Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

India Innovation Startup Association ("IISA", "Association", "we", "our", or "us") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, process, store, disclose and protect personal information when you access or use:

• The official IISA website
• Member Portal
• Startup Directory
• Founder Dashboard
• Investor Network
• Mentor Network
• Event Registration Platform
• Incubation & Accelerator Programmes
• Startup Verification Services
• AI-powered tools and digital services
• Mobile applications (if introduced)
• APIs and integrations
• Any future services offered by IISA

By accessing or using any IISA service, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy and consent to the processing of your personal information in accordance with applicable law.

2. Scope of this Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy applies to:

• Website visitors
• Registered users
• Members
• Startup founders
• Students
• Mentors
• Investors
• Corporate representatives
• Educational institutions
• Government partners
• Incubator and accelerator partners
• Event attendees
• Volunteers
• Speakers
• Consultants
• Vendors
• Job applicants
• Individuals communicating with IISA through any official channel

3. Information We Collect

Depending on how you interact with IISA, we may collect the following categories of information.

3.1 Personal Information

This may include:

• Full name
• Gender (optional)
• Photograph or profile picture
• Email address
• Mobile number
• Residential or business address
• Nationality
• Government-issued identification where verification is required
• Social media profile links

3.2 Startup Information

Where you register a startup or apply for programmes, we may collect:

• Startup name
• Business registration details
• CIN, LLPIN, GSTIN or similar identifiers (where applicable)
• Industry sector
• Business model
• Stage of growth
• Number of employees
• Revenue range
• Funding history
• Pitch deck
• Product information
• Website
• Brand assets
• Business documents
• Intellectual property information voluntarily shared during applications

3.3 Membership Information

We may collect:

• Membership category
• Membership status
• Membership history
• Payment status
• Membership ID
• Renewal history
• Participation records

3.4 Programme Information

If you participate in programmes, we may collect:

• Applications
• Mentor preferences
• Business challenges
• Attendance records
• Assignments
• Workshop participation
• Certification records
• Programme feedback
• Evaluation reports

3.5 Investor & Mentor Information

Where applicable:

• Professional biography
• Areas of expertise
• Investment preferences
• Portfolio information
• Availability
• Professional qualifications
• Publicly available business profiles

3.6 Technical Information

Whenever you access our website, we may automatically collect:

• IP address
• Device identifiers
• Browser type
• Operating system
• Screen resolution
• Internet service provider
• Language settings
• Session information
• Date and time of access
• Referring website
• Crash reports
• Cookies
• Log files

3.7 Communication Information

When communicating with IISA, we may collect:

• Emails
• Contact form submissions
• Survey responses
• Chat messages
• Event registrations
• Customer support requests
• Meeting notes
• Call recordings where legally permitted

4. Information We Do Not Intentionally Collect

Unless specifically required by law or voluntarily provided, IISA does not intentionally collect:

• Passwords to third-party services
• Banking passwords
• UPI PINs
• Credit card PINs
• OTPs
• Sensitive personal credentials unrelated to our services

Payment information is processed directly by authorised payment gateway providers.

5. How We Collect Information

Information may be collected when you:

• Visit our website
• Create an account
• Apply for membership
• Register a startup
• Submit programme applications
• Register for events
• Contact our support team
• Subscribe to newsletters
• Upload documents
• Participate in surveys
• Connect using social login services
• Interact with AI-powered tools
• Participate in mentoring or investor programmes

6. Lawful Basis for Processing

Where applicable, IISA processes personal information based on one or more of the following:

• Your consent
• Performance of a contract or membership agreement
• Compliance with legal obligations
• Protection of legitimate interests
• Fraud prevention and platform security
• Public interest activities consistent with IISA's mission

7. How We Use Your Information

Your information may be used to:

• Create and manage user accounts
• Verify founders and startups
• Process memberships
• Administer incubation and accelerator programmes
• Facilitate mentor and investor introductions
• Publish startup profiles where authorised
• Organise networking events
• Issue certificates
• Process payments
• Respond to enquiries
• Improve user experience
• Personalise services
• Send newsletters and announcements
• Detect fraud
• Protect platform security
• Comply with legal obligations
• Conduct research and ecosystem analysis using aggregated or anonymised data

We will not use your personal information for purposes materially different from those described here without an appropriate legal basis or your consent where required.

8. Startup Directory and Public Profiles

Where you choose to publish a startup profile, the following information may become publicly visible:

• Startup name
• Founder name
• Logo
• Website
• Business description
• Industry
• Location
• Public contact information that you choose to display

You remain responsible for ensuring that any information submitted for publication is accurate and that you have the necessary rights to publish it.

9. Sharing of Information

We do not sell personal information.

We may disclose information only where necessary to:

• Service providers acting on our behalf
• Payment gateway providers
• Cloud hosting providers
• Event partners where required for programme delivery
• Mentors or investors where you request or consent to an introduction
• Government authorities where legally required
• Auditors, accountants or legal advisers
• Law enforcement agencies pursuant to lawful requests
• Successor entities in the event of a merger, restructuring or transfer of operations

Any recipient receiving information from IISA is expected to use it only for the purpose for which it was shared and in accordance with applicable law.

10. AI and Automated Services

IISA may use artificial intelligence and automated technologies to:

• Match startups with mentors or investors
• Recommend programmes
• Improve user support
• Generate insights
• Analyse ecosystem trends
• Enhance platform security

AI-generated recommendations are informational only and should not be relied upon as professional, legal, financial or investment advice.

11. Cookies and Similar Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Authenticate users
• Maintain login sessions
• Remember preferences
• Improve website performance
• Analyse traffic
• Prevent fraud
• Enhance security

You may manage cookie preferences through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect website functionality.

12. Data Security

IISA implements reasonable administrative, technical and organisational safeguards to protect personal information from unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration or destruction.

These measures may include:

• Encryption in transit where appropriate
• Access controls
• Password protection
• Multi-factor authentication for administrative systems
• Secure hosting environments
• Security monitoring
• Regular backups
• Internal access restrictions based on operational need

While we strive to protect your information, no internet-based system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

13. Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to:

• Provide our services
• Maintain membership records
• Meet legal and regulatory obligations
• Resolve disputes
• Enforce agreements
• Protect legitimate business interests

Once information is no longer required, it will be securely deleted, anonymised or archived in accordance with applicable law.

14. Your Rights

Subject to applicable law, you may have the right to:

• Access your personal information
• Request correction of inaccurate information
• Update your account details
• Request deletion of personal information where appropriate
• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent
• Object to certain processing activities where permitted by law
• Lodge a complaint with the relevant authority where applicable

Requests may be submitted using the contact details provided below.

15. Children's Privacy

IISA's services are generally intended for founders, professionals, students and organisations.

Where individuals under the age of majority participate in programmes, IISA may require consent from a parent, guardian or authorised educational institution where required by law.

16. International Data Transfers

If users access IISA services from outside India, personal information may be processed or stored in India or in jurisdictions where our authorised service providers operate, subject to applicable legal safeguards.

17. Changes to this Privacy Policy

IISA may amend this Privacy Policy from time to time.

The updated version will be published on the website with a revised "Last Updated" date. Continued use of IISA services after the revised policy becomes effective constitutes acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

18. Contact Us

If you have questions, requests or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy or the processing of your personal information, please contact: