Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Personal Information

When you create an account or use our services, we collect:

• Account Information: Name, email address, password (encrypted), and profile details
• Contact Information: Phone number (optional), business information
• Authentication Data: Firebase authentication tokens and session information
• Payment Information: Billing details for premium features (processed securely through third-party payment processors)

1.2 Location and Geographic Data

Our market analysis features require location data:

• Search Locations: Addresses, ZIP codes, counties, and cities you search for
• IP-Based Location: Approximate location derived from your IP address
• Map Interactions: Areas you view, zoom levels, and map preferences
• Saved Locations: Bookmarked areas and opportunity locations you save

1.3 Usage and Analytics Data

We automatically collect information about how you use Markyt:

• Platform Activity: Features used, search queries, analysis generated, and opportunities viewed
• Device Information: Browser type, operating system, device identifiers, and screen resolution
• Log Data: Access times, pages viewed, clicks, and navigation patterns
• Performance Data: Loading times, errors, and technical diagnostics

1.4 Market Research and Analysis Data

• Research Queries: Market analysis requests, demographic searches, and scoring preferences
• Saved Opportunities: Opportunities you bookmark, compare, or add to your dashboard
• Notifications: Notification preferences and interaction history
• Shared Content: Opportunities you share with other users

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for the following purposes:

2.1 Service Delivery

• Provide market analysis, opportunity scoring, and demographic insights
• Generate personalized recommendations based on your preferences
• Process and display location-based market data
• Enable real-time notifications for opportunities matching your criteria
• Facilitate collaboration through opportunity sharing features

2.2 Platform Improvement

• Analyze usage patterns to improve user experience and interface design
• Develop new features and enhance existing functionality
• Optimize performance and fix technical issues
• Conduct research to improve our algorithms and scoring models

2.3 Communication

• Send email verification and account security notifications
• Provide customer support and respond to inquiries
• Share product updates, new features, and service announcements
• Send marketing communications (with your consent)

2.4 Security and Compliance

• Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and unauthorized access
• Enforce our Terms of Service and other policies
• Comply with legal obligations and respond to legal requests
• Protect the rights, property, and safety of Markyt and our users

3. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your data in the following limited circumstances:

3.1 Service Providers

We work with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our platform:

• Firebase/Google Cloud: Authentication, database, hosting, and analytics
• Google Maps API: Geocoding and mapping services
• Resend: Email delivery and verification services
• Census Bureau APIs: Demographic and economic data (public data only)
• Analytics Providers: Usage analytics and performance monitoring

These providers are contractually bound to protect your data and may only use it for the specific services they provide to us.

3.2 With Other Users (Your Consent)

• When you explicitly share an opportunity with another Markyt user
• Information in shared notifications (only what you choose to share)

3.3 Legal Requirements

• To comply with applicable laws, regulations, or legal processes
• To respond to valid requests from law enforcement or government authorities
• To protect our rights, property, safety, or those of our users
• To investigate potential violations of our Terms of Service

3.4 Business Transfers

If Markyt is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you before your information becomes subject to a different privacy policy.

4. Data Storage and Security

4.1 Security Measures

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information:

• Encryption: Data is encrypted in transit (TLS/SSL) and at rest
• Authentication: Secure Firebase authentication with email verification
• Access Controls: Strict access controls and principle of least privilege
• Firestore Security Rules: Database-level security rules to prevent unauthorized access
• Regular Audits: Security assessments and vulnerability testing
• Monitoring: Continuous monitoring for suspicious activity

While we strive to protect your data, no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

4.2 Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as necessary to provide our services and comply with legal obligations:

• Active Accounts: Data is retained while your account is active
• Inactive Accounts: Data may be deleted after extended periods of inactivity (typically 2 years)
• Deleted Accounts: Most data is deleted within 30-90 days after account deletion
• Legal Requirements: Some data may be retained longer to comply with legal or regulatory requirements
• Anonymized Data: Aggregated or anonymized data may be retained indefinitely for analytics

5. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:

5.1 General Rights

• Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information (subject to legal obligations)
• Portability: Request your data in a structured, machine-readable format
• Objection: Object to processing of your information for certain purposes
• Restriction: Request restriction of processing in certain circumstances

5.2 GDPR Rights (European Users)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), UK, or Switzerland, you have additional rights under GDPR:

• Right to withdraw consent at any time
• Right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority
• Right to know the legal basis for processing your data
• Right to data portability between service providers

5.3 CCPA Rights (California Users)

If you are a California resident, you have rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

• Right to know what personal information is collected and how it is used
• Right to delete personal information held by us
• Right to opt-out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell your data)
• Right to non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights

5.4 How to Exercise Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights, you can:

• Access your account settings within the Markyt platform
• Email us at: privacy@markyt.com
• Contact us through our Help Center

We will respond to your request within 30 days. We may need to verify your identity before processing your request.

6. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience:

6.1 Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential Cookies: Required for authentication and core functionality
• Performance Cookies: Help us understand how users interact with our platform
• Functional Cookies: Remember your preferences and settings
• Analytics Cookies: Measure traffic and usage patterns (Google Analytics, Firebase)

6.2 Managing Cookies

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Note that disabling certain cookies may limit your ability to use some features of Markyt. Most browsers allow you to:

• View and delete cookies
• Block third-party cookies
• Block all cookies (may affect functionality)
• Delete cookies when you close your browser

6.3 Do Not Track

Some browsers have a "Do Not Track" feature. Currently, there is no industry standard for how to respond to these signals. We do not currently respond to "Do Not Track" signals.

7. Third-Party Services and Links

Markyt integrates with and links to third-party services:

7.1 Third-Party Services

• Google Services: Maps, Firebase, Cloud Platform (subject to Google's privacy policy)
• U.S. Census Bureau: Public demographic data (government service)
• Email Services: Resend for email delivery

7.2 External Links

Our platform may contain links to external websites or services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these third-party sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any external sites you visit.

8. Children's Privacy

Markyt is not intended for individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately at privacy@markyt.com, and we will take steps to delete such information.

9. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have data protection laws that differ from those of your country. We ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

For transfers from the EEA to other countries, we rely on:

• European Commission adequacy decisions
• Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission
• Binding corporate rules and certification mechanisms

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make changes:

• We will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
• We will notify you via email for significant changes
• We will display a prominent notice on our platform
• For material changes, we may require you to accept the new policy to continue using Markyt

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically. Your continued use of Markyt after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

We aim to respond to all privacy-related inquiries within 30 days. For urgent matters related to data security or breaches, please include "URGENT" in your email subject line.