Privacy Policy

Last updated: June 2026

thestart is built around being known for who you are, and we treat your information with care.

1. Information we collect

Account: when you sign in with Apple, we receive an identifier and, if you allow it, a relay email address.
Profile: the details you provide and the answers you give your AI confidant, from which we build your profile (traits, values, interests, preferences, and optional details like birthday, height, and lifestyle).
Photos: any profile photo you upload (shared with a connection only after mutual opt-in).
Location: if you grant permission, your approximate location is used to show distance to potential matches. You can deny or revoke this in Settings.
Messages: the messages you exchange with your connections.

2. How we use information

To build your profile and generate compatibility briefs.
To find and rank potential matches near you.
To enable chat with mutual connections.
To keep the community safe (handling reports and blocks).

3. AI processing

Your onboarding answers and profile summaries are sent to our AI provider to generate conversational responses and compatibility briefs. We send only what is needed for these features.

4. What we share

With other users: your profile content and vibe (your real name and photo only after mutual opt-in).
With service providers: our backend and AI providers, who process data on our behalf.
We do not sell your personal information.

5. Your choices and rights

Edit your profile any time in Profile → Edit.
Delete your account in Profile → Edit → Delete Account, which removes your profile, matches, connections, messages, and photos from our systems.
Control location permission in iOS Settings.

6. Data retention

We keep your information while your account is active. When you delete your account, your associated data is removed from our systems.

7. Children

thestart is for adults 18 and older. We do not knowingly collect information from anyone under 18.

8. Contact

Privacy questions: support@the-start.app