Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to Sproutern ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website sproutern.com and use our services.

By using Sproutern, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our services.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Personal Information

We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you register on the platform, express an interest in obtaining information about us or our services, or otherwise contact us. This includes:

• Name and contact information (email address, phone number)
• Educational background and academic records
• Resume and professional documents
• Skills, qualifications, and work experience
• Profile pictures and other media you upload
• Company information for startup accounts

2.2 Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, we automatically collect certain information about your device, including:

• IP address and browser type
• Operating system and device information
• Pages visited and time spent on pages
• Referring website addresses
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies

2.3 Application Data

When you apply for internships through our platform, we collect information about your applications, including application status, communication with employers, and feedback received.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect or receive for the following purposes:

• To provide and maintain our services: Including account creation, internship matching, and application processing
• To improve user experience: Understanding how users interact with our platform to enhance functionality
• To communicate with you: Sending notifications about applications, new opportunities, and platform updates
• For AI-powered features: Using AI to optimize resumes, match candidates with opportunities, and provide recommendations
• To ensure security: Detecting and preventing fraud, abuse, and security incidents
• To comply with legal obligations: Responding to legal requests and preventing harm
• For analytics and research: Analyzing trends to improve our services and develop new features

4. Sharing Your Information

We may share your information in the following situations:

• With Employers: When you apply for an internship, your profile and application materials are shared with the hiring startup
• With Service Providers: We share data with third-party service providers who help us operate our platform (e.g., Firebase, Google Cloud, AI services)
• For Legal Compliance: When required by law or to protect our rights and users' safety
• With Your Consent: We may share your information for other purposes with your explicit consent
• Business Transfers: In connection with any merger, sale of company assets, or acquisition

We do NOT sell your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

5. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information, including:

• Encryption of data in transit and at rest
• Secure authentication and authorization systems
• Regular security audits and updates
• Access controls and data minimization
• Secure cloud infrastructure (Firebase/Google Cloud Platform)

However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your data, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information
• Data Portability: Request transfer of your data to another service
• Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for data processing at any time
• Object: Object to processing of your personal data for certain purposes

To exercise these rights, please contact us at support@sproutern.com. We will respond to your request within 30 days.

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to track activity on our platform and store certain information. You can instruct your browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent. However, if you do not accept cookies, you may not be able to use some portions of our service.

Types of cookies we use include:

• Essential Cookies: Required for the platform to function properly
• Authentication Cookies: To keep you logged in
• Analytics Cookies: To understand how users interact with our platform
• Preference Cookies: To remember your settings and preferences

8. Third-Party Services

Our platform integrates with third-party services including:

• Google Firebase (authentication, database, storage)
• Google Analytics (website analytics)
• AI services for resume optimization and matching
• Email service providers for notifications

These third parties have their own privacy policies. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before using our services.

9. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required by law. When you delete your account, we will delete or anonymize your personal information within 90 days, except where we need to retain certain information for legal compliance or legitimate business purposes.

10. Children's Privacy

Our services are intended for users who are at least 16 years old. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us, and we will delete such information from our systems.

11. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and maintained on computers located outside of your state, province, country, or other governmental jurisdiction where data protection laws may differ. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

12. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for legal, operational, or regulatory reasons. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us at: