1) Who we are

FoundersGap is a community and program platform for founders and operators in Canada. We run events, programs, mentorship, partnerships, and community communications.

2) What this policy covers

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share, store, and protect personal information when you:

• visit our website,
• register for events (including via LinkedIn Event registration forms),
• apply to join as a startup/member, investor, partner, advisor/mentor, or volunteer,
• subscribe to our newsletter, or
• contact us.

3) Information we collect

Depending on how you engage with FoundersGap, we may collect:

• Identity & contact: name, email address, phone (if provided), city/province, country/region
• Professional: job title, company/organization, LinkedIn profile URL
• Applications & community: startup/company details, stage/sector, short pitch, interests, availability, skills (for volunteer/mentor/advisor)
• Event participation: registration details, attendance, dietary/accessibility needs (only if you choose to provide them)
• Website usage data: IP address, device/browser info, pages viewed, and cookies/analytics data (where enabled)

4) LinkedIn Event registration forms (important)

When we host an Event on LinkedIn using a LinkedIn registration form, LinkedIn may ask you to submit a form that can be pre-filled from your LinkedIn profile. The form may include: first name, last name, email address, job title, company name, and country/region. Submitting the form may be required to register/attend the Event on LinkedIn.

How we use LinkedIn registrant data

We use LinkedIn Event form data to manage event attendance and logistics, send event-related communications (updates, reminders, venue details, changes), and understand aggregate interest in our programming.

Marketing consent checkbox

LinkedIn may include a checkbox that lets you opt in to receive promotional/marketing communications from the organizer. We will not send promotional/marketing communications to you based on LinkedIn Event form data unless you have opted in (selected the consent checkbox) or otherwise given consent.

5) How we use your information (general purposes)

We use personal information to operate the FoundersGap community and deliver programs/events, communicate with you about community updates, relevant events, and announcements, manage applications, improve our website and operations, and meet legal, security, or administrative requirements.

Email communications

We may use your email for community communications and event/sponsor announcements, and you can opt out at any time.

6) Event photography and recordings

We may take photographs and short videos at FoundersGap events for community communications and marketing (e.g., website, LinkedIn, recaps). If you prefer not to be photographed/recorded, please let our team know at check-in (or contact us in advance when possible) and we will take reasonable steps to respect your preference.

7) How we share information

We do not sell your personal information.

We may share personal information only as needed:

• Service providers who help us run our operations (e.g., website hosting, forms, CRM, email tools, analytics).
• Event platforms you choose to use (e.g., LinkedIn for LinkedIn Events).
• Sponsors/partners (limited & purposeful): we may share limited information with select partners/sponsors only when necessary for event/program delivery or when you have consented/opted in.

8) International processing

Our tools and service providers may store or process information outside your province/country depending on system configuration and vendor infrastructure.

9) Data retention

We keep personal information only as long as needed for the purposes described in this policy, including to operate events/programs, maintain community records, and meet legal/administrative requirements.

10) Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards to protect personal information. No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure.

11) Your choices and rights

• Unsubscribe from emails at any time (using the link in our messages).
• Request access, correction, or deletion of your personal information (subject to limited exceptions).
• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.

12) Children’s privacy

FoundersGap programs and events are intended for adults and founders/operators. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children without appropriate consent.

13) Contact us

14) Updates to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The latest version will be posted on our website with an updated effective date.