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Privacy Policy

Introduction

Your privacy is important to us. Texas A&M Innovation. and its subsidiaries and affiliates (“TI,” “we,” or “us”), understand your concerns with regard to how information about you is used and shared, and we appreciate your trust that we will use and share information about you carefully and sensibly.

The TI Events App powered by Accelevents (“App”) includes access to all TI Events website and any subdomains of such website.

This Privacy Policy applies to your use of the App and website. This Privacy Policy applies to information we collect through your use of the App and/or website and any other means by which we may collect information about you. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, and disclose information from and about you when you visit and use the App, as well as your ability to control certain uses of that information. It also describes certain data protection rights which apply, subject to applicable law, including a right to object to some of the processing which TI carries out. More information about your rights, and how to exercise them, is set out in “Your Rights Regarding Your Personal Information” below. As used herein, the term “Program” shall mean the following event(s), collectively:

  • Innovation Forward
  • Innovation Connect
  • InnovationU
  • Texas New Ventures Competition (TNVC)

We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting it through our compliance with this Privacy Policy. By accessing or otherwise using the App, you agree to the terms and conditions of this Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into the Terms of Use, and to TI’s collection, use, and disclosure of your information in accordance with this Privacy Policy, where such agreement is permitted by applicable law. This Privacy Policy may change from time to time (see Changes to our Privacy Policy below). Your continued use of the App after we make changes is deemed to be acceptance of those changes, so please check our Privacy Policy periodically for updates.

WHEN INFORMATION IS COLLECTED

TI collects information from you when you choose to provide it to us. TI collects personal information in the following ways:

  • From you when you register an account and communicate with us. For example, we collect information from you when you sign-up for TI Events, register an account in the App, request information, send us email, send us postal mail, or speak with us on the telephone.
  • We may collect information from your mobile device when the App is installed on your mobile device or you provide your information to us via the App.
  • From third parties. We may collect information from your social media accounts if you choose to give us permission to access your social media accounts.
  • Automatically as you navigate the App. Information collected automatically may include usage details, email address, IP addresses, and information collected through cookies and other tracking technologies.

WHAT INFORMATION IS COLLECTED

We collect the information you provide to us. We use the personal information that you provide for the purposes for which the personal information was provided to us, which is either as stated at the point of collection or as obvious from the context of collection. For example, if you send us an email requesting information, we will use your personal information to respond to your request. We may collect the following information:

  • First and last name
  • Phone number
  • Email address
  • Mailing address
  • Biographical information
  • External social network credentials
  • Title
  • Company
  • Photograph

Additionally, when you use the App, we may collect information about how you access the App, what features you use in the App, and information about the device you use to access the App. We typically collect this information through a variety of tools, including cookies, web beacons, pixels, social media widgets, other tools to enable data recording and indexing, and similar technology (collectively, “tracking technologies”). We collect such information as:

  • IP address.
  • Device type.
  • Browser type.
  • Operating system or platform.
  • Name of Internet service provider.
  • Functionally used on the App.
  • Frequency, time, data, and duration of your visit on the App.
  • Your location.
  • Whether you access our website from multiple devices.
  • Other interaction you may have on the App.
  • Device Unique Device Identifier (e.g., Unique Device Identifier (UDID) or International. Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI).
  • Mobile device MAC or IP address.
  • Information about your mobile carrier.
  • Communications relating to customer support, and information drawn from such communications, for statistical and reference.

HOW PERSONAL INFORMATION IS USED

Providing services to you. We process personal information in order to provide services to you, as well as to respond to communications from you. The precise purposes for which your personal information is processed will be determined by the request, and by applicable laws, regulatory guidance, and professional standards.

Conducting data analytics and supporting our Apps

We use information we collect from you and information that we collect automatically to manage and improve the App. We take steps to ensure that your rights and the legitimacy of TI’s activities are safeguarded. For example, we use information to:

  • Monitor, analyze, and improve the App. For example, we analyze user behavior and conduct research and analysis about the way you and other users use the App.
  • Manage risk and protect the App such as by using data to better protect the App and you by helping to detect and prevent fraud and abuse of the App.
  • Comply with our legal and regulatory obligations. We will use your information as necessary to enforce the terms of our App and to comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

Sometimes we may de-identify information by removing any identifier that can be associated with your personal information. De-identified information helps us develop reports and analyses about how the App is used and for other research such as research regarding behavioral inferences. We may share de-identified information and reports and analyses based on de-identified information publicly and with other companies. To further protect your privacy, de-identified information does not include contact information or any other information that would identify any specific individual or household.

DISCLOSURE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION TO THIRD PARTIES

We do not sell, trade, or transfer your personal information to third parties with respect to information that TI collects directly from you, except in the circumstances described below.

Other App Users. To the extent you provide personal information to us via the App, such information may be visible to and may be disclosed to other third-party users of the App, such as other event attendees, only with your express consent.

Service Providers: We share your information with third parties that provide business, professional, or technical support functions for us. In particular, we use third-party providers for website hosting, maintenance, marketing services, courier services, certification services, business operations, payment services, and identity verification services (“Service Providers”). These Service Providers are only given access to your information to the extent necessary to process your information and/or provide services to TI, and they are prohibited from using or sharing your information for any other purposes. Where permitted by law, TI discloses limited information about you to Service Providers to serve relevant advertising on third party platforms to you or to other audiences.

Legal Matters; Safety: We access or share your information to satisfy any applicable law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request; in connection with an investigation on matters related to public safety; as permitted by law; or otherwise as required by law. We disclose your information to protect the security of the Program, the Website, servers, network systems, and databases. We also disclose your information as necessary if we believe that there has been a violation of our Terms of Use (including investigation of potential violations thereof), any other legal document or contract related to the Website, or the rights of any third party.

Fraud; Security: We access and disclose your information to detect, prevent, or otherwise address fraud, security or other technical issues.

Consent; Other: We share information with third parties when we have your consent, or otherwise as described to you at the point of collection.

TI, in some cases, provides to its end users a list of event attendees, including attendees who may or may not have signed up to use the App. As such, the App users are able to send emails to such other event attendees.

For California Residents: If you do not want TI to disclose your information to third parties (including affiliated third parties which may not be a part of the TI, such as our University Partners) for their direct marketing purposes, you may opt out of such disclosure by contacting us at innovation@tamus.edu

Legal Requirements and Business Transfers. We may disclose personal information (i) if we are required to do so by law, legal process, statute, rule, regulation, or professional standard, or to respond to a subpoena, search warrant, or other government official requests, (ii) when we believe disclosure is necessary or appropriate to prevent physical harm or financial loss, (iii) in connection with an investigation of a complaint, security threat, or suspected or actual illegal activity; (iv) in connection with an internal audit; or (v) in the event that of reorganizations, divestitures, dissolutions, or other types of business transactions. In these types of transactions, personal information may be shared, sold, or transferred, and it may be used subsequently by a third-party.

ACCESSING AND MANAGING YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION

If you have created a profile, you may access and/or update your personal information after you log into your account.

Your rights regarding your personal information may be limited in certain circumstances, for example, if fulfilling your request would reveal personal information about another person or would infringe the rights of a third party (including our rights), or if you ask us to delete information which we are required by law to keep or have compelling legitimate interests in keeping. We will inform you of the relevant exemption upon which we rely when responding to any request you make.

Our use of certain personal information is necessary for us to provide information to you about TI Events or to provide services to you through the Website or otherwise. If you choose not to provide this personal information or request that TI delete or restrict the processing of this personal information, you may not be able to participate in TI Events, and we may not be able to provide you with other services, including those provided through the Website or advertised about TI Events.

INFORMATION SECURITY AND DATA RETENTION

We are committed to protecting the security of your information. We maintain what we believe to be appropriate physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure your information and to prevent unauthorized access, maintain accuracy, and ensure appropriate use of your information. The accuracy, safety, and security of your information also depend on you. Where we have given you (or where you have chosen) a password for access to the App, you are responsible for keeping this password confidential. We ask that you not share your password with anyone. Even though we do our best to protect your information, the transmission of information via the internet is not completely secure, and we cannot guarantee our security measures. We are not responsible for any unauthorized access to or acquisition of your information.

We retain your personal information for as long as we have a relationship with you. We also may retain your personal information for longer period of time which enables us to:

  • Maintain business records for analysis and/or audit purposes;
  • Comply with record retention requirements under the law;
  • Defend or bring any existing or potential legal claims;
  • Deal with any complaints regarding the services;
  • Enforce our commercial agreements;
  • Support our legitimate interests, as described in this Privacy Policy.

CALIFORNIA PRIVACY RIGHTS

California Civil Code Section § 1798.83 permits users of the App that are California residents to request certain information regarding our disclosure of personal information to third parties for their direct marketing purposes. To make such a request, please send an e-mail to innovation@tamus.edu or write us at:

Texas A&M Innovation

175 Century Square One, Suite 200

Mailstop 3369 | College Station, TX 77843

In your request, please attest to the fact that you are a California resident and provide a current California address for our response. Please be aware that not all information sharing is covered by these California privacy rights requirements and only information on covered sharing will be included in our response. This request may be made no more than once per calendar year.

Pursuant to applicable California law, including the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), TI makes the following disclosures (such as to Service Providers) regarding the personal information TI has collected within the last 12 months:

Category A: Identifiers such as: a real name, alias, postal address, unique personal identifier, online identifier, Internet Protocol address, email address, account name, driver’s license number, passport number, or other similar identifiers.

  • Category B: Personal information categories listed in the California Customer Records statute (Cal. Civ. Code § 1798.80(e)) such as: photograph (image), biographical (such as, physical description), education, employment, employment history, address, phone number, or other similar identifiers.
  • Category F: Internet or other similar network activity such as: External social network credentials and automatically collected information such as browser type, device type, IP address

Please note that the categories listed above are those defined in the CCPA. This does not mean that all examples of that category of personal information were in fact disclosed, but reflects our good faith belief to the best of our knowledge that some of that information from the applicable category may be and may have been disclosed.

When We disclose personal information for a business purpose or a commercial purpose, We enter a contract that describes the purpose and requires the recipient to both keep that personal information confidential and not use it for any purpose except performing the contract.

TI has not sold consumers’ personal information in the twelve (12) months preceding the Effective Date of this Privacy Policy.

If you are a California resident, pursuant to the CCPA, you have the right to request:

  • the categories of personal information TI has collected about you;
  • the categories of sources from which your personal information is collected;
  • the business or commercial purpose of collecting or selling your personal information;
  • the categories of third parties with whom TI shares your personal information;
  • the specific pieces of personal information TI has collected about you;
  • the categories of personal information that TI has sold about you and the categories of third parties to whom the personal information was sold, if applicable;
  • deletion of your personal information; and
  • an opt out of having your personal information disclosed or sold to third parties.

To submit a request, or designate an authorized agent to make a request under the CCPA on your behalf, please contact us at innovation@tamus.edu or 979-246-0500. To verify your identity when you submit a request, we will match the identifying information you provide to us to the personal information we have about you. If you have an account with us, we will also verify your identity through our existing authentication practices for your account.

TI will not be required to comply with your request to delete your personal information if it is necessary for TI to maintain your personal information in order to:

  • complete the transaction for which the personal information was collected, provide a good or service requested by you, or reasonably anticipated within the context of TI’s ongoing business relationship with you, or otherwise perform a contract between you and TI;
  • detect security incidents, protect against malicious, deceptive, fraudulent, or illegal activity; or prosecute those responsible for that activity;
  • debug to identify and repair errors that impair existing intended functionality;
  • exercise free speech, ensure the right of another consumer to exercise his or her right of free speech, or exercise another right provided for by law;
  • comply with the California Electronic Communications Privacy Act pursuant to Chapter 3.6 (commencing with Section 1546) of Title 12 of Part 2 of the Penal Code;
  • engage in public or peer-reviewed scientific, historical, or statistical research in the public interest that adheres to all other applicable ethics and privacy laws, when TI’s deletion of the information is likely to render impossible or seriously impair the achievement of such research, if you have provided informed consent;
  • to enable solely internal uses that are reasonably aligned with your expectations based on your relationship with the TI;
  • comply with a legal obligation; or
  • otherwise use your personal information, internally, in a lawful manner that is compatible with the context in which you provided the information.

TI will not discriminate against you in the event you exercise any of the aforementioned rights under CCPA, including, but not limited to, by:

  • denying goods or services to you;
  • charging different prices or rates for goods or services, including through the use of discounts or other benefits or imposing penalties;
  • providing a different level or quality of goods or services to you; or
  • suggesting that you will receive a different price or rate for goods or services or a different level or quality of goods or services.

CHILDREN’S PRIVACY

We do not direct the App or Website to, nor do we knowingly collect any personal information from, children under the age of 16.

QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT THIS PRIVACY POLICY.

You may direct any questions or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy to us at innovation@tamus.edu.

You may also have the right to file a complaint with the data protection authority in the European Union country in which you live, if applicable. To make a data subject request to delete or access the data TAMU Innovation has about you, email innovation@tamus.edu.

The relevant data controller will be charged with making decisions regarding the purposes and methods of processing of data under the terms of this Privacy Policy.

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