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Privacy policy

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Hi! We are Non-Trivial Ventures, the group behind Non-Trivial. 

As part of running Non-Trivial, we use information from and about people who interact with us. This information is called personal data. We have written this Privacy Policy to explain how and why we use personal data so that you know what to expect. If you don’t understand something, please ask your parent/guardian to read it with you so that you can talk about it together. 

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, you or your parent/guardian can contact us at ops@non-trivial.org.

This Privacy Policy was last updated on March 5, 2025. It may change over time, so we suggest you check it regularly. Please see also our February 24th, 2026 Data Retention Policy.

1.

How we collect personal data 

‍

We collect and use personal data to run and improve Non-Trivial, including to engage with and support our community. 

We collect personal data:

  • directly from you when you subscribe to our newsletter, submit information to us (including in a fellowship application or by using the Contact Us form on our website), or any other direct contact;
  • automatically from our website using technology such as cookies. This tells us information about how people use our website; and
  • from trusted partners who we work with who have permission to share personal data with us. This includes the companies who help us with technology and payment services. 

2.

How we use personal data and why 

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The table below explains how we use personal data in relation to Non-Trivial in more detail. We may also use personal data because the law says we have to, or so we that we can protect ourselves and others.

Personal Data Reason Basis
Communication and marketing
Email address To send out our newsletter
  • Consent
  • Our legitimate interest in providing our community members with information that they may be interested in
  • Contact details, including email address
  • Name if provided
  • Communication data, including content and metadata
  • To process and respond to messages we receive, including by email or via the Contact Us form on our website
  • To process referrals made via our Referral Program and communicate with the referrer and the applicant
  • To administer, process and make use of survey responses
  • Consent
  • Our legitimate interest in maintaining efficient communication, and fulfilling the aims of and improving the Non-Trivial initiative
  • To carry out our responsibilities under contracts
Non-Trivial website
Website usage data for non-trivial.org (e.g. IP address, visit duration, browser type)
  • To operate, improve and secure our website
  • To show you advertisements that you may be interested in
  • Our legitimate interest in operating, improving and securing our website
  • Consent (where personal data is collected by non-essential cookies)
Our programs
  • Name and contact details, including email address
  • Application data, which may include test results and special categories of data you choose to provide (such as health data). If your application is unsuccessful, we may retain your personal data for up to 2 years after the end of the recruitment process, so that we can respond to any questions or complaints, see prior application data if you choose to re-apply, and, where necessary, defend legal claims, after which it will be securely deleted or anonymised.
To process and assess applications made to us, such as to join one of our programs, receive a scholarship, or attend an event
  • To take steps before entering into a contract with you
  • Consent
  • Our legitimate interest in building and supporting our community and record-keeping
  • Name
  • Information about you, such as account data (including username and password) and onboarding information
  • Information you may provide to us, including about absences and extenuating circumstances, Demo Day submissions, weekly reflections (including any special categories of data, such as health data)
  • Video call data, including (with permission) recordings and transcripts
 To run and improve our programs and support our community
  • Consent
  • Our legitimate interest in building and supporting our community and record-keeping
  • To meet our responsibilities under our contracts
  • Name and contact information (including email address)
  • Scholarship data, including value
  • Bank details (or those of your parent/guardian if you are under 18)
  • Receipts and other information we may request
 To provide and monitor the usage of our scholarships
  • To meet our responsibilities under the scholarship contract
  • Our legitimate interest in building and supporting our community, monitoring and improving the effectiveness of our scholarship program, and record-keeping
  • Name and contact information of the applicant and referrer (including email address)
  • Bank details of the applicant and referrer (or those of the parent/guardian if under 16)
 To process any payments we make to you as the referrer or applicant for our Referral Program
  • To meet our contractual responsibilities under the Referral Program Terms and Conditions
  • Our legitimate interest in building and supporting our community, monitoring and improving the effectiveness of our Referral Program, and record-keeping

3. Who we share personal data with

We share certain personal data:

  • with companies that provide services to help us operate, such as for IT, marketing, advertising, analytics, legal and payment purposes. These companies must keep the personal data safe and use it as described in their own privacy policies and as necessary to provide the services to us; 
  • where we have permission to do so; 
  • where we have to because of the law or other rules that we have to follow, to protect our rights and safety and those of others, and to make sure our own rules are followed; 
  • if we become part of another company and the personal data is shared as part of that change.   

4. How we store and transfer personal data

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We only keep personal data for as long as we need it, or longer if we have permission or we need to because of the law or other rules that we have to follow. 

If personal data is sent or accessed outside the UK, we have rules in place to keep the personal data safe and follow UK data protection laws.  

5.

Cookies

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We use cookies and other technology to do things such as run the Non-Trivial website, help us understand how it is used, and show you advertisements that you may be interested in. You can learn more about this in our Cookies Policy. 

6.

Rights and complaints

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You have rights when it comes to your personal data. This means that you (or your parent/guardian) can ask us:

  • to see the personal data we have that relates to you; 
  • to change the personal data we have that relates to you if it is wrong or if bits are missing;
  • to stop using or remove the personal data we have that relates to you. 

Also, if you gave us permission to use your personal data, you can take it back at any time by letting us know. We will then stop using your personal data where we rely on permission in the ways we describe in the table above.  

To ask us about these rights, you can email us at ops@non-trivial.org.

If you are unhappy about how we use your personal data, please let us know by emailing us at  ops@non-trivial.org. You can also tell the UK organisation that is in charge of how companies use personal data, called the Information Commissioner’s Office, at https://ico.org.uk/makeacomplaint. 

7.

About us

‍

We are Non-Trivial Ventures, a non-profit organisation registered in England and Wales (company no. 16279238), operating from Third Floor, 20 Old Bailey, London, United Kingdom, EC4M 7AN.

We are in charge of deciding how and why personal data is used in relation to Non-Trivial. This means we are called the “controller” of the personal data.

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