Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

Personal Information

When you create an account with BuildSwap, we collect:

• Full name and username
• Email address
• Password (encrypted)
• Profile information (bio, profile picture)
• Social media links (website, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)
• Authentication information from third-party providers (Google, GitHub)

Business Information

When you create business listings, we collect:

• Business descriptions, pricing, and details
• Business logos and images
• Financial information (revenue data, optional Stripe business account revenue data)
• Technology stack and business metrics

Communication Data

We collect and store:

• Messages between users on our platform
• Files and documents shared in conversations
• Email communications we send to you

Usage and Analytics Data

We automatically collect:

• IP addresses and location data
• Browser type and device information
• Pages visited and time spent on our platform
• Referral sources and search terms
• Interaction data (clicks, views, favorites)

2. How We Use Your Information

Platform Services

• Create and manage your account
• Enable buying and selling of businesses
• Process payments and manage escrow transactions
• Facilitate communication between users
• Provide customer support

Platform Improvement

• Analyze usage patterns to improve our services
• Develop new features and functionality
• Ensure platform security and prevent fraud
• Personalize your experience

Legal and Safety

• Comply with legal obligations
• Enforce our terms of service
• Protect against fraudulent or illegal activities
• Resolve disputes between users

3. Information Sharing

Service Providers

We share your information with trusted third-party service providers:

• Supabase: Authentication and database services
• Stripe: Payment processing and financial services
• Amazon Web Services (AWS): File storage and hosting
• Google Analytics & PostHog: Website analytics
• Resend: Email delivery services

Other Users

Certain information is visible to other users:

• Your profile information (name, username, bio, profile picture)
• Your business listings and associated details
• Your public social media links
• Messages you send to other users

Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or to protect our rights and safety.

4. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information:

• Encryption of data in transit and at rest
• Secure authentication systems
• Regular security audits and updates
• Access controls and monitoring
• Secure third-party service providers

5. Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Keep you logged in to your account
• Remember your preferences
• Analyze website usage and performance
• Provide personalized experiences
• Enable security features

You can control cookie settings through your browser, but disabling cookies may affect platform functionality.

6. Your Rights and Choices

Account Management

• Update your profile information at any time
• Control your notification preferences
• Manage your privacy settings
• Delete your account and associated data

Data Rights

You have the right to:

• Access your personal information
• Correct inaccurate data
• Request deletion of your data
• Download your data
• Object to certain processing activities

7. Marketing Communications

We may send you marketing emails about:

• New features and platform updates
• Business opportunities and marketplace insights
• Educational content and resources
• Special offers and promotions

You can opt out of marketing emails at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in any email or updating your preferences in your account settings. Note that you will continue to receive transactional emails related to your account and platform usage.

8. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as necessary to:

• Provide our services to you
• Comply with legal obligations
• Resolve disputes
• Enforce our agreements

When you delete your account, we will immediately delete your personal information, except where retention is required by law (such as for tax records or ongoing legal proceedings).

9. Children's Privacy

BuildSwap is not intended for users under 18 years of age. Given the nature of our platform involving high-value business transactions, users must be at least 18 years old to ensure legal capacity for contracts. We do not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under 18. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.

10. International Users & GDPR Compliance

BuildSwap operates from the United States and welcomes international users. By using our services, you acknowledge that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States, which may have different privacy laws than your country of residence.

European Union Users

If you are located in the European Union, you have additional rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

• Right to Access: Request a copy of your personal data
• Right to Rectification: Correct inaccurate personal data
• Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your personal data
• Right to Restrict Processing: Limit how we use your data
• Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a structured format
• Right to Object: Object to certain processing activities
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for data processing

To exercise these rights, please contact us at support@buildswap.io with "GDPR Request" in the subject line.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this privacy policy or our data practices, please contact us: