Introduction
AfroFounder (“we”, “our”, “us”) operates afrofounder.com (the “Service”), a curated investor-intro platform connecting investors with African startups. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have about that information.
Information we collect
We collect the minimum information needed to operate the Service:
- Founder applications — startup name, founder name, email, country, industry, funding stage, description, website, pitch deck URL, LinkedIn, team size, traction.
- Investor intro requests — name, firm, email, check-size range, and reason for interest.
- Partnership inquiries — organization, contact name, email, website, partner type, country, proposal.
- Contact form submissions — name, email, subject, message.
- Technical data — basic server logs (IP, browser, page visited) for security and debugging. We do not use third-party analytics or trackers.
How we use your information
- To facilitate warm introductions between investors and founders.
- To review founder applications and decide which startups to feature.
- To respond to contact and partnership inquiries.
- To send transactional emails — application receipts, approval notifications, and intro confirmations — via Resend (resend.com).
- To maintain platform security and improve the Service.
We do not sell, rent, or trade your information with third parties for marketing.
Where your data lives
We store data on MongoDB Atlas (our database) and use Resend for transactional email. The site is hosted on Vercel. Each of these providers has its own privacy and security commitments.
Cookies
We do not use marketing cookies or third-party trackers. The site uses minimal local storage to remember admin sessions for our team — no public user is tracked.
Your rights
You can at any time:
- Request a copy of the information we hold about you.
- Request correction or deletion of your information.
- Withdraw your application or request to be removed from the directory.
Email hello@afrofounder.com with your request and we’ll act within 14 days.
Data retention
We retain founder applications, intro requests, partnership inquiries and contact messages for as long as your relationship with AfroFounder is active, plus a reasonable period afterward for legal and operational reasons. You can request earlier deletion at any time.
Children
The Service is not directed at children under 16. We do not knowingly collect information from children.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. Material changes will be reflected with a new “Last updated” date and, where appropriate, a notice on the Service.
Contact
Questions about this policy? Email us at hello@afrofounder.com or use our contact form.