Privacy Policy

For the purposes of this Privacy Policy, the data controller is:

In this Privacy Policy, "TechVillage," "we," "us," or "our" refers to the organizing entity responsible for TechVillage 2026.

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we process your personal data, you can contact us at [email protected].

This Privacy Policy applies when you:

• visit the TechVillage website;
• submit a registration of interest;
• apply as a founder, investor, partner, speaker, mentor, or ecosystem participant;
• communicate with us by email, forms, social media, or other channels;
• purchase or confirm a participation package;
• attend TechVillage 2026;
• participate in event activities, sessions, meetings, networking, or post-event follow-up;
• interact with our marketing, analytics, or communication tools.

This Privacy Policy does not apply to third-party websites, platforms, or services that we do not control. If you click links to third-party websites, platforms, payment providers, accommodation providers, travel services, or partner websites, their own privacy policies will apply.

We collect different types of personal data depending on how you interact with TechVillage.

3.1 Information you provide directly

When you submit a form, apply to participate, contact us, or register for TechVillage, we may collect:

• full name;
• email address;
• phone number;
• country and city;
• company, fund, organization, or institution name;
• job title or role;
• LinkedIn profile or professional links;
• website or portfolio links;
• founder, investor, partner, speaker, mentor, or participant category;
• application responses;
• company or fund information;
• startup stage, traction, fundraising status, and investment interests;
• dietary preferences or restrictions;
• accommodation preferences or logistics information;
• travel-related information you choose to share;
• billing and invoice details;
• payment confirmation information;
• communication preferences;
• any other information you choose to provide.

3.2 Founder application data

If you apply as a founder, we may collect information about:

• your company;
• product or solution;
• AI relevance;
• stage of development;
• traction;
• customers, pilots, partnerships, or revenue signals;
• fundraising status;
• investment ask;
• pitch deck or company materials;
• cap table or round structure information, where applicable;
• team composition;
• market and go-to-market strategy;
• expectations from TechVillage.

Some of this information may be confidential or commercially sensitive. We process it only for purposes connected to application review, selection, preparation, investor matching, event delivery, and follow-up.

3.3 Investor data

If you register interest or participate as an investor, we may collect information about:

• fund, angel network, or investment organization;
• role and investment activity;
• investment focus;
• stage, sector, and geographic interests;
• recent investments or public investment profile;
• preferred founder profiles;
• availability and participation preferences;
• meeting or follow-up interests.

3.4 Partner, speaker and ecosystem participant data

If you engage with TechVillage as a partner, speaker, ecosystem leader, sponsor, or contributor, we may collect:

• professional biography;
• organization details;
• logo, headshot, or profile image;
• speaking topic or contribution area;
• partnership details;
• communication and coordination information;
• contractual or billing details, where relevant.

3.5 Event participation data

During TechVillage, we may process data related to your participation, including:

• registration and check-in status;
• badge or attendee profile information;
• session participation;
• event preferences;
• feedback forms;
• post-event follow-up preferences;
• photos, videos, or recordings where you appear;
• communications with the organizing team.

3.6 Website, analytics, and technical data

When you visit our website, we may collect technical and usage data, including:

• IP address;
• device type;
• browser type and version;
• operating system;
• time zone and approximate location;
• pages viewed;
• time spent on pages;
• referring website or campaign;
• clicks, scrolls, and interactions;
• form starts and form submissions;
• cookie identifiers;
• analytics and advertising identifiers, where consent is given.

3.7 Photos, videos, and event media

TechVillage may involve photography, videography, and other media capture. We may use event photos or videos for:

• event documentation;
• website and social media communication;
• post-event reports;
• press and media materials;
• future TechVillage promotion;
• partner communication.

Where required, we will inform participants about photography and filming at the event. If you have concerns about appearing in photos or videos, you may contact us before or during the event.

We collect personal data in the following ways:

Directly from you

For example, when you:

• complete a website form;
• apply to participate;
• contact us by email;
• provide payment or billing details;
• share materials for event preparation;
• complete a feedback form;
• communicate with the organizing team.

Automatically through the website

For example, through:

• cookies;
• analytics tools;
• tracking pixels;
• server logs;
• performance and security technologies;
• session recording or heatmap tools, where enabled and consented to.

From third parties

We may receive limited information from:

• partners or co-organizers;
• investor networks;
• startup ecosystem organizations;
• payment processors;
• ticketing or registration platforms;
• public sources such as LinkedIn, company websites, fund websites, or public investment databases;
• referrals from participants, partners, or ecosystem organizations.

We only use third-party data where we have a legitimate reason to do so and where such use is compatible with this Privacy Policy.

We process personal data for the following purposes:

5.1 To manage applications and selection

• review applications;
• assess eligibility and fit;
• conduct pre-selection and final selection;
• understand founder, investor, and partner profiles;
• build a relevant participant group;
• communicate application results;
• coordinate next steps.

5.2 To organize and deliver TechVillage

• confirm participation;
• manage registration and check-in;
• coordinate the agenda;
• organize sessions and event logistics;
• arrange accommodation and transfers;
• manage meals and dietary requirements;
• provide participant support;
• deliver the full event experience.

5.3 To facilitate founder-investor connections

• prepare participant profiles;
• share relevant information with founders and investors;
• support introductions;
• facilitate discussions;
• organize Investment Stage participation;
• support follow-up after the event;
• help relevant conversations continue where there is mutual interest.

5.4 To communicate with you

• respond to inquiries;
• send event updates;
• provide application or selection information;
• send logistical details;
• share preparation materials;
• send payment or invoice information;
• provide post-event communication;
• send newsletters or marketing messages, where permitted.

5.5 To process payments and invoices

• issue invoices;
• process participation fees;
• confirm payment status;
• keep accounting records;
• comply with tax and legal obligations.

We do not store full payment card details unless explicitly stated. Payments may be processed by third-party payment providers, subject to their own privacy and security policies.

5.6 To improve our website and communications

• understand how visitors use our website;
• measure interest in TechVillage;
• improve website structure and content;
• test positioning and campaign performance;
• understand conversion paths;
• improve forms and user experience;
• analyze traffic sources.

5.7 To promote TechVillage

Where permitted, we may use personal data to:

• send updates about TechVillage;
• share future event opportunities;
• promote relevant programs or partner initiatives;
• publish event photos, highlights, or participant features;
• communicate with potential founders, investors, partners, and ecosystem supporters.

5.8 To protect our rights and comply with obligations

• comply with legal obligations;
• prevent fraud or misuse;
• protect the safety of participants;
• enforce terms and conditions;
• manage disputes or claims;
• maintain records required by law;
• protect our website, systems, and event operations.

Where the GDPR or similar data protection laws apply, we rely on the following legal bases.

Consent

We rely on consent when:

• you agree to receive certain marketing communications;
• you accept analytics or marketing cookies;
• you agree to optional uses of your personal data;
• consent is required for photos, videos, or other specific processing.

You can withdraw consent at any time.

Contract

We rely on contract when processing is necessary to:

• process your application or participation;
• provide access to TechVillage;
• manage payment and registration;
• deliver the event experience;
• provide services you requested.

Legitimate interests

We rely on legitimate interests when processing is necessary for:

• reviewing applications;
• curating the participant group;
• facilitating founder-investor connections;
• improving our website and event experience;
• communicating with professional contacts;
• maintaining event security;
• promoting TechVillage in a reasonable and proportionate way;
• developing relationships with founders, investors, partners, and ecosystem organizations.

When we rely on legitimate interests, we consider whether our interests are balanced against your rights and expectations.

Legal obligation

We rely on legal obligation when we need to:

• maintain tax, accounting, or financial records;
• respond to lawful requests;
• comply with applicable laws;
• handle legal claims or regulatory obligations.

Vital interests

In rare cases, we may process personal data to protect someone's vital interests, for example in a medical or safety-related situation during the event.

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to function properly, understand website performance, improve user experience, and support marketing. Cookies may include:

Necessary cookies

These are required for the website to work correctly and cannot usually be disabled through our website settings.

Analytics cookies

These help us understand how visitors use the website, which pages are most useful, and where users may experience friction. Analytics tools may include Google Analytics 4, Microsoft Clarity, and other analytics tools used for website improvement.

Marketing cookies

These help us measure and improve marketing campaigns, build audiences, and understand campaign performance. Marketing tools may include Meta Pixel, advertising or retargeting tools, and campaign tracking tools.

Preference cookies

These may remember your choices, such as language, cookie settings, or website preferences.

You can manage cookie settings through the cookie banner or cookie preference center on our website. You can also adjust browser settings to block or delete cookies. More details are provided in our Cookie Policy below.

We may use the following tools on our website.

Google Analytics 4

Used to measure website traffic, page performance, user interactions, and conversion events.

Microsoft Clarity

Used to understand website behavior through heatmaps, session recordings, and interaction analysis. Sensitive fields should be masked where appropriate.

Meta Pixel

Used to measure Meta campaign performance, optimize advertising, and support retargeting where users have provided appropriate consent.

Google Tag Manager

Used to manage website tags and tracking tools in one place.

These tools may process technical information such as IP address, device data, browser data, pages visited, clicks, scroll behavior, and campaign identifiers. Where required, these tools will only be activated after you provide the relevant cookie consent.

We may share personal data with trusted parties where necessary for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy.

Service providers

We may share data with providers who help us operate TechVillage, such as:

• website hosting providers;
• website development providers;
• analytics providers;
• email and communication tools;
• form and registration platforms;
• payment processors;
• accounting providers;
• ticketing or event management platforms;
• cloud storage providers;
• security and IT service providers.

Event partners and co-organizers

We may share limited data with event partners or co-organizers where necessary to deliver the event, coordinate participation, provide services, or facilitate relevant introductions.

Accommodation, transport, and hospitality providers

We may share limited information required to coordinate:

• accommodation;
• room allocation;
• transfers;
• meals;
• dietary requirements;
• on-site logistics.

Founders, investors, and participants

To facilitate the purpose of TechVillage, we may share selected professional information between participants, such as:

• name;
• role;
• organization;
• country;
• professional profile;
• company or fund information;
• investment or fundraising interests;
• session participation details;
• contact information, where appropriate or with your permission.

We do not intend to publicly share sensitive or confidential founder materials unless explicitly agreed.

Sponsors and partners

If you interact with a sponsor or partner, or choose to share your details with them, your data may be processed according to that partner's own privacy policy. We will not sell your personal data.

Legal and regulatory authorities

We may share personal data where required to:

• comply with the law;
• respond to lawful requests;
• protect our rights;
• prevent fraud;
• manage legal claims;
• protect participants, staff, partners, or the event.

TechVillage may involve participants, partners, service providers, or systems located in different countries. Your personal data may be processed in Moldova, the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, the United States, or other countries where our service providers operate.

Where personal data is transferred internationally and applicable data protection law requires safeguards, we will use appropriate measures, such as:

• contractual safeguards;
• standard contractual clauses;
• data processing agreements;
• technical and organizational security measures;
• transfer impact assessments, where required.

We keep personal data only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required by law. Retention periods may vary depending on the type of data.

Application data

We may retain application data for up to 6 months after the relevant event, unless you request deletion earlier and we are not legally required to keep it.

Participant data

We may retain participant data for up to 12 months after the event for event administration, relationship management, follow-up, reporting, and future TechVillage opportunities.

Payment and invoice data

We retain billing and accounting data for the period required by applicable tax and accounting laws.

Marketing data

We retain marketing contact data until you unsubscribe or request deletion, unless another lawful basis applies.

Website analytics data

Analytics data is retained according to the settings of the relevant analytics provider and our internal retention preferences.

Event media

Photos and videos may be retained for event archive, documentation, and promotional purposes unless you object and we are able to reasonably accommodate your request.

When personal data is no longer needed, we will delete, anonymize, or securely archive it.

We take reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect personal data against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, alteration, or disclosure. These measures may include:

• access controls;
• limited access based on role;
• secure cloud storage;
• password protection;
• encryption where appropriate;
• data processing agreements with service providers;
• staff and vendor confidentiality obligations;
• regular review of tools and access rights;
• reasonable website and system security measures.

No system is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. However, we work to protect your personal data using appropriate safeguards.

TechVillage may process commercially sensitive information, especially in relation to startups, fundraising, investor interests, traction, cap tables, or strategic plans.

We treat such information with care and use it only for relevant event purposes, including application review, selection, preparation, investor matching, Investment Stage participation, and follow-up.

Participants should avoid submitting information they are not comfortable sharing for the purposes of TechVillage. Where specific confidentiality terms apply, these may be addressed separately in event terms, participant agreements, or other written arrangements.

Depending on where you are located and which laws apply, you may have rights regarding your personal data. These may include the right to:

• access your personal data;
• correct inaccurate or incomplete data;
• request deletion of your data;
• restrict processing;
• object to processing;
• withdraw consent;
• request data portability;
• object to direct marketing;
• lodge a complaint with a data protection authority.

To exercise your rights, contact us at [email protected]. We may need to verify your identity before responding to your request.

Where GDPR applies, we aim to respond to valid requests within one month, unless the request is complex or we are legally allowed to extend the response period.

We may send you marketing communications if:

• you have subscribed to receive them;
• you have registered interest in TechVillage;
• you have participated in TechVillage;
• you have interacted with us in a professional context;
• we have another lawful basis to contact you.

You can unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time by using the unsubscribe link in the email or contacting us directly. We may still send non-marketing messages related to your application, participation, payment, logistics, legal notices, or event updates.

TechVillage may include photography, video recording, livestreaming, or other media capture.

By attending TechVillage, you acknowledge that you may appear in event photos or videos used for documentation, communication, reporting, or promotional purposes.

Where required by law, we will request consent or provide notice and opt-out options. If you do not wish to appear in photos or videos, please contact the organizing team before or during the event. We will make reasonable efforts to accommodate your request.

Our website and communications may include links to third-party websites or platforms, such as:

• partner websites;
• payment providers;
• social media platforms;
• accommodation providers;
• transport providers;
• map services;
• video platforms;
• application or registration tools.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third parties. Please review their privacy policies before providing personal data to them.

TechVillage is intended for adults and professional participants. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under the age of 16.

If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us and we will take appropriate steps to delete it.

We do not use solely automated decision-making that produces legal or similarly significant effects on individuals.

Application and selection decisions are made with human review, based on event criteria such as fit, relevance, stage, role, and alignment with the TechVillage concept.

If you have concerns about how we process your personal data, please contact us first so we can try to resolve the issue.

Contact: [email protected]

You may also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. If changes are significant, we may notify you through the website, email, or other appropriate means.

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy regularly to stay informed about how we process personal data.

For questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle personal data, please contact: