements.
• Team Collaboration: If you use team features, evaluation data is shared with members of your workspace as configured by your account administrator.
• Legal Requirements: When required by law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request.
• Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, with appropriate notification to you.
• With Your Consent: When you explicitly authorize sharing with specific parties (e.g., sharing reports with mentors or investors).

5. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your data:

• Encryption: AES-256 encryption at rest and TLS 1.3 encryption in transit.
• Access Controls: Role-based access controls (RBAC) with principle of least privilege.
• Infrastructure: Hosted on SOC 2 certified cloud infrastructure with automated backups and disaster recovery.
• Monitoring: Continuous security monitoring, vulnerability scanning, and audit logging.
• Authentication: Strong password requirements and multi-factor authentication (MFA) support.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the Service. Evaluation data is retained until you delete it or close your account. After account closure, we retain anonymized analytics data and may retain certain information as required by applicable law.

7. Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal data (subject to legal retention requirements).
• Portability: Request your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
• Objection: Object to processing of your data for direct marketing purposes.
• Withdrawal of Consent: Withdraw consent for optional data processing activities at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at privacy@VentureMerit.com or contact@venturemerit.com. We respond to all data rights requests within 30 days.

8. International Data Transfers

Your data may be processed in India and other countries where our service providers operate. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, including standard contractual clauses and data processing agreements compliant with GDPR and applicable Indian data protection regulations.

9. Children's Privacy

The Service is not directed to individuals under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have collected data from a minor, please contact us immediately.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by posting a notice on the Service or sending you an email at least 15 days before the changes take effect. Your continued use of the Service after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, contact us:

• Email: privacy@venturemerit.com
• Company: VentureMerit
• Address: 1st Floor, Andhra University Incubation Council (Ā Hub), Andhra University College of Engineering (A), Andhra University, Visakhapatnam – 530003, Andhra Pradesh, India
• GSTIN: 37AAMFE0816E1ZN