Introduction
This Privacy Policy explains how Robb Ventures, LLC (“Robb Ventures,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, shares, and protects personal information when you visit robbvc.com and its pages (the “Site”), submit a form, join our mailing list, attend one of our events, appear on or pitch our podcasts, or otherwise interact with us online (together, the “Services”).
Robb Ventures is a seed-stage venture capital firm based in New York City and is a Robb Holding Company Corporation company. We are the party responsible for (the “controller” of) the personal information described in this policy.
By using the Services, you acknowledge that you have read this Privacy Policy. This policy is part of, and should be read together with, our Terms of Use. If you do not agree with this policy, please do not use the Services.
Scope of this policy
This policy applies to personal information we collect through the Services. It does not apply to:
- Information about our portfolio companies, limited partners, or business counterparties that is governed by a separate agreement or notice.
- Websites, shops, and services run by other companies, including other Robb companies and the partners listed in our site footer, even when we link to them. Those sites have their own privacy policies.
- Information you share on third-party platforms such as social networks, podcast apps, or video sites. Those platforms’ policies govern what they collect.
- Information collected offline, except where we say otherwise (for example, sign-in at an event you registered for online).
Information you give us
We collect the information you choose to give us. Depending on how you use the Services, this can include:
Pitch submissions
- Your name, email address, and phone number.
- Your company name, stage, the amount you are raising, and a link to your pitch deck or other materials.
- Anything you write in your message, including information about your business, product, traction, financials, team, and co-founders.
Mailing list
- Your email address and the fact that you asked to receive updates from us.
Event RSVPs
- The event you are registering for, your name, email address, phone number, company, and the number of guests you are bringing.
- Whether you would like to pitch at the event and, if so, the details you provide about your pitch.
Podcast guest and show pitches
- Your name, email address, phone number, company, the show you are pitching, links you share, and the story or topic you propose.
Partnership inquiries
- Your name, email address, phone number, organization, website, the type of partnership you are interested in, and your message.
Founder feedback
- Your name, email address, company, and role, your ratings and written feedback about working with us, and whether you allow us to publish your feedback.
- We only publish feedback, and the name and company attached to it, if you tick the box giving us permission. You can withdraw that permission later, as explained in Your choices.
Emails and other communications
- When you email us, message us on social media, or speak with us, we keep the content of that communication and your contact details.
Please do not send us sensitive personal information (such as government identification numbers, financial account numbers, health information, or information about race, religion, or sexual orientation) through the Site. If information about other people, such as your co-founders or team members, is included in your submission, please make sure you have their permission to share it with us.
Information collected automatically
When you visit the Site, some information is collected automatically by our servers, our security tools, and the third-party services we use to run the Site. This can include:
- Device and connection data: your IP address, browser type and version, operating system, device type, language settings, and approximate location derived from your IP address (such as city or region).
- Usage data: the pages you request, the date and time of your visit, the page that referred you to us, and error and performance information.
- Security data: information used to detect and block spam, bots, brute-force attacks, and other abuse, such as request patterns and signals about whether a form was filled in by a person.
We use this information to deliver and secure the Site, to prevent spam and fraud, and to understand and fix technical problems. We do not currently use third-party analytics or advertising trackers on the Site. If that changes, we will update this policy first.
Cookies and similar technologies
Cookies are small text files stored on your device. Similar technologies include local storage and small scripts that run in your browser. We keep their use to what is needed to run and protect the Site.
Strictly necessary
- Spam protection (Google reCAPTCHA): our forms use Google reCAPTCHA v3, which may set a cookie and collect device and interaction data to tell people and bots apart. More details are in Third-party services.
- Security and firewall: our security software may set cookies or record requests to protect the Site from attacks.
- Logged-in staff: if you are a Site administrator, WordPress sets cookies to keep you signed in. Ordinary visitors do not receive these.
No advertising cookies
We do not use advertising or cross-site tracking cookies, and we do not allow ad networks to place them through the Site.
Managing cookies
Most browsers let you block or delete cookies in their settings. If you block strictly necessary cookies, some features, especially our forms, may not work.
How we use information
We use personal information to:
- Review investment opportunities: evaluate your pitch, contact you about it, carry out diligence, and keep a record of companies we have reviewed.
- Respond to you: answer questions, partnership inquiries, and other messages.
- Run events: register you, send confirmations, reminders, and changes, manage capacity and guest lists, and organize pitch slots.
- Produce our media: consider guest and show pitches for our podcasts and videos and contact you about them.
- Send our mailing list: email you news, articles, episodes, and event announcements you asked for.
- Share founder feedback: learn how we can support founders better and, only with your permission, publish your feedback.
- Operate and protect the Services: host and maintain the Site, prevent spam and abuse, keep our systems secure, and fix problems.
- Meet legal obligations: comply with laws, regulations, legal process, and recordkeeping duties, and establish, exercise, or defend legal claims.
- Other purposes with notice or consent: anything else we describe to you when we collect the information, or that you agree to.
We may also create de-identified or aggregated information (for example, the number of pitches we receive by industry) that no longer identifies you. We will keep such information in de-identified form and will not try to re-identify it, except as allowed by law.
We do not use your information for automated decision-making that produces legal or similarly significant effects on you. Investment decisions are made by people.
Legal bases (EEA and UK visitors)
If you are in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or Switzerland, we rely on the following legal bases to process your personal information:
- Contract or steps before a contract: when we review your pitch or registration at your request.
- Legitimate interests: to run and protect the Site, evaluate investment opportunities, answer inquiries, and improve our Services. We balance these interests against your rights.
- Consent: for our mailing list and for publishing founder feedback. You can withdraw consent at any time without affecting earlier processing.
- Legal obligation: when we must process information to comply with the law.
How we share information
We do not sell your personal information, and we do not share it for cross-context behavioral advertising. We share personal information only as described below:
- Service providers: companies that help us run the Services, such as website hosting, email delivery, spam prevention, security, file storage, and event tools. They may only use your information to provide services to us.
- Robb companies: other companies under common ownership or control with Robb Ventures, such as Robb Holding Company Corporation and its affiliates, when needed to provide the Services (for example, Site hosting by HostRobb), to co-host events or media, or for the purposes in this policy.
- Co-investors and advisors, with care: when we consider an investment, we may discuss your company with potential co-investors, advisors, or experts as part of normal diligence. We share only what is reasonably needed.
- Event partners and venues: names on a guest list or attendee details when needed for entry, security, or running a co-hosted event.
- Published feedback and public content: founder feedback you allow us to publish, and anything you choose to share publicly, such as during a recorded event or podcast appearance.
- Legal and safety: when we believe in good faith that disclosure is required by law, subpoena, or court order, or is necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of Robb Ventures, our users, or others, or to investigate fraud or security issues.
- Business transfers: in connection with a merger, acquisition, financing, reorganization, or sale of all or part of our business or assets, subject to standard confidentiality protections.
- With your consent: for any other purpose you agree to.
Third-party services
The Site relies on a small number of third-party services. They receive some information directly from your browser when you visit:
- Google reCAPTCHA: protects our forms from spam and abuse. It collects hardware and software information, such as device and application data, and sends it to Google for analysis. Your use of reCAPTCHA is subject to the Google Privacy Policy and Google Terms of Service.
- Google Fonts: some typefaces on the Site load from Google’s servers, which means your browser sends your IP address and browser details to Google.
- WordPress and Elementor: the software that builds and runs the Site. Form submissions are processed by it and may be stored in our website database.
- Security software: a website firewall and security plugin that inspects traffic to block attacks.
- Links to other sites: our Shop link, social media icons, Robb company sites, and partner sites take you to services run by others. We are not responsible for their privacy practices.
Pitch materials and confidentiality
We know pitch materials can be sensitive. We limit access to people who need it to review your company, and we do not publish pitch decks or share them outside the purposes described in this policy.
However, like most venture firms, we receive a high volume of pitches, including from companies with similar ideas, and we do not sign non-disclosure agreements at the pitch stage. Submitting materials does not create a confidential relationship or any obligation beyond what this policy and our Terms of Use describe. Please share only what you are comfortable sharing at an early stage. We may review, invest in, or work with companies that are similar to or compete with yours.
The safest way to share a deck is a view-only link that you control (for example, from Google Drive, Dropbox, DocSend, or Pitch). You can revoke access at any time.
How long we keep information
We keep personal information only as long as we need it for the purposes in this policy, unless the law requires or permits a longer period. As a general guide:
- Pitch submissions: up to five (5) years after our last contact with you, so we can follow your progress and avoid asking for the same information twice. If we invest, we keep records for as long as we are invested and as required afterward.
- Mailing list: until you unsubscribe. After that, we keep a minimal record of your email address and unsubscribe request so we do not email you again.
- Event registrations: up to two (2) years after the event.
- Podcast, partnership, and general inquiries: up to three (3) years after our last contact.
- Founder feedback: for as long as it is useful to us or, for published feedback, until you ask us to remove it.
- Server and security logs: generally for short periods, usually no longer than twelve (12) months, unless needed to investigate an incident.
When we no longer need personal information, we delete it or de-identify it. Copies kept in backups are removed as those backups are replaced over time.
How we protect information
We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information, including encrypted connections (HTTPS), a website firewall, spam protection, access controls, and limiting access to people who need it. These safeguards are intended to be reasonable for a business of our size, in line with New York’s data security law (the SHIELD Act).
No website, transmission, or storage system is completely secure. We cannot guarantee the security of information you send us, and you share it at your own risk. If we learn of a security breach affecting your personal information, we will notify you and the authorities as required by law.
Your choices
- Unsubscribe: every mailing list email includes a way to opt out. You can also email us at biz@robbvc.com with “Unsubscribe” in the subject line. We may still send you messages about a pitch, registration, or request you made.
- Published feedback: email us to remove or edit founder feedback we have published with your permission.
- Cookies: manage cookies in your browser settings, as described in Cookies and similar technologies.
- Global Privacy Control: we treat a valid Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal from your browser as a request to opt out of the sale or sharing of your personal information. Because we do not sell or share personal information, no further action is needed. Our Site does not respond differently to “Do Not Track” signals.
- Don’t submit: you can browse most of the Site without giving us any personal information.
Your privacy rights
Depending on where you live, you may have some or all of the following rights over your personal information:
- Access / know: to confirm whether we process your personal information and to get a copy of it, along with details about how we collect, use, and share it.
- Correction: to correct inaccurate personal information.
- Deletion: to ask us to delete personal information, subject to legal exceptions.
- Portability: to receive your information in a portable, commonly used format.
- Opt out: of the sale or sharing of personal information, targeted advertising, and certain profiling. We do not engage in these activities.
- Restriction and objection: to restrict or object to certain processing, including processing based on legitimate interests.
- Withdraw consent: where we rely on your consent.
- Non-discrimination: we will not discriminate against you for exercising your rights.
We honor these requests for everyone where reasonably possible, and we fulfill them as required under applicable law, including the California Consumer Privacy Act as amended (CCPA), the privacy laws of other U.S. states (such as Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, Texas, Oregon, and others), and the EU and UK General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).
How to make a request
To exercise any of your rights, email biz@robbvc.com with “Privacy Request” in the subject line, or write to us at the mailing address in Contact us. Please tell us what you are asking for and how we can reach you.
- Verification: to protect you, we will verify your request by matching the information you give us with what we hold, usually by confirming the email address you used with us. We may ask for more information if needed.
- Authorized agents: you may use an authorized agent to make a request for you. We may ask for written proof of the agent’s authority and ask you to verify your identity directly.
- Timing: we will confirm receipt within ten (10) business days and respond within forty-five (45) days (or one month for GDPR requests). If we need more time, we will tell you why and how long, as the law allows.
- Appeals: if we deny your request, you can appeal by replying to our decision with “Privacy Appeal” in the subject line. We will respond to appeals within the time required by law. If you are not satisfied, you may contact your state attorney general or, in the EEA or UK, your local data protection authority.
We do not charge a fee to process requests unless they are clearly unfounded, repetitive, or excessive.
Notice to California residents
This section gives California residents the additional information required by the CCPA. In the last twelve (12) months we have collected the following categories of personal information, from the sources and for the purposes described above:
- Identifiers: name, email address, phone number, IP address.
- Professional or commercial information: company, role, stage, fundraising details, and business information in pitches.
- Internet or network activity: browsing and interaction data on the Site and security logs.
- Approximate geolocation: derived from IP address.
- Inferences: limited inferences about whether a form submission is likely spam.
We disclose these categories for business purposes to the categories of recipients listed in How we share information. We have not sold or shared personal information (as those terms are defined in the CCPA) in the last twelve (12) months, and we have no actual knowledge of selling or sharing the personal information of anyone under sixteen (16). We do not use or disclose sensitive personal information for purposes that would give a right to limit its use.
Shine the Light: California Civil Code Section 1798.83 lets California residents ask for information about disclosures to third parties for their direct marketing purposes. We do not make such disclosures.
International visitors
We are based in the United States, and the Site is hosted in the United States. If you use the Services from outside the U.S., your information will be transferred to, stored, and processed in the U.S. and other countries where our service providers operate. These countries may have data protection laws different from those in your country.
Where required, we rely on appropriate safeguards for these transfers, such as the European Commission’s Standard Contractual Clauses, the UK International Data Transfer Addendum, or a provider’s participation in the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework.
Children’s privacy
The Services are intended for adults and are not directed to children. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under the age of eighteen (18). If you believe a child has given us personal information, please contact us at biz@robbvc.com and we will delete it.
Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will change the “Last updated” date at the top of this page. If we make material changes, we will give you more prominent notice, such as a notice on the Site or an email to our mailing list. Changes take effect when posted unless we say otherwise. Your continued use of the Services after a change means you accept the updated policy.
Contact us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your information, please contact us:
Email: biz@robbvc.com
Mail:
Robb Ventures, LLC
Attn: Privacy
PO Box 221, 14506 243rd St
Rosedale, NY 11422
United States
