Privacy Policy and Terms

Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide

We collect personal information you voluntarily submit through:

• The Venture Studio application form via Tally, including your name, email, company concept, stage, and business details.
• The Pitching Event application form, including your pitch details and founder background.
• The Invest with Us inquiry form, including your name, investment interest, and contact details.
• Partner enquiries submitted via email to grandline.vc@gmail.com.
• Event registrations for workshops, webinars, and community events.
• The Founders Toolkit / Founders Access programme sign-up details.
• Direct email or social media communication with our team.

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you browse our Site, we may automatically collect:

• IP address and approximate geographic location.
• Browser type, version, and device type.
• Pages visited on grandline.ventures and time spent on each page.
• Referring URLs and how you arrived at our Site.
• Scroll depth and click behaviour.
• Date and time of your visit.

1.3 Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our Site may use cookies and similar technologies to improve your experience. These include:

• Essential Cookies: Required for the Site to function properly.
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors navigate the Site, including page performance and traffic sources.
• Preference Cookies: Remember settings such as language, theme, or region.

You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect Site functionality.

1.4 Information from Third-Party Platforms

We use Tally (tally.so) to power our application and investment inquiry forms. Information submitted through Tally is subject to both this Privacy Policy and Tally's own privacy terms. We may also receive information through our partner network, referrals, or public sources when evaluating ventures or investment opportunities.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use collected information to:

• Review and evaluate Venture Studio applications and cohort candidates.
• Process Pitching Event applications and communicate event logistics.
• Facilitate investor introductions and manage Invest with Us inquiries.
• Onboard and support Founders Access programme participants.
• Coordinate workshops, events, and community engagements.
• Respond to partner enquiries and manage partnership relationships.
• Send programme updates, studio news, insights, and relevant communications where consent is given.
• Analyse Site performance and improve user experience.
• Comply with legal, regulatory, and compliance obligations.
• Protect the rights, property, and safety of Grandline Venture, our founders, and our partners.

3. Legal Basis for Processing

Where data protection laws, such as GDPR or equivalent frameworks, apply, we process your personal data on the following legal bases:

• Contractual Necessity: To process your application or fulfil an engagement agreement.
• Legitimate Interests: To operate and grow our venture studio, evaluate founders, and manage investor relations.
• Consent: Where you have explicitly opted in to receive marketing communications or newsletters.
• Legal Obligation: To comply with applicable laws and regulatory requirements.

4. Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell your personal information. We may share it only under the following circumstances:

• Studio Operations and Service Providers: We may share data with trusted third-party tools and vendors used to operate our business, including Tally, email platforms, analytics providers, and cloud storage services. These parties process data only on our behalf and are bound by strict confidentiality obligations.
• Investors, Co-founders, and Partners: With your knowledge and where relevant to your application or venture engagement, we may share your business details with potential co-founders, aligned investors, ecosystem partners, accelerators, or advisors within the Grandline Venture network.
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or regulatory authority, or where we believe disclosure is necessary to protect our rights or the safety of others.
• Business Transfers: In the event of a restructuring, merger, or acquisition of Grandline Venture, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction under equivalent privacy protections.

5. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this policy or as required by law. Application data from founders who do not join a cohort will be retained for up to 24 months for future programme consideration, unless you request earlier deletion. Investor inquiry data is retained for the duration of our ongoing professional relationship.

6. Data Security

We implement industry-standard technical and organisational measures to protect your information from unauthorised access, loss, or misuse. These include secure data transmission (SSL/TLS), access controls, and the use of reputable third-party platforms. However, no system is entirely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute protection of data transmitted over the internet.

7. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the right to:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Erasure (Right to be Forgotten): Request deletion of your personal data.
• Restriction: Request limits on how we process your data.
• Portability: Receive your data in a portable, machine-readable format.
• Object: Object to processing based on legitimate interests or for direct marketing.
• Withdraw Consent: Withdraw any previously given consent at any time.
• Complain: Lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at grandline.vc@gmail.com.

8. Children's Privacy

Our Site and programmes are intended for individuals aged 18 and above. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If you believe a minor has submitted information to us, please contact us immediately.

9. Third-Party Links

Our Site links to third-party platforms including Tally (tally.so) for applications and Google Mail for partner contact. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these platforms. We encourage you to review their respective privacy policies before submitting information.

10. International Data Transfers

Your data may be stored or processed in countries outside your country of residence. Where required, we apply appropriate safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) or equivalent mechanisms to protect your data during international transfers.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Material changes will be reflected by a revised effective date at the top of this page. Continued use of the Site after updates constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

Terms and Conditions

1. Acceptance of Terms

By using this Site, submitting an application, registering for an event, or engaging with Grandline Venture in any capacity, you confirm that you are at least 18 years of age, have the legal capacity to enter into binding agreements, and agree to comply with these Terms and Conditions and all applicable laws.

2. About Grandline Venture

Grandline Venture is a venture studio platform that co-creates and scales category-defining companies. We embed operators, engineers, and designers directly into founding teams from day zero. Our services include:

• Thesis Sprints: Market research, pain point mapping, and opportunity validation.
• Founder and Operator Matching: Connecting domain experts with the right venture opportunities.
• Prototype and Product Build: Engineering, design, and GTM execution pods.
• Venture Formation: Entity setup, cap table structuring, and first-check capital.
• Investor Introductions: Fundraising support through our partner network.
• Cohort Programmes: Structured 16-week build tracks from thesis to launch.
• Founders Access Programme: Resources, tools, and support for early-stage founders.
• Community Events: Workshops, ecosystem networking, and pitching competitions.

Important Notice: The specific scope, equity arrangements, and obligations for any venture engagement will be governed exclusively by a separate, signed agreement between Grandline Venture and the relevant founder(s).

3. Use of the Site

3.1 Permitted Use

You may use this Site to:

• Learn about Grandline Venture's studio model, cohorts, and programmes.
• Submit applications to the Venture Studio, Pitching Events, or Founders Access.
• Register interest in investing or partnering with us.
• Access publicly available insights, press, and event information.
• Contact our team through the provided channels.

3.2 Prohibited Use

You agree not to:

• Use the Site for any unlawful purpose or in violation of applicable laws or regulations.
• Submit false, misleading, or fraudulent information in any application or form.
• Attempt to gain unauthorised access to any part of the Site or our hosting systems.
• Scrape, crawl, or extract data from the Site without prior written consent.
• Upload or transmit malware, viruses, or any malicious code.
• Impersonate Grandline Venture, our team, investors, or any other person or entity.
• Use the Site to solicit founders, investors, or partners for competing ventures without explicit consent.
• Reproduce, republish, or commercially exploit any content from the Site without explicit written permission.

4. Applications and Programme Admission

Submitting an application to any Grandline Venture programme, including the Venture Studio, Pitching Events, or Founders Access, does not constitute acceptance or create any contractual obligation on our part. We reserve the right to accept or decline any application at our sole discretion. We may close or modify programmes, cohort timelines, or application windows without notice.

Accepted participants will receive a separate, formal programme agreement outlining specific terms, equity arrangements, timelines, milestones, deliverables, and mutual obligations.

5. Intellectual Property

All content on this Site, including the Grandline Venture name and branding, text, graphics, logos, programme materials, and visual design, is owned by or licensed to Grandline Venture and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws.

You are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable licence to access and view Site content for personal, non-commercial use only. You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, or commercially exploit any content without our prior written consent.

Any business ideas, pitch materials, concepts, or intellectual property you submit through our application forms or in connection with a programme remain your exclusive property. By submitting, you grant Grandline Venture a non-exclusive, internal-use licence to review and evaluate such materials for the sole purpose of assessing a potential engagement.

6. Confidentiality

Both parties acknowledge that during the application process and any programme engagement, confidential information, including business plans, financials, technology, trade secrets, and strategic data, may be exchanged. Such information shall be treated with strict confidentiality and not disclosed to third parties without prior written consent, except as required by law. Formal confidentiality obligations will be captured in a separate Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) where required.

7. Investment and Equity Disclaimer

Nothing on this Site constitutes a financial offer, investment advice, solicitation to invest, or a guarantee of funding. Any equity participation, first-check capital, or financial arrangements between Grandline Venture and a founder or startup will be exclusively governed by separate, legally binding agreements signed by authorised representatives of both parties. Invest with Us inquiries submitted via this Site are expressions of interest only and do not create any binding investment commitment.

8. Events and Pitching

Grandline Venture organises pitching events and workshops for founders and the startup ecosystem. By registering for any event:

• You consent to being photographed, filmed, or recorded for promotional or archival purposes.
• You agree that your pitch or presentation materials may be shared internally with our team, judges, and invited guests.
• You acknowledge that participation does not guarantee programme entry, investment, or any specific outcome.
• You agree to conduct yourself professionally and respect all event guidelines.

9. Partner Relationships

Grandline Venture collaborates with investors, venture funds, accelerators, service providers, universities, and ecosystem builders. References to partners on this Site are for informational purposes only and do not imply endorsement, guarantee, or a formal binding arrangement unless a separate bilateral agreement exists. Partner terms are governed strictly by individual partnership agreements.

10. Disclaimers and No Warranties

Our Site and its content are provided on an "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" basis. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Grandline Venture makes no warranties, express or implied, including:

• That the Site will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free of viruses or harmful components.
• That any information on the Site is accurate, complete, or current.
• That any programme, cohort, or engagement will result in a successful venture or investment outcome.
• That any investor introduction will result in funding.

11. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Grandline Venture, its directors, employees, advisors, and partners shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages, including:

• Loss of business opportunity, revenue, or profit.
• Failure of a venture or startup supported through our programmes.
• Reliance on content, advice, or introductions provided through this Site or our team.
• Unauthorised access to or alteration of your submitted data.

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Grandline Venture and its affiliates, officers, and team members from any claims, damages, or expenses, including legal fees, arising from:

• Your use of or inability to use the Site.
• Your violation of these Terms.
• Any inaccurate or misleading information you submitted to us.
• Any third-party claims related to your venture, intellectual property, or business.

13. Third-Party Platforms

Our Site links to third-party platforms including Tally (tally.so) for applications and forms, and Google Mail (grandline.vc@gmail.com) for direct contact. These platforms operate under their own terms and privacy policies. We are not responsible for the content, functionality, or data practices of any third-party platform.

14. Modifications to Terms

We reserve the right to update these Terms at any time. Changes will be posted on this page with a revised effective date. Continued use of the Site after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

15. Termination of Access

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your access to the Site or any programme at our sole discretion, without notice, if we believe you have violated these Terms or engaged in conduct harmful to Grandline Venture, its founders, partners, or the wider ecosystem.

16. Governing Law and Disputes

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of [Insert Your Jurisdiction / Country, e.g., India / State of Karnataka]. Any disputes arising in connection with these Terms shall first be subject to good-faith negotiation. If unresolved, disputes shall be referred to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of [Insert Your City / Jurisdiction] or binding arbitration, as applicable and agreed upon by both parties.

17. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found invalid or unenforceable, it will be modified to the minimum extent necessary, or severed, without affecting the remaining provisions.

18. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any separate signed programme or investment agreements, constitute the entire agreement between you and Grandline Venture regarding your use of the Site and services.

19. Force Majeure

Grandline Venture shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performing its obligations caused by circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to natural disasters, pandemics, governmental actions, power failures, or major internet infrastructure outages.

20. Contact Us

For questions about these Terms and Conditions, please contact:

• Entity Name: Grandline Venture
• Email: grandline.vc@gmail.com
• Website: grandline.ventures

Confirmation Notice: By using grandline.ventures, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by both this Privacy Policy and these Terms and Conditions.