Legal · Privacy

Privacy Policy

How we collect, use, share, and protect information in connection with the Service.

Effective
May 10, 2026
Operator
Ecra Ventures LLC

1. Introduction

Ecra Ventures LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the "Operator", "We”, "Us”, or "Our"), with its registered office at 8 The Green, Suite 11919, Dover, DE 19901, USA, operates the AskForFunding.com website and related online services (collectively, the "Service").

This Privacy Policy describes how We collect, use, share, and protect information in connection with the Service. By accessing or using the Service, You ("You", "Your", or “User”) agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If You do not agree, You must discontinue use of the Service.

This Privacy Policy is intended to be read alongside Our Terms of Service. Capitalized terms not defined here have the meanings given in Our Terms of Service.

2. Who This Policy Applies To

The Service is intended for use by businesses and their authorized representatives located in the United States, Canada, and Australia, including sole proprietors and individuals operating in a business capacity for the purpose of seeking business funding. The Service is not intended for personal, family, or household use, is not directed to or intended for use by anyone under the age of eighteen (18), and is not intended for use by residents or citizens of the European Union, the European Economic Area, or the United Kingdom.

3. Information We Collect

3.1. Information You Provide

  1. Account information: name, email address, business name, postal address, telephone number (including mobile number where provided), and password.
  2. Funding request information: business description, industry, geographic information, funding amount sought, fundraise stage, capital structure, and other information You provide as part of Your funding request profile.
  3. Communications and Content: messages, drafts, files, prompts, attachments, or other content You submit through the Service or transmit to other Users via the Service.
  4. Payment information: when You purchase a Subscription, payment is processed by Our third-party payment processor (currently Stripe). Payment card numbers are submitted directly to the payment processor and are not stored on Our systems. We may receive limited transaction data such as the last four digits of Your card, card brand, billing ZIP, and transaction status.
  5. Support and feedback: information You provide when contacting customer support, including the substance of Your inquiry and any information You choose to share.

3.2. Information About Investors Listed on the Service

The Service includes a database of investor profiles. Investor information is curated by Our staff from public, lawful, and authorized sources, including information made publicly available by investors or their representatives and information submitted by investors directly. Investors may request removal of their profile at any time at askforfunding.com/site/removal.

3.3. Information Collected Automatically

  1. Log data: IP address, browser type and version, device identifiers, operating system, referring and exit pages, dates and times of access, and clickstream data.
  2. Usage data: pages viewed, features used, search terms, and interactions with the Service and its content.
  3. Cookies and similar technologies: see Section 8 below.

3.4. Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about You from advertising and analytics partners (for example, conversion tracking from advertising platforms), social media platforms (if You interact with Our content on those platforms), and public sources used to build and verify investor profiles.

4. How We Use Information

We use the information We collect for the following purposes:

  1. To provide, operate, and maintain the Service, including matching entrepreneurs with investors;
  2. To provide AI-powered features (see Section 5);
  3. To process Subscriptions, payments, refunds, and chargebacks;
  4. To communicate with You about Your account, the Service, transactions, support, security, and similar matters;
  5. To send marketing communications by email and SMS where You have provided the required consent (see Section 7);
  6. To personalize content and experiences;
  7. To measure and improve the Service, including through analytics;
  8. To detect, prevent, investigate, and address fraud, abuse, security incidents, and violations of Our Terms of Service;
  9. To comply with legal obligations and to enforce Our agreements; and
  10. For other purposes for which We provide specific notice at the time of collection.

5. AI-Powered Features and Automated Processing

The Service includes features that use artificial intelligence, machine learning, large language models, or other automated processing technologies ("AI Features") to provide functionality such as investor match suggestions, AI-assisted message drafting, and similar capabilities. AI Features may be added, modified, or discontinued from time to time.

5.1. Data Used for AI Processing

When You use an AI Feature, information associated with Your account and Your funding request — including Your business description, industry, funding amount and details, account data, and any prompts, messages, or content You submit in connection with the AI Feature — may be used as input for automated processing. You should not submit information through AI Features that You are unwilling to have processed by third-party AI service providers.

5.2. Third-Party AI Providers

To deliver AI Features, We transmit relevant information to third-party AI service providers, currently including OpenAI and Anthropic. These providers process Your information on Our behalf for the limited purpose of generating AI Feature output and are contractually prohibited from using Your information for any other purpose, including for training their own foundation models, except to the extent permitted by their applicable terms with Us. We may add or change AI providers from time to time; an up-to-date list is maintained at askforfunding.com/subprocessors.

5.3. Automated Decision-Making

Certain AI Features, including investor matching, involve automated processing of Your information to generate suggestions or recommendations without individualized human review of each output. AI-generated suggestions are provided for convenience only and do not constitute investment advice, financial advice, legal advice, business advice, or any other form of professional advice. You are responsible for reviewing, evaluating, and verifying any AI-generated output before acting on it or transmitting it to any third party.

5.4. Automated Communications

As an active subscriber, You may receive automated emails containing AI-generated content, such as periodic investor match digests. You may opt out of these communications at any time by following the unsubscribe instructions in any such email. Opting out of automated emails does not affect Your ability to use AI Features on demand through Your account, nor does it affect transactional, billing, or service-related emails necessary to operate Your account.

6. How We Share Information

We do not sell Your personal information for monetary consideration. We share information in the following circumstances:

6.1. Service Providers and Sub-processors

We share information with third-party companies that help Us operate the Service, including (without limitation) Our payment processor, transactional and marketing email providers, SMS and customer-communications platforms, advertising platforms, content delivery and security providers, and AI service providers. These providers may only use the information to perform services on Our behalf. A current list of Our material sub-processors, including their function and applicable region, is maintained at askforfunding.com/subprocessors.

6.2. Advertising Partners

We work with advertising platforms to deliver advertising and measure its effectiveness. Our current advertising platforms are listed at askforfunding.com/subprocessors. These platforms may collect information about Your interactions with Our advertisements and Our Service through cookies, pixels, and similar technologies governed by their own privacy policies.

6.3. Other Users

The Service is designed to facilitate connections between entrepreneurs and investors. Information You provide as part of Your funding request profile may be made available to investors and other Users in accordance with the visibility settings of the Service. Communications You send to other Users through the Service are visible to the intended recipients.

6.4. Communications Monitoring

As described in Our Terms of Service, communications transmitted through the Service may be monitored by automated systems and, where appropriate, reviewed by Our staff for the purposes of (i) ensuring the security and integrity of the Service, (ii) detecting and preventing fraud and abuse, (iii) responding to support requests, and (iv) enforcing Our Terms of Service. We may share communications with law enforcement, regulators, or financial institutions in response to lawful requests, in connection with investigations or payment-related verification, or as We deem necessary to protect the security or integrity of the Service or the rights of any User.

6.5. Legal and Compliance

We may disclose information when required by law, subpoena, court order, or other legal process, or when We believe disclosure is reasonably necessary to (i) comply with Our legal obligations, (ii) enforce Our Terms of Service, (iii) protect the rights, property, or safety of the Operator, Our Users, or others, or (iv) detect, prevent, or address fraud, security, or technical issues.

6.6. Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, financing, reorganization, sale of assets, bankruptcy, or similar transaction involving the Operator, information We hold may be transferred to the successor entity or acquirer, subject to the commitments in this Privacy Policy or a successor policy.

6.7. With Your Consent

We may share information with Your consent or at Your direction.

7. Communications and Marketing

7.1. Email

By creating an account, You agree to receive transactional and service-related emails (such as billing, security, account, and support emails) that are necessary to operate Your account. Where You have provided the consent required by applicable law (which may include consent under the U.S. CAN-SPAM Act, Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (S.C. 2010, c. 23) ("CASL"), the Australian Spam Act 2003 (Cth), or other applicable law), You may also receive marketing emails. You may opt out of marketing emails at any time using the unsubscribe link in any marketing email or by visiting askforfunding.com/site/unsubscribe. Opting out of marketing emails does not affect transactional or service-related emails.

7.2. SMS / Text Messaging

If You provide a mobile telephone number to Us and provide the consent required by applicable law (which may include the U.S. Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the U.S. CAN-SPAM Act, CASL, the Australian Spam Act 2003 (Cth), or other applicable law), We may send You SMS messages for customer service, account-related communications, and marketing. SMS consent is not a condition of any purchase of the Service. Standard message and data rates from Your carrier may apply. Message frequency varies. You may opt out of marketing SMS at any time by replying STOP to any marketing message; You may receive a confirmation message after opting out. SMS sent for customer service or account-related purposes are not subject to marketing opt-out and may continue. SMS may be sent through automated, third-party, or AI-assisted systems on Our behalf.

7.3. Telephone Calls

We may contact You by telephone for customer service, account-related communications, retention offers, and marketing where permitted by law and consistent with the consents You have provided. You may ask to be added to Our internal do-not-call list at any time by contacting Us using the information at the end of this Privacy Policy.

8. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We and Our partners use cookies, pixels, web beacons, local storage, and similar technologies to operate the Service, remember Your preferences, analyze usage, and deliver and measure advertising. We use the following categories of cookies:

  • Strictly necessary — required for the Service to function (for example, authentication and session management).
  • Functional — remember Your preferences and settings.
  • Analytics — help Us understand how the Service is used (for example, Google Analytics).
  • Advertising — deliver and measure advertisements (for example, Google Ads, Meta Pixel, Microsoft (Bing) UET tag, and TikTok Pixel).

Most browsers allow You to control or delete cookies through their settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of the Service. You may also opt out of certain advertising cookies through industry tools such as the Network Advertising Initiative consumer opt-out page or the Digital Advertising Alliance WebChoices tool.

We do not currently respond to "Do Not Track" browser signals, but We honor recognized opt-out preference signals (such as the Global Privacy Control) where required by applicable law.

9. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to provide the Service and for the additional purposes described below. Specific retention periods depend on the type of information and the purpose for which it is held:

  • Account and funding request data: for the duration of Your account and for a reasonable period thereafter to support reactivation, dispute resolution, and compliance with legal obligations.
  • Payment and transaction records: as required by tax, accounting, and financial regulations, typically up to seven (7) years.
  • Marketing data: until You opt out, after which We retain a suppression record indefinitely so We can honor Your opt-out.
  • Log data: typically up to twelve (12) months unless retained longer for security or legal purposes.
  • Backups and archives: in accordance with Our routine backup retention practices.
  • Communications: for the duration necessary to provide and support the Service, and as needed for security, enforcement, or legal purposes.

10. Security

We maintain reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect the personal information We collect, including encryption in transit (TLS), access controls, network protections, and routine monitoring. Despite these measures, no system is completely secure, and We cannot guarantee the absolute security of Your information. If We become aware of a data security incident affecting Your personal information that requires notification under applicable law (including, where applicable, U.S. state breach-notification laws, Canada's Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) breach-of-security-safeguards requirements, the Australian Notifiable Data Breaches scheme, and similar laws), We will provide notice in the manner and within the timeframe required by that law.

11. Your Choices and Rights

11.1. Account Information

You may access and update most of Your account information through Your account dashboard. You may also contact Us using the information at the end of this Privacy Policy for assistance.

11.2. Marketing Opt-Out

As described in Section 7, You may opt out of marketing emails and marketing SMS at any time.

11.3. Cookie Controls

You may control cookies through Your browser settings and through industry opt-out tools as described in Section 8.

11.4. Closing Your Account

You may close Your account at any time, as described in Our Terms of Service. Following account closure, We will retain or delete Your information in accordance with Section 9.

11.5. State-Specific Rights

The Service is intended for business-to-business transactions, and We do not believe We currently meet the applicability thresholds of most U.S. state consumer privacy laws. To the extent any such law nevertheless applies to You and Your information, You may have rights to access, correct, delete, or obtain a copy of Your personal information, and to opt out of certain processing such as targeted advertising or, where applicable, the "sale" or "sharing" of personal information as those terms are defined under applicable law. To exercise any such rights, or to ask whether they apply to You, please contact Us using the information at the end of this Privacy Policy. We will not discriminate against You for exercising these rights. Where required by law, You may also designate an authorized agent to act on Your behalf, and We may verify Your identity and the agent's authority before responding.

11.6. California Residents — Shine the Light

California's "Shine the Light" law (Cal. Civ. Code § 1798.83) permits California residents to request information regarding Our disclosure of personal information to third parties for those third parties' direct marketing purposes. We do not currently disclose personal information to third parties for those third parties' own direct marketing purposes.

11.7. Canadian Residents

If You are a resident of Canada, Your personal information is handled in accordance with Canada's Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and applicable provincial privacy laws (including, in some provinces, Alberta's Personal Information Protection Act, British Columbia's Personal Information Protection Act, and Quebec's Act Respecting the Protection of Personal Information in the Private Sector, as amended by Law 25). You have rights to access and request correction of Your personal information held by Us, and to withdraw consent to Our processing (subject to legal or contractual restrictions and reasonable notice), by contacting Us using the information at the end of this Privacy Policy. As described in Section 13, Your personal information will be transferred to and processed in the United States, where it may be subject to lawful access by U.S. authorities. You may file a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (priv.gc.ca) or with Your provincial privacy regulator if You have concerns about Our handling of Your personal information.

11.8. Australian Residents

If You are a resident of Australia, Your personal information is handled in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) where applicable to Us. You have rights to access and request correction of Your personal information held by Us, and to make a complaint to Us about Our handling of Your personal information by contacting Us using the information at the end of this Privacy Policy. If You are not satisfied with Our response, You may make a complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (oaic.gov.au). As described in Section 13, Your personal information will be transferred to and processed in the United States. We take reasonable steps to ensure that overseas recipients of Your personal information handle it consistently with the APPs to the extent applicable, but We may not always be able to ensure that overseas recipients do not breach the APPs, and You may not be able to seek redress under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) for any such breach.

12. Children's Privacy

The Service is not directed to or intended for use by anyone under the age of eighteen (18). We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18, and We specifically do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13 in the United States or under 16 in any other applicable jurisdiction. If You become aware that a person under 18 has provided personal information to Us, please contact Us so We can take appropriate action, including deletion.

13. International Transfers and Processing

The Service is operated from the United States. The Service is intended for use by businesses and their authorized representatives in the United States, Canada, and Australia. By using the Service, You consent to the transfer, processing, and storage of Your information in the United States. The United States may have different data protection laws than Your country, province, or state of residence, including laws that may permit lawful access to Your information by U.S. government authorities. Where required by applicable law, We take reasonable steps to ensure that overseas recipients of Your personal information handle it in a manner consistent with the privacy law applicable to You.

The Service is not intended for use by residents or citizens of the European Union, the European Economic Area, or the United Kingdom. If You are a resident or citizen of any of these jurisdictions, please discontinue use of the Service.

14. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If We make material changes, We will provide at least thirty (30) days’ prior notice by email to active subscribers before the changes take effect. The Effective date at the top of this Privacy Policy reflects the date of the most recent revisions. Your continued use of the Service following the effective date of any updated Privacy Policy constitutes Your acceptance of the changes. If You do not agree to the changes, You must discontinue use of the Service.

Routine updates to Our sub-processors page (askforfunding.com/subprocessors) are not, by themselves, treated as material changes to this Privacy Policy.

15. Contact Us

If You have questions about this Privacy Policy, Our information practices, or Your rights, please contact Us at:

Ecra Ventures LLC

Attn: Privacy Officer

8 The Green, Suite 11919

Dover, DE 19901, USA

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 855-838-1111

Our Privacy Officer is the point of contact for inquiries from Canadian residents under PIPEDA and from Australian residents under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).