1. Introduction

This Privacy Policy explains to Users of the Starchup website, mobile applications offered by or powered by Starchup, microsites, software and service (collectively, the "Service"), how Starchup, Inc., doing business as Starchup ("Starchup", "we" or "us"), gathers and uses information collected in connection with use of the Service and the Starchup platform. Starchup takes reasonable steps to protect User privacy consistent with the guidelines set forth in this Privacy Policy and with all applicable laws. In this Privacy Policy, "User" or "you" means any person using the Service, whether by browsing the Starchup website or using Starchup mobile apps, paying for items and/or transactions using the Starchup application, or participating in any other activities available through the Service.

BY ACCESSING OR USING THE SERVICE AND/OR THE STARCHUP PLATFORM, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ, UNDERSTAND, AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THIS PRIVACY POLICY AND OUR USER TERMS OF SERVICE. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THESE TERMS, DO NOT USE THE SERVICE.

​2. You Control Your Information

You control your personal information on the Starchup platform. Other than to the merchants from whom you receive services (“Merchants”), we will never disclose your email address, transaction history, or other information to any third party for their marketing purposes without you first authorizing that third party to access such information. This allows you to use the Starchup Service and Starchup platform without receiving a whole lot of direct marketing you don't want.

3. Why Do We Have This Privacy Policy?

All companies that you do business with choose whether and how they want share your personal information. Federal law gives you the right to limit some, but not all, of that sharing. Federal law also requires companies to tell you how they collect, share, and protect your personal information. Please read this notice carefully to understand what we do.

4. What Information Do We Collect

Personal Information: Starchup collects some of your identifying information in connection with the Service, depending on how you use the Service. When you create a Starchup User Account (whether through a Starchup App or Starchup website), pay with Starchup, submit content to Starchup, complete a survey, send us feedback, request information about the Service, or sign up for special offers, Starchup may collect information from you, which could include the following (collectively, "Personal Information"):

  • first and last name
  • mailing address
  • email address
  • telephone number
  • date of birth
  • location
  • Merchant transaction data (including the amount, date, and location of the transaction, the amount of credit earned and redeemed, and the identity and amount of items purchased), and
  • information related to your payment instruments, such as expiration date and authentication codes or related information.

You do not have to provide Personal Information to Starchup, but you may not be able to take advantage of all features of the Service if you do not.

Financial Information: In order to use the Service and the Starchup platform in connection with payments to Merchants, you will need to link a payment instrument, such as a debit or credit card account number, to your Starchup User Account ("Financial Information"). Starchup will only collect Financial Information from Users using a secure, transparent pass through to our third-party data vault and payment gateway provider, and Starchup will never store your Financial Information itself. Starchup and its providers maintain compliance with all laws and rules protecting the privacy of your financial information, including the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS).

Web Tracking Information: Starchup and its third-party service providers may use web tracking technologies, such as cookies, web beacons, pixel tags and clear GIFs, to collect data related to usage of the Service, the Programs, and web and email marketing conducted by or on behalf of Starchup. Such data may include:

  • the address of the websites you visited before and after you visited the Service,
  • the type of browser you are using,
  • your Internet Protocol (IP) address, and
  • what pages in the Service you visit and what links you clicked on.

5. How Does Starchup Use and Share Your Information

All companies need to share customers' personal information to run their everyday business. In this section, we explain the reasons that companies can share their customers' personal information; the reasons Starchup chooses to share information; and whether you can limit this sharing.

Personal Information: Starchup will use and store your Personal Information to deliver the Starchup Service to you (including charges, receipts, rewards tracking, and system notifications); to market customer rewards to you; to improve our products and services; to investigate (and remedy) fraudulent or allegedly fraudulent activity; and to perform aggregated data analysis. Additionally, any Personal Information that we collect via Facebook will be used for registration and open graph posts.

Starchup does not sell or rent its mailing list, and we will not disclose your email address to any third party (other than Merchants) for marketing purposes, unless you specifically authorize a third party to access your information. Starchup will disclose your Personal Information to third parties only in the following limited circumstances:

  • When you use the Starchup Service at a Merchant, Starchup may disclose your Personal Information to the associated Merchant to aid in the utilization process;
  • Starchup will permit access to your Personal Information by a third-party that you specifically authorize to access your information, either by granting a party's request for permissions in your Starchup App, or by downloading and logging into a Merchant Starchup App with your Starchup credentials, which grants to the Merchant providing the Starchup App permission to access your Personal Information, including the email address you use to log in, and your transaction history; and,

Financial Information: Starchup will only ever use your Financial Information for the purpose of submitting an authorized charge to your payment instrument. Financial Information is never provided to Starchup in unencrypted form, or stored by Starchup. Your Financial Information is never disclosed to third parties, including Starchup Merchants, other than Starchup's data vault and payment gateway provider.

Aggregate Information: Starchup may also use Personal Information to create aggregated data for analytical purposes. This statistical information does not contain any individual identifying information or contact information and is used to understand our customer base as a whole and to better serve our market. Starchup reserves the right to share such aggregated, non-identifiable data with 3rd parties.

Web Tracking Information: Starchup uses Web Tracking Information to administer the Service and to understand how well our Service is working, and to develop aggregate, statistical information on usage of the Services. Starchup may disclose Web Tracking Information, without individual identifying information, to third party advertisers and advertising agencies, Merchants, and Contractors, in order for Starchup and such third parties to analyze the performance of the Services and the behavior of users, to operate and improve the Service.

Email Communications: If you create a Starchup User Account and provide your email address, we will send you administrative and promotional emails concerning the Starchup Service and Starchup platform, including new features, promotions, Programs, and rewards. If you wish to opt out of promotional emails, you may do so by following the "unsubscribe" instructions in the email, by contacting Starchup Support, or by editing your Starchup User Account settings as described below. All Starchup Users receive administrative emails. If you wish to opt out of administrative emails, you must delete your account entirely and cease use of the Service.

Network Operators: Use of the Service may involve use of the services of third party telecommunications carriers and service providers (such as the services of the carrier that provides cellphone service to you). Such carriers and service providers are not Starchup's Contractors, and any information that a carrier collects in connection with your use of the Service is not Personal Information and is not subject to this Privacy Policy. Starchup is not responsible for the acts or omissions of telecommunications carriers or service providers.

Additional Disclosures: Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Privacy Policy, Starchup reserves the right to use or disclose Personal Information and any other information Starchup collects in connection with the Service: (a) to any successor to Starchup's business, including as a result of any merger, acquisition, asset sale or similar transaction; (b) to any law enforcement, judicial authority, or governmental or regulatory authority, to the extent required by law or legal process; or (c) if in Starchup's reasonable discretion, such use or disclosure is necessary to enforce or protect Starchup's legal rights or to protect third parties.

6. Privacy Settings and Opt Out

If you would like your Personal Information permanently removed from our database, or your Financial Information removed from Starchup's data vault provider, please contact us info@starchup.com. We will promptly disable your Starchup User Account and you will no longer receive email from Starchup. Your removal from the mailing list or database will not remove records of past transactions or delete information stored in our data backups and archives, as required by law. Data on past transactions and data stored in backups and archives will be deleted in the normal course of Starchup's business. You may elect to opt-out at any time after registering for the Starchup service.

7. Access and Updating of Information

Starchup encourages you to view your transaction history, and review and amend your email address or contact details, in the Starchup platform at any time. Please contact us by sending an email to: info@starchup.com.

8. General

Facebook Connect: If you connect to the Starchup Service using Facebook Connect, you agree that any identifying information obtained by us by reason of your connection using Facebook Connect will constitute Personal Information for the purposes of this Privacy Policy, and you consent to our use and disclosure of such information in accordance with this Policy. If we stop using Facebook Connect as an access mechanism, you agree that we will nevertheless retain any Personal Information in accordance with this Policy.

Security: We use reasonable security precautions to protect the security and integrity of your Personal Information in accordance with this Policy and all applicable laws. However, no Internet transmission is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee that security breaches will not occur. Without limitation of the foregoing, we are not responsible for the actions of hackers and other unauthorized third parties.

Electronic Notice; Amendments: Pursuant to Starchup's User Terms, you agree to receive initial notice of this Privacy Policy, and all annual notices of the Privacy Policy, as amended from time to time, electronically. Starchup may modify or amend this policy from time to time. We will notify you of these changes by posting the modified Privacy Policy, which will be available for review by you, on our website on this page.

Children: Starchup does not knowingly collect or maintain personally identifiable information from persons under 13 years of age, and no part of the Service is directed at persons under 13. If you are under 13 years of age, then please do not use the Service. If Starchup learns that personally identifiable information of persons less than 13 years of age has been collected without verifiable parental consent, then Starchup will take the appropriate steps to delete this information. To make such a request, please contact us at info@starchup.com.

Service Visitors from outside the United States: Starchup and its servers are located in the United States and are subject to the applicable state and federal laws of the United States. If you choose to access or use the Service, you consent to the use and disclosure of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy and subject to such laws.​

9. Google Analytics for Display Advertisers

Starchup uses remarketing to advertise across the internet. Along with the Google Analytics cookie, the DoubleClick cookie is collected by Google Analytics based on your browsing history. This optimizes your ad exposure to be more targeted to your interests throughout the Google Display Network. This feature can be even more personalized, by letting you customize which ads you see. Starchup follows the Google AdWords Remarketing Policy, as well as Google's restrictions for sensitive categories. If you decide that this isn't for you, feel free to opt out.

10. USA Patriot Act Notice to Merchants

To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who registers for a Merchant Account with Starchup. Merchants will be required to provide such information to the satisfaction of Starchup prior to establishing a Merchant Account.