1. Who We Are
StepUpiq ("we", "us", "our") is a career ecosystem platform operated from Bengaluru, India. Our website is stepupiq.com. We act as a Data Fiduciary under the DPDP Act, 2023.
2. Information We Collect
We collect the following personal data when you use StepUpiq:
- Account information: name, email address, phone number, password (encrypted)
- Profile data: work experience, education, skills, resume, profile photo
- Job preferences: desired role, salary expectations, location preferences
- Usage data: pages viewed, features used, time spent, device and browser information
- Content you create: steps, insights, explore posts, comments, reviews
- Financial data: earnings, referral bonuses, payout details (when applicable)
- Communication data: messages sent through the platform
- Location data: only when you explicitly provide it for Explore posts or job preferences
3. How We Use Your Data
We use your personal data for the following purposes:
- To provide and maintain our services — job matching, referrals, freelancing, collaborations
- To personalize your experience — recommended jobs, steps, and content
- To process referral bonuses and earnings payouts
- To communicate with you — notifications, updates, and support
- To improve our platform — analytics, bug fixing, feature development
- To prevent fraud and ensure platform safety
- To comply with legal obligations
4. Data Sharing
We do not sell your personal data. We share data only in these cases:
- With employers — when you apply for a job, your application snapshot is shared
- With brands — when you apply to a collab campaign, your collab profile is shared
- Public profile — information you choose to make public is visible to all users
- Service providers — hosting (Hostinger), analytics, and email services
- Legal requirements — when required by Indian law or government authorities
5. Your Rights Under DPDP Act 2023
As a Data Principal, you have the following rights:
- Right to Access — view all personal data we hold about you
- Right to Correction — update or correct inaccurate data
- Right to Erasure — request deletion of your account and data
- Right to Nominate — designate a nominee to exercise your rights
- Right to Grievance Redressal — raise complaints about data handling
To exercise these rights, go to Settings → Privacy in your dashboard, or email us at privacy@stepupiq.com.
6. Data Retention
We retain your personal data for as long as your account is active. When you delete your account, we erase your data within 30 days, except where retention is required by law. De-identified analytics data may be retained indefinitely.
7. Data Security
We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your data, including encrypted passwords (bcrypt), HTTPS encryption, CSRF protection, and secure session management. However, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure.
8. Cookies
We use essential cookies for session management and authentication. We do not use third-party tracking cookies or advertising cookies. Analytics cookies, if used, are privacy-respecting and anonymized.
9. Children's Privacy
StepUpiq is not intended for users under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal data from minors. If we become aware that a user is under 18, we will delete their account and data.
10. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes via email or a notice on our website. Your continued use of StepUpiq after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
11. Contact Us
For privacy-related inquiries or to exercise your rights:
Email: privacy@stepupiq.com
Address: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
You may also raise a complaint with the Data Protection Board of India if you are not satisfied with our response.