Last updated: September 29, 2026

Protopia Technology Inc. (“Protopia,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) provides technology that helps colleges, universities, and other organizations connect members of their communities for advice, networking, mentoring, career opportunities, volunteering, and other forms of engagement.

Privacy is built into how Protopia works. Our services are designed to use the information needed to make relevant connections without requiring people to create another public profile, join another social network, or make their information broadly available to others.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, retain, and protect personal information through our websites and services.

1. Who We Are

Protopia Technology Inc. is a technology company based in the United States.

Our customers include colleges, universities, alumni organizations, foundations, and other organizations that use Protopia to engage and connect members of their communities.

This Privacy Policy applies to:

– our website, protopia.co, and other websites operated by Protopia;
– Protopia services provided on behalf of our customers;
– communications sent through Protopia;
– individuals who contact us, request information, attend our events, or otherwise interact with Protopia.

2. Our Role: Data Controller and Data Processor

Our role depends on how personal information is collected and used.

When we provide services to customers

When a college, university, or other organization provides personal information to Protopia for use in our services, that organization generally determines why the information is processed.

In these circumstances, the customer generally acts as the Data Controller, Business, or equivalent entity under applicable privacy law, and Protopia acts as its Data Processor, Service Provider, Contractor, or equivalent.

We process that Customer Data according to our agreement with the customer and its instructions.

When you interact directly with Protopia

When you visit our website, request a demonstration, subscribe to communications, attend a Protopia event, or otherwise interact with us for Protopia’s own business purposes, Protopia may act as the Data Controller.

This distinction matters. If your information was provided to us by a university or another Protopia customer, that organization may be responsible for responding to certain requests concerning your information.

3. Information We Process

The personal information we process depends on how you interact with Protopia and how our customers configure our services.

Customer-provided information

Customers may provide information about members of their communities so that Protopia can provide its services.

Depending on the customer and service, this may include:

– name;
– email address;
– telephone or mobile number;
– education and degree information;
– graduation year;
– geographic location;
– employment information;
– employer, job title, profession, or industry;
– academic interests;
– professional interests, skills, or expertise;
– affiliations or relationships with the institution;
– engagement information; and
– other information selected by the customer for use with the service.

Protopia is designed to work with information organizations commonly maintain about their communities. Customers determine which information they provide to Protopia, subject to their agreement with us.

Information generated through use of Protopia

When you participate in a Protopia-powered program, we may process information associated with that participation, including:

– questions or requests you submit;
– responses you provide;
– whether you accept, decline, or respond to a request;
– communication delivery and engagement information;
– feedback;
– preferences;
– profile updates you provide;
– reported or moderated content; and
– other information generated through your interaction with the service.

Information you provide directly to Protopia

When you contact Protopia, request a demonstration, register for an event, or communicate with us, we may collect information such as your:

– name;
– business email address;
– organization;
– job title;
– telephone number; and
– communications with us.

Website and technical information

When you visit our website or use our services, certain technical information may be collected automatically, including:

– IP address;
– browser and device type;
– operating system;
– pages viewed;
– referring pages;
– date and time of access;
– device identifiers; and
– website interaction information.

Our use of cookies and similar technologies is described in our Cookie Policy.

4. Information We Do Not Require

Protopia is designed around data minimization.

Our standard services do not require payment card information, financial account information, Social Security numbers, government identification numbers, or passwords to customer systems.

Customers should not provide sensitive personal information to Protopia unless its use has been specifically agreed with us and is necessary for the applicable service.

5. How We Use Personal Information

We process personal information to provide, operate, secure, support, and improve Protopia and the services our customers have asked us to provide.

Depending on the context, this may include:

– matching people with relevant members of their community;
– routing questions, requests, responses, or opportunities;
– facilitating introductions and communications;
– inviting people to participate in relevant engagement opportunities;
– operating and administering customer programs;
– maintaining participation preferences;
– measuring program activity and effectiveness;
– providing reports and insights to customers;
– identifying inappropriate, abusive, fraudulent, or unsafe activity;
– moderating content;
– maintaining and improving the security and reliability of our services;
– providing customer support;
– complying with legal obligations; and
– enforcing our agreements and policies.

When Protopia processes Customer Data on behalf of a customer, we process that information for the purposes of providing services to that customer and in accordance with our agreement with them.

Separately, we may use information collected directly through our website or business relationships to communicate about Protopia, operate our business, understand interest in our services, and conduct sales and marketing activities where permitted by law.

6. Artificial Intelligence and Automated Processing

Artificial intelligence is used to help Protopia make human connection easier. AI supports the process. People remain at the center of the experience.

Depending on the service, Protopia may use artificial intelligence, machine learning, algorithms, and other automated technologies to:

– identify potentially relevant people, opportunities, or resources;
– match requests with appropriate members of a community;
– classify and route requests;
– support content moderation and safety;
– improve the relevance of outreach;
– assist with service administration; and
– provide other functionality requested by our customers.

Protopia’s AI may help determine who is invited to participate, but individuals remain in control of whether they choose to engage.

Protopia does not use Customer Data to train publicly available generative AI models.

Where third-party artificial intelligence infrastructure or services are used to process Customer Data, those services are subject to contractual, privacy, and security safeguards appropriate to their role.

Protopia’s services are designed to facilitate human interaction. Artificial intelligence may help identify and route relevant connections, but it does not replace the people whose experience, advice, and participation create those connections.

7. How We Share Personal Information

We do not disclose personal information except as necessary to operate our business, provide our services, comply with legal obligations, or as otherwise described in this Privacy Policy.

Personal information may be disclosed to:

Our customers

Information generated through a customer’s Protopia program may be made available to that customer, including participation, engagement, questions, responses, feedback, profile updates, and program analytics, depending on the service and customer configuration.

Participants in a Protopia interaction

Information may be disclosed when necessary to facilitate a connection or communication.

Protopia is designed to limit unnecessary exposure of participant information. For example, the identity of a person invited to respond to a request may remain private until that person chooses to participate.

Service providers and subprocessors

We use service providers to support functions such as cloud infrastructure, communications, analytics, security, customer support, and other technical operations.

These providers are authorized to process information only as necessary to provide their services to Protopia and are subject to applicable contractual and security obligations.

Legal and regulatory authorities

We may disclose information where reasonably necessary to:

– comply with applicable law or legal process;
– respond to lawful requests from public authorities;
– protect the rights, property, security, or safety of Protopia, our customers, or others;
– investigate fraud, abuse, security incidents, or violations of our agreements.

Business transactions

Information may be disclosed in connection with a merger, financing, acquisition, restructuring, sale of assets, or similar corporate transaction, subject to appropriate confidentiality and privacy protections.

8. We Do Not Sell Customer Data

Protopia does not sell Customer Data.

We do not use Customer Data to build advertising profiles for third parties.

We do not disclose Customer Data to third parties for their own independent marketing purposes.

Certain privacy laws define terms such as “sell,” “share,” or “targeted advertising” more broadly. Our website privacy choices and Cookie Policy provide additional information about technologies used on Protopia’s public website.

9. Service Providers and Subprocessors

Protopia uses carefully selected service providers and subprocessors to operate our services.

Depending on the service and customer configuration, these providers may support:

– cloud hosting and infrastructure;
– artificial intelligence infrastructure;
– email and communications;
– security;
– customer support;
– analytics; and
– business operations.

Where required, Protopia enters into appropriate contractual arrangements with subprocessors that process Customer Data.

Information about subprocessors that may process Customer Data can be requested by contacting privacy@protopia.co.

10. International Data Transfers

Protopia serves customers and communities in multiple countries.

As a result, personal information may be processed in countries other than the country in which it was originally collected.

Where required by applicable law, Protopia uses appropriate safeguards for international transfers of personal information. These may include the European Commission’s Standard Contractual Clauses, applicable UK international data transfer mechanisms, adequacy decisions, or other legally recognized transfer mechanisms.

Specific data-location or transfer arrangements may also be governed by Protopia’s agreement with a customer.

11. Data Security

Protopia uses administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards designed to protect personal information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, loss, or misuse.

These safeguards include, where appropriate:

– encryption;
– access controls;
– authentication and authorization controls;
– monitoring;
– security testing and review;
– vulnerability and patch management;
– incident response procedures; and
– vendor and subprocessor review.

Access to Customer Data is limited based on business need and role.

No system can guarantee absolute security. We continually evaluate our security practices in light of the information we process, the technologies we use, and evolving risks.

12. Data Retention and Deletion

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, our contractual obligations, legitimate business requirements, and applicable legal requirements.

Customer Data is generally retained according to our agreement with the applicable customer.

Following termination or expiration of a customer relationship, Customer Data is deleted or returned in accordance with the applicable agreement and our data retention procedures, subject to legitimate backup, security, legal, or regulatory requirements.

Information collected directly by Protopia for our own business purposes is retained according to its purpose, our legal obligations, and our business retention requirements.

13. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on where you live and applicable law, you may have rights concerning your personal information, including the right to:

– request access to personal information;
– request correction of inaccurate information;
– request deletion;
– restrict certain processing;
– object to certain processing;
– receive certain information in a portable format;
– withdraw consent where processing is based on consent;
– opt out of certain marketing communications; and
– exercise privacy rights without unlawful discrimination.

These rights are not absolute and may vary by jurisdiction.

To make a privacy request concerning information controlled directly by Protopia, contact privacy@protopia.co.

We may need to verify your identity before completing a request.

14. Information Provided by a University or Other Customer

If your personal information was provided to Protopia by a college, university, alumni organization, foundation, or other Protopia customer, that organization generally controls the information and determines how it is used.

Requests to access, correct, delete, restrict, or otherwise exercise rights concerning that information may therefore need to be directed to the applicable organization.

If you send such a request to Protopia, we may refer the request to the appropriate customer or assist the customer in responding, as required by applicable law and our agreement with them.

15. European Economic Area and United Kingdom

Where the EU General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”), UK GDPR, or similar law applies, personal information must be processed under an appropriate legal basis.

When Protopia acts as a processor, the applicable customer determines the legal basis for processing Customer Data.

When Protopia acts as a controller, our legal bases may include:

– performance of a contract;
– legitimate interests;
– compliance with a legal obligation; and
– consent, where required.

Individuals in the European Economic Area and United Kingdom may also have the right to lodge a complaint with their applicable data protection authority.

16. United States Privacy Rights

Residents of certain U.S. states may have additional rights under applicable state privacy laws.

Depending on the law and circumstances, these may include rights to access, correct, or delete personal information and to opt out of certain uses or disclosures.

Protopia will respond to valid privacy requests as required by applicable law.

Where Protopia processes information solely as a service provider or processor for a customer, requests concerning that Customer Data should generally be directed to the applicable customer.

17. Communications and Participation Preferences

Protopia allows participants to control whether and how they participate in applicable programs.

Depending on the program, individuals may be able to decline a particular request, change participation preferences, or unsubscribe from future communications.

Instructions for doing so are provided in applicable communications.

Marketing communications sent directly by Protopia also include an option to unsubscribe where required.

18. Cookies and Similar Technologies

Our public website uses cookies and similar technologies for functions such as website operation, analytics, preferences, and, where applicable, marketing.

Where required by law, non-essential cookies and similar technologies are used only after appropriate consent has been obtained.

You may manage applicable preferences through our cookie consent tools.

For more information, please review our Cookie Policy.

19. Children’s Privacy

Protopia’s services are designed primarily for colleges, universities, alumni organizations, and other organizations serving adult or higher-education communities.

Our public website is not directed to children.

Where a customer uses Protopia in a context involving minors, processing is governed by the applicable customer agreement, customer instructions, and applicable law.

We do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children through our public website where parental or guardian consent would be required by law.

20. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our services, technology, legal requirements, or privacy practices.

When we make changes, we will update the “Last updated” date at the top of this policy.

Where required by law, we will provide additional notice of material changes.

21. Contact Us

Questions about this Privacy Policy, Protopia’s privacy practices, or your personal information may be directed to:

Protopia Technology Inc.
300 Delaware Ave.
Suite 210 #319
Wilmington, DE 19801
United States

Privacy: privacy@protopia.co

Data Protection: dpo@protopia.co