Cookie Policy

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device (computer, tablet, smartphone) when you visit our website. They allow the website to recognize your device on subsequent visits, remember your preferences, and enhance your user experience. Cookies can be either "session cookies" (deleted after you close your browser) or "persistent cookies" (stored for a specified period).

2. Why We Use Cookies

CapForecast AI uses cookies for several legitimate purposes:

• Service Delivery: To maintain your session, authenticate your account, and enable essential platform functionality.
• User Preferences: To remember your language, display settings, and other user preferences.
• Security: To detect unauthorized access attempts, prevent fraud, and protect against malicious activity.
• Performance & Analytics: To analyze usage patterns, measure feature performance, and identify technical issues.
• Marketing & Advertising: To serve targeted advertisements and measure the effectiveness of marketing campaigns.
• Integration: To enable third-party services such as customer support, feedback forms, and analytics platforms.

3. Types of Cookies We Use

3.1 Essential (Strictly Necessary) Cookies

These cookies are required for the website to function properly. Without them, you cannot access your account, authenticate sessions, or use core features. These cookies cannot be disabled without compromising functionality.

• Session ID (capforecast_sid): Maintains your logged-in session across pages.
• Authentication Token (auth_token): Securely identifies and authenticates your user account.
• CSRF Protection (csrf_token): Protects against cross-site request forgery attacks.
• Security Flags (secure_flag): Enforces secure HTTPS transmission of cookies.

Duration: Session (deleted on logout) or up to 30 days if "Remember Me" is enabled.

3.2 Performance & Analytics Cookies

These cookies track how you use the platform to help us improve performance, identify bugs, and understand usage trends. They are non-identifying and aggregate data across all users.

• Google Analytics (_ga, _gid): Tracks pageviews, user flow, and feature usage. Managed by Google Inc.
• Mixpanel (mp_*): Advanced event tracking and user cohort analysis. Managed by Mixpanel Inc.
• Hotjar (_hjid, _hjTLDTest): Heatmaps and session recordings to understand user behavior. Managed by Hotjar Ltd.

Duration: Typically 1-2 years.

3.3 Functional Cookies

These cookies remember your preferences to personalize your experience and enable functionality.

• Language Preference (lang): Stores your selected language setting.
• Theme Selection (theme): Remembers whether you prefer light or dark mode.
• User Settings (user_prefs): Saves display and interface customizations.

Duration: 1 year or until cleared.

3.4 Marketing & Advertising Cookies

These cookies track your interaction with advertisements and allow personalized ad serving across the web. They are shared with advertising partners.

• Google Ads (_gac, _gcl_*): Tracks ad conversions and remarketing. Managed by Google.
• LinkedIn Ads (li_*): LinkedIn conversion and audience sync. Managed by LinkedIn Corporation.
• Facebook Pixel (_fbp): Facebook audience tracking and retargeting. Managed by Meta Platforms Inc.

Duration: 1-2 years.

3.5 Third-Party Service Cookies

These cookies are set by third-party services embedded in our platform for specific functionality.

• Intercom (intercom-*): Live chat and customer support widget. Managed by Intercom Inc.
• Zendesk (ZD_*): Help center and support ticketing. Managed by Zendesk Inc.
• Slack (*): If you use Slack integration for notifications. Managed by Slack Technologies Inc.

Duration: Varies by service provider.

4. Cookie Management & Your Choices

4.1 Browser Settings

You can manage cookies through your web browser settings:

• Google Chrome: Settings > Privacy and Security > Cookies and other site data
• Mozilla Firefox: Preferences > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data
• Apple Safari: Preferences > Privacy > Manage Website Data
• Microsoft Edge: Settings > Privacy > Clear browsing data > Cookies and other site data

4.2 Cookie Consent Preferences

When you first visit CapForecast AI, a cookie banner displays asking for your consent. You can:

• Accept All: Accept all cookies except those requiring explicit consent in certain jurisdictions.
• Reject: Reject non-essential cookies while accepting only essential cookies for functionality.
• Manage Preferences: Customize which categories of cookies you accept.

Your preference is stored in localStorage and honored on all subsequent visits. You can update your preference at any time by clearing localStorage or visiting our cookie preference center.

4.3 Do-Not-Track (DNT)

Some browsers offer a "Do Not Track" feature. If enabled, we will attempt to honor your preference by disabling third-party analytics and marketing cookies. However, DNT signals are not universally respected by all publishers or analytics providers.

4.4 Opt-Out of Marketing Cookies

You can opt-out of personalized advertising from specific providers:

• Google: Google Ads Settings
• LinkedIn: LinkedIn Privacy Settings
• Facebook: Facebook Ads Preferences

5. Third-Party Cookies & Partners

We use third-party services that set their own cookies. These providers have their own privacy policies:

• Google (analytics, ads): Google Privacy Policy
• Mixpanel: Mixpanel Privacy Policy
• Hotjar: Hotjar Privacy Policy
• Intercom: Intercom Privacy Policy

CapForecast AI is not responsible for third-party cookie practices. Review their privacy policies for detailed information.

6. Regional Compliance

6.1 European Union (GDPR & ePrivacy Directive)

In the EU, cookies require explicit user consent before deployment (except essential cookies). CapForecast AI complies by:

• Displaying a cookie banner before non-essential cookies are set.
• Obtaining affirmative consent (opt-in) for analytics and marketing cookies.
• Providing clear information about cookie types and purposes.
• Enabling easy cookie preference management.

6.2 California (CCPA & CPRA)

California residents have rights to know what data is collected via cookies and how it's used. CapForecast AI provides:

• Clear disclosure of cookies in the Privacy Policy and this Cookie Policy.
• Right to opt-out of the "sale" of personal information collected via cookies.
• Right to request deletion of cookie-based data.

6.3 United Kingdom (UK GDPR)

Similar to EU GDPR, the UK requires consent for non-essential cookies. CapForecast AI complies identically to EU users.

7. Impact of Disabling Cookies

If you disable all cookies:

• You will not be able to log in to your CapForecast AI account.
• Session information will not be maintained.
• Your preferences and customizations will not be saved.
• Some platform features may not function correctly.

Recommendation: Keep essential cookies enabled for full functionality while disabling analytics or marketing cookies if desired.

8. Cookie Updates & Changes

We may update this Cookie Policy periodically to reflect:

• New cookies or tracking technologies we implement.
• Changes in third-party service providers.
• Updates to privacy laws and regulations.

We will notify you of material changes via email or prominent website notice. Continued use of the website constitutes acceptance of updated cookie practices.

9. Sensitive Information & Cookies

We do NOT store sensitive information (passwords, credit card numbers, SSNs) in cookies. Sensitive data is encrypted and stored securely on our servers. Authentication tokens in cookies are signed and cannot be used to access sensitive data directly.

10. Cross-Site Tracking & Privacy

Some cookies (specifically marketing cookies from Google, Facebook, LinkedIn) may track your activity across multiple websites to serve personalized ads. You can disable cross-site tracking:

• Safari: Preferences > Privacy > Prevent cross-site tracking
• Firefox: Preferences > Privacy & Security > Enhanced Tracking Protection
• Brave: Built-in cross-site tracking blocking enabled by default

11. Local Storage & Similar Technologies

Beyond cookies, we may use similar technologies like:

• Local Storage: Stores user preferences and session data in the browser.
• Web Beacons: Small tracking pixels in emails to detect opens and clicks.
• Analytics Scripts: JavaScript code that collects usage data and sends it to analytics services.

These technologies are managed similarly to cookies and are subject to the same consent and opt-out preferences.

12. Contact & Questions

If you have questions about our cookie practices or wish to exercise your cookie-related rights, contact:

• Email: [email protected]
• Mailing Address: CapForecast AI Inc., 123 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA
• Data Protection Officer: [email protected]

13. Cookie Consent Management Platforms

CapForecast AI uses Termly Cookie Consent Manager to deliver and manage cookie preferences. When you make a choice, your preference is recorded with Termly and referenced on future visits. Termly's privacy practices are described at https://termly.io/privacy-policy.

14. Right to Withdraw Consent

You have the right to withdraw your cookie consent at any time by:

• Clearing your browser cookies and localStorage.
• Disabling cookies in browser settings.
• Using the cookie preference center on our website.
• Emailing [email protected] with a request to withdraw consent.

Withdrawal takes effect immediately for future website visits.