Privacy Policy
Revolutionary Startups collects only what it needs to run a startup directory: the details you submit, a hashed form of your IP address to stop abuse, and payment records from Stripe if you buy a paid listing. We do not run advertising trackers, and we never sell personal data. Last updated November 11, 2026.
Who we are
Revolutionary Startups ("we", "us") is a website that publishes startup guides, a glossary, an intellectual property section and a startup directory. It is owned and operated by Wysebridge Patent Bar Review (the "Operator"). This policy explains what personal data we handle when you read the site, submit a startup, or pay for a listing. It applies to revolutionarystartups.com and its subpages. For the rules that govern the directory itself, see the Terms of Service.
What we collect
Information you give us
- Directory submissions. Startup name, website address, a short description, a category and, optionally, a contact email. The name, website, description and category of a listing that goes live are published. Your email is never published.
- Messages. Anything you send us at hello@revolutionarystartups.com, including privacy requests, billing questions and takedown notices.
- Arcade sign-ups. If you enter your email to unlock unlimited arcade play and join the mailing list, we store the email, when you agreed, where you signed up (the arcade page) and a hashed form of your IP address.
Information collected automatically
- A hashed IP address. When you make a free throw we combine your IP address with a secret value and store only the resulting one-way hash. We use it to apply the limit of one free throw per network per day. We cannot turn the hash back into your IP address.
- Form timing and a hidden field. We record how long the submit form was open and whether a hidden "honeypot" field was filled in. Both help us spot automated spam, and the honeypot result is not stored.
- Hosting logs. Our hosting provider records standard request data (IP address, browser type, pages requested, time) to deliver and secure the site.
Payment information
Paid options are processed by Stripe. Stripe collects your card details and billing information directly; we never see or store your card number. We receive and store the email you gave Stripe, the Stripe customer, subscription, invoice and payment identifiers, and the payment status, so we can match a payment to a submission, issue refunds and end a subscription.
What we do not collect
We do not use advertising networks, cross-site trackers, behavioral profiling or social media pixels. We do not currently use an analytics service. If that changes we will update this page before it does.
How we use it
- To run the directory: reviewing, publishing, updating and removing listings.
- To run the free draw fairly, and to apply the cooldown of 30 days per site.
- To take payments, send receipts, issue refunds and manage subscriptions.
- To prevent spam, fraud and abuse, and to protect the site and its users.
- To send occasional emails about new guides, features and startup resources to people who joined the mailing list. You can unsubscribe at any time.
- To answer your questions and handle legal requests.
- To meet legal, tax and accounting obligations.
We do not send marketing email to the contact email on a submission or a payment: that is used only for matters about your submission, your payment or your request. We email people for marketing only if they opted in to the mailing list.
Legal bases (EEA, UK)
Where the GDPR or UK GDPR applies, we rely on: contract (to deliver a listing you asked for), legitimate interests (security, abuse prevention and running a directory), legal obligation (tax and accounting records) and consent where we ask for it, which you may withdraw at any time.
Who we share it with
We share personal data only with the service providers that help us run the site, and only as needed:
| Provider | Purpose | Data involved |
|---|---|---|
| Vercel | Hosting, serverless functions, delivery | Request logs, form submissions in transit |
| Neon | Database for submissions and listings | Submission details, hashed IP, payment identifiers |
| Stripe | Payments, subscriptions, refunds, receipts | Payment and billing details, email |
We may disclose information if the law requires it, to enforce our terms, or to protect people and the site from harm. If the Operator is sold or reorganized, the data may transfer to the new owner under this policy. We do not sell personal information, and we do not share it for cross-context behavioral advertising.
These providers may process data in the United States and other countries. Where we transfer data of people in the EEA or UK, we rely on the safeguards our providers offer, such as standard contractual clauses.
Cookies and local storage
The site itself sets no cookies. It uses a few small pieces of browser storage: a list of which rejection animations you have seen (rs_fates), your arcade play for the day and whether you unlocked it (rs_toss and rs_arcade), a remembered startup name for the direct-pass film (rs_name, session storage) and, only on the private admin page, a session token. None of it is used for tracking. You can clear them any time in your browser settings.
When you pay, you leave our site for Stripe Checkout, which sets its own cookies under its own policy. Websites you visit through listings are separate and have their own practices.
How long we keep it
- Live listings: while the listing is live. If it comes down (cancelled subscription, removal or your request), we delete the public page at the next site rebuild.
- Submission records (including nuked, rejected and lapsed ones, with the hashed IP and timing data): kept as long as needed to enforce the cooldown and daily limit, handle refunds and disputes, and prevent repeat abuse. We do not currently apply an automatic deletion date to these, and we will delete a record you ask us to delete unless we need it for one of those purposes.
- Payment and tax records: kept for the period the law and our accountants require.
- Mailing list emails: kept until you unsubscribe or ask us to delete them; we keep a record that you unsubscribed so we do not email you again.
- Email correspondence: kept while it is useful to resolve the matter, then deleted.
Your rights
Everyone
You can ask us what personal data we hold about you, to correct it, or to delete it. Write to hello@revolutionarystartups.com. We may need to confirm that the request really comes from you, for example by replying from the email on the submission.
EEA and UK residents
You have the right to access, correct, delete, restrict or object to processing of your personal data, to data portability, and to withdraw consent. You can also complain to your local data protection authority.
California and other US states
Residents of California and some other states can ask to know, delete and correct personal information, and to opt out of its sale or sharing. We do not sell or share personal information for advertising, so there is nothing to opt out of. We will not discriminate against you for using these rights. An authorized agent may make a request for you with proof of authority. We aim to respond within 30 days, or within 45 days where the law allows.
Do Not Track
We do not track you across sites, so our behavior is the same whether or not your browser sends a Do Not Track or Global Privacy Control signal.
Security
We use encrypted connections, a hashed form of IP addresses, and limited access to the admin review queue. No system is perfectly secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security. If a breach affects you, we will notify you and regulators as the law requires.
Children
The site and directory are for adults and for businesses. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 16. If you believe a child has sent us data, contact us and we will delete it.
Changes to this policy
We will update this page when our practices change and change the date at the top. For material changes we will make the update visible on the submit page for a reasonable period.
Contact
Questions or requests about privacy: hello@revolutionarystartups.com. More ways to reach us are on the contact page. Related: Terms of Service and the advertising and ownership disclosure.