Privacy Policy

1. Who We Are

This Privacy Policy applies to the LaunchPadX programme, operated by Growth Connect Africa ("GrowthConnect", "we", "us"). It explains what information we collect when you apply to or participate in LaunchPadX, how we use it, and the choices you have.

2. Information We Collect

Depending on which stage of the programme you interact with, we may collect:

• Personal details you provide on application: name, phone number, email address, age range, gender, and location.
• Business information: business name, stage, industry, description, revenue status, and related answers.
• A one-time verification code sent to your email address to confirm you own it, used only during the application process.
• Your video introduction link (hosted on YouTube as an unlisted video, not uploaded to our servers directly).
• Verification documents you upload: your completed Founder & Business Verification Form and payment receipt, stored securely as files.
• Any messages you send us through the Contact Team or SOS forms, including your name, email, and message content.
• If you are an admin user, a secure session cookie used solely to keep you signed in to the admin dashboard.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information above to: process and review your application, video introduction, and verification submissions; communicate with you at each stage (including automated confirmation emails, deadline reminders, and outcome notifications); verify your identity and business details during the Founder & Business Verification process; generate and manage your LaunchPadX ID; and respond to messages sent through Contact Team or SOS.

4. Where Your Data Is Stored

Application, video introduction, and verification records are stored in Google Firestore. Uploaded files (verification forms and payment receipts) are stored in Cloudflare R2 object storage. Automated emails are sent through our email delivery provider. We use industry-standard access controls, including cryptographically signed admin sessions, to restrict who can view this data.

5. Third Parties Involved in Verification

As part of Founder & Business Verification, your identity and business details (including BVN and NIN where applicable) are shared with independent third-party verification partners who carry out these checks on our behalf. Payment for verification is processed through Paystack; we do not store your card or payment details ourselves.

6. Data Retention

We retain your application and programme data for as long as you remain an active applicant, participant, or programme graduate, and for a reasonable period afterward to meet our record-keeping and reporting obligations. You may request deletion of your data at any time through the Contact Team form; we will action this unless we are required to retain certain records by law.

7. Your Rights

You may request a copy of the personal data we hold about you, ask us to correct inaccurate information, or request deletion of your data, by reaching out through the Contact Team form found across the site. We will respond to reasonable requests in a timely manner.

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time as the programme evolves. The "Last Updated" date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision. Continued use of the platform after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

9. Contact Us

Questions about this policy or your data can be sent through the Contact Team form, or by email to hello@growthconnect.africa.