Privacy Policy

Who We Are

FindMyGuide, Inc. ("FindMyGuide," "we," "us," or "our") operates the website located at findmyguide.co (the "Site"). We are a marketplace and directory that connects individuals seeking extreme outdoor adventure experiences with professional guide services and independent certified guides.

This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our Site, submit a guide application, leave a review, or otherwise interact with our services. Please read this policy carefully. If you disagree with its terms, please discontinue use of the Site.

Information We Collect

We collect information in two ways: information you provide to us directly, and information collected automatically when you use the Site.

Information You Provide Directly

• Account registration: When you create a member or guide account, we collect your name, email address, and password (stored securely via Supabase authentication).
• Guide applications: When you apply to list your guide service, we collect your business name, contact information, website, certifications, states of operation, and a description of your services.
• Reviews: When you submit a review, we collect your display name, star rating, review text, and the trip or activity being reviewed.
• Contact form: When you contact us, we collect your name, email address, and the content of your message.
• Inquiry messages: If you send an inquiry to a guide service through our Site, we collect the content of that message to facilitate delivery.

Information Collected Automatically

• Usage data: Pages visited, links clicked, time spent on pages, search queries entered, and referring URLs.
• Device and browser information: Browser type and version, operating system, screen resolution, and general device type (desktop, mobile, tablet).
• IP address: Used to determine approximate geographic location (country/state level) and to detect fraud or abuse.
• Local storage: We use browser local storage (not traditional cookies) to save your session, preferences, and saved guides. This data stays on your device and is not transmitted to our servers except as needed to provide the service.

Information We Do Not Collect

We do not collect payment card numbers or financial account information through our Site. Guide bookings and payments are processed directly through each guide's own website or booking system. We do not receive, store, or process payment information on your behalf.

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• Providing the Service: To operate the directory, display guide profiles, process applications, publish approved reviews, and respond to your inquiries.
• Account management: To create and maintain your account, authenticate your identity, and provide access to member features.
• Communications: To send you transactional emails (application status updates, review moderation notices, account confirmations) and, with your consent, promotional emails about new guides, features, or outdoor content.
• Safety and fraud prevention: To detect and prevent spam, abuse, fraudulent reviews, or other harmful activity.
• Analytics and improvement: To understand how the Site is used, identify popular content, and make improvements to the user experience.
• Legal compliance: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes.

Information Sharing

We share your information only in the following circumstances:

• Guide services you contact: If you submit an inquiry to a specific guide service through our Site, we share your name, email, and message content with that guide service to facilitate the connection. You are responsible for any information you choose to share in your inquiry.
• Service providers: We work with third-party companies that help us operate the Site, including:
  • Supabase — database hosting and user authentication
  • EmailJS / email delivery providers — transactional email delivery
  • Google Fonts — font delivery (subject to Google's privacy policy)
  • Pexels — stock photography (subject to Pexels' privacy policy)
• Legal requirements: We may disclose your information if required by law, subpoena, court order, or other governmental authority, or if we believe disclosure is necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of FindMyGuide, our users, or the public.
• Business transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of all or a portion of our assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you via email or prominent notice on the Site before your information becomes subject to a different privacy policy.

Cookies & Tracking Technologies

Our Site primarily uses browser local storage rather than traditional HTTP cookies to save your session and preferences. Local storage data is stored on your device and is not automatically sent with every request the way cookies are.

Local storage keys we use include:

• fmg_admin_session — admin authentication session (if you are an administrator)
• fmg_demo_role / fmg_demo_name — demo mode user role preferences
• fmg_guide_reviews — your locally saved review drafts and approved review cache
• fmg_guide_applications — pending guide application status
• Supabase auth tokens — secure session tokens managed by Supabase authentication

Third-Party Tracking

We may use Google Analytics or similar analytics tools to understand aggregate Site usage patterns. These tools may use their own cookies or tracking pixels. You can opt out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

Google Fonts loads fonts from Google's servers, which may collect your IP address and browser information as part of that request. We use the display=swap parameter to minimize data transfer.

Managing Cookies and Storage

You can clear browser local storage at any time through your browser's developer tools or settings. Note that clearing local storage will log you out of any active sessions and reset your preferences.

Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide the services you've requested, comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements.

• Account data: Retained while your account is active and for up to 3 years after account closure to comply with legal and tax obligations.
• Guide applications: Retained for the duration of the guide's listing and for 2 years after rejection or withdrawal.
• Reviews: Approved reviews are retained indefinitely unless you request deletion. Rejected reviews are deleted within 90 days.
• Contact messages: Retained for up to 2 years.
• Usage logs: Aggregated and anonymized after 12 months.

You may request deletion of your data at any time by contacting us at privacy@findmyguide.co.

Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:

All Users

• Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain legal exceptions.
• Opt-out of marketing: Unsubscribe from marketing emails using the unsubscribe link in any email we send, or by contacting us directly.

California Residents (CCPA/CPRA)

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act, including the right to know what categories of personal information we collect, the right to opt out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell personal information), and the right to non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights. To submit a CCPA request, contact us at privacy@findmyguide.co.

EEA, UK, and Swiss Residents (GDPR)

If you are located in the European Economic Area, United Kingdom, or Switzerland, you have rights under the General Data Protection Regulation, including the right to data portability, the right to restrict processing, and the right to lodge a complaint with your local supervisory authority. Our legal basis for processing your data is: (a) contract performance — where processing is necessary to provide the services you've requested; (b) legitimate interests — where processing serves our reasonable business interests and does not override your rights; and (c) consent — where you have explicitly agreed to a specific use of your data.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information in Section 12.

Security

We implement industry-standard technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

• HTTPS/TLS encryption for all data in transit
• Secure password hashing (for admin credentials using SHA-256)
• Supabase's built-in Row Level Security (RLS) for database access control
• Session expiration and automatic logout after inactivity
• Access controls limiting data access to authorized personnel only

Despite these measures, no security system is impenetrable. We cannot guarantee the absolute security of your information. In the event of a data breach that affects your personal information, we will notify you in accordance with applicable law.

Children's Privacy

The Site is intended for adults aged 18 and older. The activities featured on FindMyGuide — mountaineering, rock climbing, backcountry skiing, and similar extreme outdoor sports — are not appropriate for minors without direct adult supervision, and our platform is not designed for use by children.

We do not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under the age of 13. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected personal information from a child under 13, we will take steps to delete that information as quickly as possible. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us at privacy@findmyguide.co.

Third-Party Links

Our Site contains links to guide service websites, booking platforms, and other external resources. These third-party sites are not operated by us and are not subject to this Privacy Policy. We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy practices, or actions of third-party websites. We strongly encourage you to review the privacy policy of every site you visit.

When you click a booking link or affiliate link on FindMyGuide, you are leaving our Site. Any information you provide to a guide service directly is governed by that service's own privacy policy and terms.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page and, where appropriate, notify you by email or by placing a prominent notice on the Site. Your continued use of the Site after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us: