Ascend Privacy Policy

Last Updated: 2025-01-31

1. Introduction

Ascend (“we,” “us” or “our”) is committed to protecting your privacy while providing a cutting-edge group analysis and networking platform. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, share, and protect your personal data when you access or use our web application (“Ascend”) and related services. Our overarching goal is to foster meaningful, high-trust interactions—both online and in-person—by leveraging modern artificial intelligence (including large language model agents) and advanced data management techniques.

By using Ascend, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

2. Scope and Applicability

This Privacy Policy applies to all personal data we collect from:

  • Group owners and administrators who use Ascend’s analysis tools.

  • Group members, event participants, and other users who interact with Ascend or receive our services.

  • Visitors to our website or mobile application.

For users accessing Ascend in a professional capacity or as part of a group analysis or event planning service, additional terms and controls may apply. If you have any questions about the scope of our data practices, please contact us using the details provided in Section 9.

3. Information We Collect and How We Collect It

3.1 Information Provided Directly by You

When you sign up for an Ascend account or interact with our services (e.g., during group registration, event planning, or customer support), we may collect:

  • Account Information: Your name, email address, phone number, job title, and organization details.

  • Content and Preferences: Data you enter into profiles, questionnaires, and manual curation tools—including peer endorsements and match overrides.

  • Payment Information: Billing details and payment method data for subscription services (processed via secure third-party providers).

3.2 Information Collected Automatically

Our system gathers technical and usage data to improve your experience and support our services. This may include:

  • Usage Data: Information on how you interact with Ascend, including feature usage, query logs, and engagement patterns.

  • Device and Connection Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, and device identifiers.

  • Log Files and Cookies: Data collected via our tracking code and cookies that help us analyze trends and enhance security.

3.3 Data from Third Parties

To enrich user profiles and power our analysis:

We integrate with external search APIs (e.g., Perplexity) and social media data sources via trusted third-party providers.

We may also collect publicly available information (e.g., social media profiles) and data from partner platforms to update and expand our group intelligence database.

3.4 Inferred and Enriched Data

Using our relational knowledge base and Neo4j-driven graph database, we combine explicit data with inferred attributes to generate well-researched insights about group members. Such enriched data is used solely for the purposes described below.

4. How We Use Your Information

Ascend uses your data for the following purposes:

  • Providing and Enhancing Services: To deliver group analysis, enable peer-to-peer agent interactions (including double opt-in for high-potential connections), facilitate event planning, and power agentic networking features.

  • Personalization and Recommendations: To generate meaningful, astute insights regarding group dynamics and to personalize user experiences based on preferences and feedback.

  • Security and Maintenance: To authenticate users, detect and prevent unauthorized access, and ensure that external API calls and database queries are secured by JWT checks and row-level security.

  • Product Development and Improvement: To analyze usage trends, gather feedback (including user overrides on match categorizations), and refine our machine learning models for enhanced performance.

  • Marketing and Communications: With your consent or based on our legitimate interests, to send you updates about new features, events, and other communications that may improve your use of Ascend.

5. How We Share Your Information

We take the privacy of our users very seriously and share personal data only in the following circumstances:

  • Service Providers: With trusted third-party vendors who help us host, develop, and support our services. These partners are contractually bound to maintain confidentiality and security.

  • Within Your Group: Group owners and administrators have access only to the data they have contributed. External users or non-group members cannot access private or sensitive group information.

  • Legal and Regulatory Requirements: We may disclose information if required by law, regulation, or legal process, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of Ascend, its users, or others.

  • Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, personal data may be transferred in accordance with applicable laws and will remain subject to this Privacy Policy.

6. Data Security and Retention

Security Measures

We implement modern security practices, including encryption of data at rest and in transit, JWT-based authentication for API and database access, and regular security audits. Our system architecture is designed to ensure that sensitive data is protected by role-based access control and row-level security measures.

Data Retention

Your personal data is retained only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy or as required by law. Users may request the deletion of their data at any time; upon such a request, your information will be immediately removed from our active knowledge graph and storage systems.

7. Your Privacy Rights and Choices

Self-Sovereign Control

You have the right to access, update, and delete your personal data at any time. Self-service tools allow you to manage your account settings, including opting out of data uses for marketing or machine learning purposes.

Consent and Double Opt-In

For peer-to-peer agent interactions, both parties must provide explicit consent (double opt-in) before any personal data is shared or matched. You may also override match categorizations, and such feedback is used solely to enhance our recommendation algorithms.

Opt-Out and Data Access

You may opt out of non-essential communications and request copies of your personal data by contacting our support team using the details in Section 9.

8. International Data Transfers

Ascend may transfer your data across borders to operate our services globally. We employ appropriate safeguards—including Standard Contractual Clauses and encryption—to ensure that your data receives an adequate level of protection, regardless of where it is processed.

9. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the updated policy on our website and, where appropriate, by sending you a notification. Your continued use of Ascend after any changes signifies your acceptance of the revised policy.

10. Contact Us

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

Email: tom@myascend.ai

For further details on how to exercise your rights, please refer to our Help Center or contact our Data Protection Officer using the above information.

By using Ascend, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy and agree to its terms. We are committed to continuously improving our privacy practices and ensuring that your personal data is handled with the utmost care and respect.