Stepup Ventures
Legal

Privacy Policy

Last updated: 30/04/2026

This Privacy Policy explains how Link Software SRL, operating under the commercial name Stepup Ventures, collects, uses, stores and protects personal data through the website www.stepupventures.eu.

This Privacy Policy applies to visitors of the website, companies submitting information, investors expressing interest in Stepup Ventures, partners, advisors and any person contacting Stepup Ventures through the website or by email.

Stepup Ventures processes personal data in accordance with applicable data protection laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation, which requires controllers to inform individuals about the purposes, legal bases, retention periods, rights and safeguards relating to personal data processing.

1. Data controller

The data controller is:

Link Software SRL, operating under the commercial name Stepup Ventures
Avenue Reine Astrid 92
1310 La Hulpe
Belgium
VAT / Company number: BE 0748.849.304
Email: contact@stepupventures.eu

For any question regarding this Privacy Policy or the processing of your personal data, you may contact Stepup Ventures at contact@stepupventures.eu.

2. Personal data we collect

Stepup Ventures may collect and process the following categories of personal data:

2.1. Identification and contact data

  • first name and last name;
  • email address;
  • phone number;
  • company name;
  • job title or professional role;
  • country or region;
  • business address, where relevant.

2.2. Company-related information

When a company contacts Stepup Ventures or submits an application, we may process information relating to:

  • the company;
  • the founding team;
  • shareholders or representatives;
  • business activity;
  • product or service;
  • revenue, traction or growth metrics;
  • funding needs;
  • business plans, pitch decks or supporting documents;
  • any information voluntarily submitted through forms, emails or meetings.

2.3. Investor-related information

When an investor contacts Stepup Ventures or expresses interest in joining the network, we may process:

  • investor profile;
  • professional background;
  • investment interests;
  • investment experience;
  • preferred sectors;
  • potential investment capacity, where voluntarily disclosed;
  • eligibility or qualification information, where required.

2.4. Communication data

We may process information contained in:

  • emails;
  • contact forms;
  • meeting requests;
  • call notes;
  • correspondence;
  • documents sent to Stepup Ventures.

2.5. Technical and website usage data

When you visit the website, we may collect limited technical data, such as:

  • IP address;
  • browser type;
  • device type;
  • operating system;
  • pages visited;
  • date and time of visit;
  • referral source;
  • cookie identifiers, where applicable.

3. How we collect personal data

We collect personal data when:

  • you visit the website;
  • you complete a contact form;
  • you submit a company application;
  • you express interest as an investor;
  • you send us an email;
  • you provide documents or business information;
  • you participate in calls, meetings or discussions with Stepup Ventures;
  • a third party introduces you to Stepup Ventures.

We may also receive personal data from publicly available sources, professional networks, business introducers, advisors or partners, where permitted by applicable law.

4. Purposes of processing

Stepup Ventures processes personal data for the following purposes:

4.1. Responding to enquiries

To respond to contact requests, meeting requests, investor enquiries, partnership requests or other messages submitted through the website or by email.

4.2. Reviewing company applications

To assess companies that may seek funding, investor access, strategic support or inclusion in the Stepup Ventures network.

4.3. Managing investor relations

To review investor profiles, manage investor interest, organise discussions and provide selected information where appropriate.

4.4. Facilitating introductions and business opportunities

To connect companies, investors, advisors, entrepreneurs or partners where relevant and appropriate.

4.5. Managing business relationships

To manage communications, meetings, follow-ups, documentation and professional relationships.

4.6. Legal and compliance purposes

To comply with applicable legal, regulatory, accounting, tax or compliance obligations, including where relevant anti-money laundering, investor eligibility or corporate record-keeping obligations.

4.7. Website operation and security

To operate, maintain, secure and improve the website, prevent fraud, protect systems and ensure website functionality.

4.8. Marketing and communications

To send relevant updates, newsletters, invitations or information about Stepup Ventures, only where permitted by law or where consent has been obtained where required.

5. Legal bases for processing

Depending on the context, Stepup Ventures processes personal data on one or more of the following legal bases:

  • Consent: where you have given consent, for example to receive newsletters or certain communications.
  • Pre-contractual or contractual necessity: where processing is necessary to discuss, prepare, enter into or perform an agreement.
  • Legal obligation: where processing is necessary to comply with applicable legal or regulatory obligations.
  • Legitimate interests: where processing is necessary for Stepup Ventures' legitimate business interests, including responding to enquiries, reviewing opportunities, managing relationships, protecting the website and developing its professional network, provided that such interests are not overridden by your rights and freedoms.

6. Who we share personal data with

Stepup Ventures may share personal data, where relevant and appropriate, with:

  • internal team members;
  • advisors, consultants, lawyers, accountants or auditors;
  • investors or members of the Stepup Ventures network;
  • potential co-investors or partners;
  • technical service providers;
  • website hosting providers;
  • CRM, email or cloud service providers;
  • authorities, courts or regulators where legally required.

When company or investor information is shared with selected third parties, Stepup Ventures will do so only where relevant to the purpose for which the information was provided, such as reviewing an opportunity, facilitating an introduction or assessing a potential investment.

Service providers processing personal data on behalf of Stepup Ventures must process such data only in accordance with appropriate instructions and safeguards. Under the GDPR, controllers and processors are subject to obligations including appropriate security measures based on risk.

7. International transfers

Stepup Ventures primarily aims to process and store personal data within the European Economic Area.

Where personal data is transferred outside the European Economic Area, Stepup Ventures will take appropriate safeguards as required by applicable data protection laws. These safeguards may include adequacy decisions, standard contractual clauses or other lawful transfer mechanisms.

8. Data retention

Stepup Ventures keeps personal data only for as long as necessary for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy.

Retention periods may vary depending on the type of data and the context:

  • contact requests: retained for the time necessary to respond and manage follow-up;
  • company applications: retained for the duration necessary to assess the opportunity and maintain relevant business records;
  • investor enquiries: retained for the duration necessary to manage the investor relationship or network interest;
  • contractual or legal documents: retained in accordance with applicable limitation, accounting, tax or legal retention periods;
  • marketing data: retained until consent is withdrawn or objection is made, where applicable;
  • technical logs: retained for a limited period necessary for website security and operation.

When personal data is no longer required, Stepup Ventures will delete, anonymise or archive it in accordance with applicable laws and operational requirements.

9. Security

Stepup Ventures applies reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal data against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, disclosure, alteration or destruction.

These measures may include access controls, secure storage, restricted access to documents, password protection, technical monitoring and appropriate internal procedures.

No system is completely secure. Stepup Ventures cannot guarantee absolute security of information transmitted through the internet or submitted through the website.

10. Your rights

Subject to the conditions and limits set out under applicable data protection law, you may have the following rights:

  • right of access to your personal data;
  • right to rectification of inaccurate or incomplete data;
  • right to erasure of personal data;
  • right to restriction of processing;
  • right to object to processing;
  • right to data portability;
  • right to withdraw consent where processing is based on consent;
  • right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority.

The European Commission confirms that individuals may request access, rectification, erasure, restriction, objection and portability, and may withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.

To exercise your rights, contact Stepup Ventures at:

contact@stepupventures.eu

Stepup Ventures may request additional information to verify your identity before responding to your request. The data controller must facilitate the exercise of data subject rights under GDPR.

11. Belgian Data Protection Authority

If you believe that Stepup Ventures has not processed your personal data in accordance with applicable data protection laws, you may contact the Belgian Data Protection Authority.

Autorité de protection des données / Gegevensbeschermingsautoriteit
Rue de la Presse 35
1000 Brussels
Belgium
Website: www.autoriteprotectiondonnees.be

12. Cookies

The website may use cookies or similar technologies to ensure proper functioning, improve user experience, analyse website traffic and, where applicable, support marketing or communication tools.

Cookies may include:

  • strictly necessary cookies;
  • analytics cookies;
  • preference cookies;
  • marketing cookies, where applicable.

Where required by law, non-essential cookies will only be used with your consent.

You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of the website.

A separate Cookie Policy may provide more detailed information about the cookies used on the website.

13. Third-party websites

The website may contain links to third-party websites, platforms or resources.

Stepup Ventures is not responsible for the privacy practices, security or content of third-party websites. Visitors should review the privacy policies of those third-party websites before providing personal data.

14. Confidential business information

The website may allow companies, investors or partners to submit business information.

Unless a separate confidentiality agreement has been signed, information submitted through the website is not automatically treated as confidential. However, Stepup Ventures handles submitted business information with reasonable professional care and discretion.

You should avoid submitting highly sensitive, confidential or trade-secret information through the website unless a specific confidentiality framework has been agreed in writing.

15. Automated decision-making

Stepup Ventures does not make decisions based solely on automated processing that produce legal effects concerning individuals or similarly significantly affect them.

Stepup Ventures may use digital tools to organise, analyse or manage information, but investment, company selection or investor relationship decisions involve human review.

16. Changes to this Privacy Policy

Stepup Ventures may update this Privacy Policy from time to time.

The updated version will be published on www.stepupventures.eu with a new "Last updated" date. Continued use of the website after publication of the updated Privacy Policy constitutes acknowledgement of the updated terms.

17. Contact

For any question regarding this Privacy Policy or the processing of personal data, contact:

Link Software SRL, operating under the commercial name Stepup Ventures
Avenue Reine Astrid 92
1310 La Hulpe
Belgium
VAT / Company number: BE 0748.849.304
Email: contact@stepupventures.eu