ColdStartPrivacy Policy
Last updated October 24, 2026
ColdStart collects as little as it can. Here's exactly what we keep and why.
What we collect
- A visitor cookie. A signed, random ID that counts your free searches. It contains no personal details, except your email if you've given it to us.
- A one-way code made from your IP address, used only to stop people resetting free searches. We don't store your IP address itself.
- Basic visit counts. Which pages are viewed, the site that linked you here (domain only), and whether you searched or started checkout. Each visit is tagged with a one-way code made from your IP address and browser that changes every day, so we can count visitors without cookies or tracking you across days. No third-party analytics.
- Your email, only if you enter it: to unlock free searches, join the waitlist, or turn on the weekly digest. We store when you gave it and what you agreed to.
- What you search for: your website or product description and the options you pick, used to run the search.
- Payment details are handled by Stripe. We receive your email, name, country and subscription status, never your full card number.
- Lists you choose to share become public at their link.
- Daily alerts you turn on: we store the saved search (product description, roles and filters), each day's list and any email drafts you ask for, tied to your visitor cookie. Anyone with an alert's private link can see it, and you can pause it at any time.
- Your lead board, notes and watched searches stay in your browser unless you turn on the weekly digest, which stores your watched searches with your email.
Who processes it
- Render (hosting, server logs kept up to 7 days)
- Anthropic (the AI that reads your product description and writes drafts)
- Stripe (payments)
- GitHub (private backups of sign-up records)
These providers may store data outside Canada, including in the United States.
We only email you if you asked: product updates if you ticked that box, one email when the Founder plan opens if you joined the waitlist, or the weekly digest if you turned it on. Every email has an unsubscribe link, and you can unsubscribe anytime at /unsubscribe. We don't sell or share your email.
Your choices
You can ask us to see, correct or delete your data by emailing support@usecoldstart.com. We'll answer within 30 days. Clearing your browser data removes your lead board and cookie from your device.