1. Introduction

Welcome to MyVCCircle, your personal finance companion. We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal data. This privacy policy explains how we handle your information when you use our expense tracking, savings coordination, and financial planning tools.

2. What We Are (And What We're Not)

MyVCCircle is:

• A personal finance tracking and coordination application
• A tool for managing Savings Circles with friends and family
• An expense tracker and financial planning assistant
• An AI-powered finance coach for personalized insights

MyVCCircle is NOT:

• A bank, wallet, NBFC, or licensed financial institution
• A payment processor or money transfer service
• A chit fund or investment platform
• A service that holds, stores, or manages user funds

3. Information We Collect

We collect minimal information necessary to provide our services:

3.1 Personal Information

• Name and email address for account creation
• Phone number for account verification
• Profile picture (optional)

3.2 Financial Tracking Data

• Expense categories and amounts (for tracking purposes only)
• Savings goals and progress
• Rent payment logs and reminders
• Savings Circle coordination data (no actual money involved)

3.3 Usage and Device Information

• App usage patterns to improve features
• Device information for security and optimization
• Analytics data to enhance user experience

4. How We Use Your Information

We use your data solely to provide and improve our services:

• To provide expense tracking and financial insights
• To coordinate Savings Circles (tracking only, no money handling)
• To send reminders for rent payments and savings goals
• To provide personalized AI finance coaching
• To calculate and award VC Points for engagement
• To improve app features and user experience
• To provide customer support when requested

5. Data Security and Protection

We implement industry-standard security measures:

• End-to-end encryption for all sensitive data
• Secure cloud storage with regular backups
• Two-factor authentication for account protection
• Regular security audits and updates
• Access controls and monitoring systems

6. Your Privacy Rights

You have full control over your data:

• Access: View all data we have about you
• Correct: Update or correct inaccurate information
• Delete: Request complete deletion of your account and data
• Export: Download your data in a portable format
• Restrict: Limit how we process your data
• Withdraw: Revoke consent for data processing

7. Data Sharing and Third Parties

We respect your privacy and have strict data sharing policies:

• We DO NOT sell or rent your personal data to anyone
• We may use trusted third-party services for:
• Cloud storage (with encryption)
• Analytics (anonymized data only)
• Customer support tools
• We may share anonymized, aggregated data for research purposes
• We'll only share personal data if required by law or with your consent

8. Cookies and Tracking

We use minimal cookies and tracking for:

• Essential app functionality
• User preferences and settings
• Security and fraud prevention
• Basic analytics (anonymized)

You can control cookies through your browser settings.

9. Children's Privacy

MyVCCircle is not intended for users under 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately.

10. Data Retention

We retain your data only as long as necessary:

• Active account data: While your account is active
• Deleted account data: Permanently removed within 30 days
• Backup data: Removed from backups within 90 days
• Legal requirements: As required by applicable law

11. International Data Transfers

Your data is processed securely and may be stored in different countries. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for international transfers.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this policy to reflect changes in our practices or for legal reasons. We'll notify you of significant changes through the app or email.

13. Contact Us

For any privacy-related questions or requests:

• Email: privacy@myvccircle.com
• Website: www.myvccircle.com
• Data Protection Officer: dpo@myvccircle.com

We're committed to addressing your privacy concerns promptly and transparently.