Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to Wizensefunding ("we," "us," or "our"), a crowdfunding platform dedicated to connecting innovative projects with passionate supporters. We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal data when you use our website at www.wizensefunding.com (the "Website") and related services (collectively, the "Services").

By accessing or using our Services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. If you do not agree, please do not use our Services.

2. Information We Collect

We collect the following types of information:

• Personal Information: When you register an account, create or support a project, or interact with our Services, we may collect personal information such as:
  • Name
  • Email address
  • Postal address
  • Payment details (e.g., credit card or bank account information, processed securely via third-party payment processors)
  • Phone number (optional, for account verification or customer support)
  • Any other information you voluntarily provide (e.g., project descriptions, profile details)
• Session and Technical Data: To maintain functionality and security, we automatically collect:
  • Session data, including tokens, browsing history (e.g., previously visited URLs), and flash messages, stored in our database to manage your session state. This data is stored in the sessions table using a TEXT data type for the payload column to prevent truncation errors.
  • IP address and user agent (e.g., browser type, operating system) to monitor activity, enhance security, and analyze usage patterns.
  • Cookies and similar technologies to manage sessions, authenticate users, and improve user experience (see Section 6 for details).
• Third-Party Data: We may receive information about you from third parties, such as payment processors or social media platforms (e.g., if you log in via Google or Facebook).

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Provide and improve our Services, including processing crowdfunding pledges, managing user accounts, and facilitating project creation.
• Authenticate users and maintain session continuity using secure database storage.
• Communicate with you, including sending transactional emails (e.g., pledge confirmations, project updates) and, with your consent, marketing communications.
• Analyze usage patterns to enhance Website performance and user experience.
• Ensure security by monitoring IP addresses and user agents for suspicious activity.
• Comply with legal obligations, such as tax reporting or fraud prevention.

4. How We Share Your Information

We may share your information with:

• Service Providers: Third-party vendors (e.g., payment processors like Stripe or PayPal, email services, hosting providers) who assist in delivering our Services, under strict data processing agreements compliant with GDPR and other applicable laws.
• Project Creators: Limited information (e.g., name, pledge amount) may be shared with project creators to fulfill rewards or updates, as disclosed during the pledge process.
• Legal Authorities: When required by law, such as for tax compliance or in response to a court order.
• Third-Party Integrations: If you connect your account to third-party services (e.g., social media for project sharing), we may share limited data as authorized by you.

We do not sell or rent your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes without your explicit consent.

5. Data Storage and Security

We store personal data and session information in a secure MySQL database, configured to handle large session payloads using the TEXT data type for the payload column in the sessions table, as per Laravel’s default session table schema. We implement industry-standard security measures, including:

• Encryption of sensitive data (e.g., payment details) in transit and at rest.
• Regular security audits and updates to our Laravel application and database.
• Access controls to limit data exposure to authorized personnel only.

Session data is retained only for as long as necessary (e.g., until you log out or the session expires). Personal data is retained as required to provide Services or meet legal obligations.

Despite our efforts, no system is 100% secure. We are not responsible for unauthorized access beyond our reasonable control, such as breaches due to external hacking attempts.

6. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies to:

• Maintain session state (essential for login and navigation).
• Store user preferences and authentication tokens.
• Analyze Website traffic via tools like Google Analytics (with anonymized IP tracking where required by law).

You can manage cookies via your browser settings (e.g., in Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Cookies). Disabling cookies may limit Website functionality, such as the ability to log in or pledge to projects. Our Cookie Policy provides further details and is available at www.wizensefunding.com/cookie-policy.

7. Your Rights

Under applicable data protection laws (e.g., GDPR, CCPA), you have the right to:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Correct: Update inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Delete: Request deletion of your data, subject to legal retention requirements (e.g., tax records).
• Portability: Obtain your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
• Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from marketing communications or restrict certain processing activities.
• Non-Discrimination: Exercise these rights without penalty.

8. International Data Transfers

As a global platform, your data may be transferred to countries outside your jurisdiction (e.g., to servers in the United States). We ensure such transfers comply with applicable laws, using mechanisms like Standard Contractual Clauses or the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, where required.

9. Third-Party Links

Our Website may contain links to third-party sites (e.g., payment processors, social media platforms). We are not responsible for their privacy practices. Review their policies before providing personal information.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Updates will be posted on this page with a revised "Last Updated" date. Significant changes will be communicated via email or a prominent Website notice.