​Privacy Policy
Last updated: December 2025

1. Who we are and what we do

Who we are
We are Combinator.network (“Combinator”, “us”, “we”, “our”). We operate as a professional expert network under the domain https://combinator.network.

We are registered with the UK supervisory authority, the Information Commissioner’s Office (“ICO”), as a Data Controller. Our registration number is ZA760718.

What we do
Combinator.network is an expert network company. Part of our business involves identifying industry experts and introducing them to our clients for consultations and other interactions, helping clients make informed strategic decisions.

By joining our network, you may be contacted by Combinator team members with project invitations. Clients may browse expert profiles on our platform and, where consent is given, contact experts directly to propose engagements.

Unless otherwise notified, we act as both controller and processor of your Personal Data. This policy explains the types of Personal Data we collect and how we process it in compliance with the UK Data Protection Act 2018 and applicable data protection laws.

2. Purpose of this privacy notice

Combinator.network respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, and share your personal data through our website (combinator.network) and other communication channels.

Additional notices may be provided at the point of data collection to highlight specific uses of your information, along with options to opt in or out where applicable. We take our responsibilities seriously and encourage you to review the sections below for full transparency.

3. Who this privacy notice applies to

This notice applies to you if:

• You visit our website (combinator.network).

• You are one of our clients or Experts.

• You correspond with us about our services, becoming an Expert or Client.

• You contact us via post, telephone, video call, email, SMS, WhatsApp, or other electronic means.

• We identify you via social media (e.g., LinkedIn) or other publicly available sources as a potential candidate for a client opportunity and reach out accordingly.

• You participate in our surveys.

• You provide feedback or request information.

• You sign up to receive project invitations or other communications from us.

4. What is Personal Data

‘Personal Data’ means any information that can identify you directly or indirectly—such as your name, email address, or online identifier.

‘Special Category Personal Data’ refers to more sensitive information, including data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious beliefs, trade union membership, genetic or biometric data (used for identification), or data concerning physical or mental health.

We do not routinely collect Special Category Personal Data unless explicitly provided by you with clear consent and for a specified purpose.

5. Personal Data we collect

The type of Personal Data we collect depends on your relationship with us.

We process all information you provide—via our website, phone, email, online chat, or other means—including when you:

• Use our website

• Register as an Expert or Client

• Complete online forms

• Interact with social media functions linked to our site

• Contact us with inquiries

When you are (or wish to become) a Client or Expert, we may process:

• Name

• Address

• Email address

• Telephone number

• Company name

• Job title

• Other contact details

• Gender

• Date of birth

• CV and work experience

• Academic qualifications

• Nationality

• Professional views and opinions

• Bank/payment information

• Online identifiers (e.g., IP address, device ID)

• Communications data

• Any additional information you voluntarily share

This list is not exhaustive. For more details, contact us at compliance@combinator.network.

We also collect technical data via cookies and tracking technologies when you visit combinator.network, including:

• IP address and domain name

• Browser type and version

• Operating system

• Traffic and location data

• Web logs and accessed resources

This data is processed under legitimate interests for website hosting, security, and performance. Essential cookies are required for core functionality; disabling them may impair site usability. We use Google Analytics (which may employ cookies) to analyze traffic and improve user experience.

6. Sources of your Personal Data

We primarily collect data directly from you—via website forms, calls, emails, or meetings.

We may also gather information from publicly available sources, such as:

• Professional websites

• Social media (e.g., LinkedIn profiles)

• Companies House (UK)

• Reputable third-party data providers

7. Purposes and lawful bases for processing

We only process your Personal Data when permitted by law. Common lawful bases include:

• Corresponding with users (email, phone, WhatsApp, etc.) – Legitimate interest

• Fulfilling project requests with registered Experts/Clients – Contractual obligation

• Conducting surveys – Consent

• Connecting Experts with interested Clients – Legitimate interest

• Managing Expert/Client registration – Contractual obligation

• Outreach to prospective Clients – Legitimate interest

• Monitoring calls/communications for quality & compliance – Legitimate interest

• Delivering and maintaining our services – Contractual obligation

• Improving website/user experience (via analytics) – Legitimate interest

• Managing payments and financial records – Contractual obligation

• Sending marketing materials or service updates – Consent

• Notifying Experts of new projects – Consent

• Sharing perks program info via SMS/WhatsApp – Consent

Note: If data is required to fulfill a contract, we cannot provide our services without it.

8. International Transfers

We aim to process data within the UK or European Economic Area (EEA). However, some third-party providers (or our affiliated entities) may be located outside these regions.

When transferring data internationally, we ensure adequate safeguards, such as:

• Transfers only to countries deemed “adequate” by the UK ICO; or

• Use of the UK International Data Transfer Agreement and/or EU Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs)

We implement industry-standard physical, technical, and organizational measures to protect your data during transmission and storage.

You are responsible for keeping any passwords (used to access secure areas of combinator.network) confidential and not sharing them.

9. Sharing information

If you join our Expert Network via our online form, we may share the following profile details with Clients through our platform:

• Name

• Current job title & company

• Past roles & employers

• LinkedIn profile URL

If you consent, Clients may also access your contact details (email/phone) and reach out directly via email, WhatsApp, SMS, or call to invite you to projects.

If you request inclusion in our browsable directory without name visibility, only anonymized work experience will be shown.

You can update your contact preferences anytime at:
https://www.combinator.network/expert-project-invitation-preferences.html

If you initially contacted us via email/phone (not the webform), we’ll invite you to formally join. Only after confirmation will your profile be added—and contact details will never be shared without explicit consent.

Other sharing scenarios:

• With your explicit agreement

• In the event of a business sale (data used only for original purposes)

• For co-hosted events (clear disclosure provided at registration)

We do not sell or rent your data to third parties for unrelated marketing.

10. Retaining your information

We retain your data only as long as necessary for the purposes collected—aligned with business needs or legal obligations (e.g., financial records kept for up to 7 years).

At the end of the retention period, data is securely deleted or anonymized (e.g., aggregated for statistical analysis).

11. Security of your Personal Data

We employ robust technical and organizational measures to protect your data against unauthorized access, loss, alteration, or destruction—including encryption, access controls, and regular security reviews.

12. Your rights and how to complain

You have the following rights under data protection law:

• Right to be informed – about how we use your data

• Right of access – to obtain a copy of your data (within one month)

• Right to rectification – to correct inaccurate information

• Right to erasure (“right to be forgotten”)

• Right to restrict processing

• Right to data portability – to reuse your data elsewhere

• Right to object – especially to marketing

• Rights related to automated decision-making

To exercise any right, email us at: compliance@combinator.network

If you’re dissatisfied with our response or believe we’ve mishandled your data, you may lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO):

• Website: https://ico.org.uk

• Phone: 0303 123 1113

We comply with the data protection laws of your country of residence.

13. How to contact us and our Data Representatives

For EU-based individuals:
Combinator.network processes EEA personal data as a data controller and processor. To exercise GDPR rights, contact our EU Representative:

• Email: datarequest@datarep.com (subject line: “Combinator.network”)

• Webform: www.datarep.com/data-request

General inquiries or data requests:
Email: compliance@combinator.network

Data Protection Officer (DPO):
DataCo International UK Limited
c/o One Peak Partners, 41 Great Pulteney Street, 2nd Floor
London W1F 9NZ, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 20 3318 1718
Website: www.dataguard.co.uk

14. Changes to this Privacy Notice

We may update this policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. The “Last updated” date at the top will indicate revisions. We encourage you to review this page regularly.

Thank you for trusting Combinator.network.