Privacy Policy

1. Who We Are

buildpurdue is a student-run startup accelerator at Purdue University. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and share your personal information when you use our website (buildpurdue.org), attend our events, submit forms, or participate in our programs.

If you have questions about this policy, contact us at buildp@purdue.edu.

2. Information We Collect

We collect the following categories of information:

Information You Provide Directly

• Account and profile information: Name, email address, academic major, year of study.
• Application data: Startup or project information, responses to application questions, and any materials you submit as part of the cohort application or interview process.
• Event check-in data: Name, email address, academic major, year of study, how you heard about us, and any additional information collected through event-specific check-in forms (fields may vary by event).
• Communications: Any messages, inquiries, or feedback you send to us via email or other channels.
• Any other information you voluntarily provide through our forms, surveys, or direct interactions with buildpurdue.

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit buildpurdue.org, we automatically collect certain technical information, including:

• Analytics data via Vercel Analytics: pages visited, referring URLs, browser type, device type, operating system, and general geographic region.
• Cookies: We use cookies to support website functionality and analytics. See Section 7 for details.
• UTM and link tracking parameters: We use custom URL parameters to understand which marketing channels, campaigns, and content drive traffic to our website.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• Program operations: Managing cohort applications, interviews, admissions, and workshop logistics.
• Event management: Processing event check-ins, managing attendance, and coordinating event logistics.
• Communications: Sending you marketing emails (newsletters, event announcements, content updates) and transactional emails (application status updates, event confirmations, cohort-related communications).
• Analytics and improvement: Understanding how people find and use our website and events so we can improve our programs, content, and outreach.
• Community building: Facilitating connections between founders, mentors, and partners within the buildpurdue ecosystem.

4. Email Communications

By providing your email address through any buildpurdue form (including but not limited to applications, event check-ins, email sign-ups, and website account creation), you consent to receiving both marketing and transactional emails from buildpurdue.

• Marketing emails include newsletters, event announcements, content updates, and promotional communications about buildpurdue programs and events.
• Transactional emails include application status updates, event confirmations, cohort communications, and other messages directly related to your participation in buildpurdue programs.

You may unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time by using the unsubscribe link included in each email or by contacting us at buildp@purdue.edu. Please note that even if you unsubscribe from marketing emails, you may still receive transactional emails related to your active participation in buildpurdue programs.

5. Data Sharing

We may share your information with the following categories of third parties:

• Organizational partners: We work with partners including Purdue Entrepreneurship, The Anvil, Purdue Innovates, and other campus organizations and event co-hosts. We may share relevant attendee or participant information with these partners for the purposes of event coordination, program delivery, and collaborative initiatives.
• Sponsors and collaborators: In connection with sponsored events or partnership programs, we may share limited participant information (such as name and email) with sponsors or collaborators for the purposes of event logistics and follow-up.
• Service providers: We use third-party platforms to operate our programs, including Supabase (database), Google Workspace (documents and collaboration), Luma (event management), and Vercel (website hosting and analytics). These providers may process your data on our behalf in accordance with their own privacy policies.

We do not sell your personal information to any third party.

6. Data Storage and Security

Your information is stored across the following platforms:

• Supabase — Website database (accounts, applications, check-in data)
• Google Workspace (Google Drive / Google Sheets) — Internal documents, operational data
• Luma — Event registration and attendance data

We take reasonable measures to protect your information from unauthorized access, loss, or misuse. However, no method of electronic storage or transmission is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

buildpurdue.org uses the following tracking technologies:

• Vercel Analytics: Collects anonymized usage data including pages visited, referral source, browser type, device type, and general geographic location.
• Cookies: Small files stored on your device that help us understand website usage patterns and improve site functionality.
• UTM Parameters: Custom URL tracking parameters embedded in links we share across marketing channels (email, social media, etc.) to measure the effectiveness of our outreach efforts.

Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through your browser settings, including blocking or deleting cookies. Please note that disabling cookies may affect your experience on our website.

8. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy, including maintaining records of program participation, event attendance, and communications. If you request deletion of your data (see Section 9), we will make reasonable efforts to remove your information from our active systems, though some data may be retained in backups or as required for legitimate operational or legal purposes.

9. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you.
• Correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Request deletion of your personal information from our systems.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at buildp@purdue.edu. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe.

10. Age Requirement

buildpurdue programs and events are intended for individuals aged 18 and older. By using our website, submitting any form, or attending our events, you represent that you are at least 18 years of age or that you have obtained the consent of a parent or legal guardian. We do not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under 18 without parental consent. If we become aware that we have collected information from someone under 18 without appropriate consent, we will take steps to delete that information.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, programs, or applicable laws. The updated policy will be posted on this page with a revised “Last Updated” date. Your continued use of our website, forms, or participation in our events after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data, contact us at:

buildpurdue
Purdue University
Email: buildp@purdue.edu