Privacy Policy

Effective: May 8, 2026

Strive To Start ("we", "us", "the app") is built by an independent developer. This policy explains what data we collect, why we collect it, how it's stored, and the rights you have over it. We aim to keep it short and honest.

1. Who we are

Strive To Start is a mobile application that lets you document goal-pursuit journeys as a series of steps, optionally accompanied by short proof videos. The service is provided by the Strive To Start team. You can reach us at strive2start@gmail.com.

2. Information we collect

Information you provide

• Account information. When you sign up, we collect your email address, display name, and (optionally) profile photo. If you sign in with Google or Apple, we receive these from your provider — no password is stored by us.
• Profile content. Anything you add to your profile: bio, links, location (if you choose to share it).
• Journeys and steps. The content you create — journey names, descriptions, step titles, deadlines, tags, banner images, proof videos, and thumbnails.
• Communications. Messages, comments, likes, and any feedback you send us by email.

Information collected automatically

• Usage data. Basic engagement signals such as views, likes, and comment counts on your steps. We use this to power the in-app feed and your stats.
• Device and diagnostic data. Crash reports, device model, OS version, and app version, collected via Firebase Crashlytics to help us fix bugs.
• Authentication tokens. Firebase Authentication issues a session token so you stay signed in.

Permissions we may request

• Camera and Photo Library. Required to record or pick a proof video, banner image, or profile photo. Media is only uploaded when you choose to attach it.
• Notifications. Optional, used for engagement updates (likes, comments, follows).

We do not collect precise location, contacts, microphone audio outside of recorded video, health data, or financial information.

3. How we use your information

• To provide the core service — creating, viewing, and sharing journeys and steps.
• To authenticate you and keep your account secure.
• To display public content in the in-app feed (see Section 5).
• To diagnose crashes and improve stability.
• To respond when you contact us.
• To send you product or service-related notifications, where you've opted in.

We do not sell your personal information. We do not use your content to train AI models. We do not run third-party advertising in the app.

4. How your information is stored

Your data is stored using Google Firebase services (Firebase Authentication, Cloud Firestore, Firebase Storage, Cloud Functions), which are operated by Google LLC on infrastructure located in the United States and other regions. Firebase is contractually bound to industry-standard security practices. See Firebase's privacy and security page for details.

Sign-in providers we support — Google Sign-In and Sign in with Apple — handle authentication credentials according to their own privacy policies.

5. What is public vs. private

Strive To Start is a social product. By default:

• Public: your display name, profile photo, public journeys, public step cards, proof videos and images you attach to public steps, and your aggregate stats (likes, views, achievements).
• Private: your email address, sign-in identifiers, draft content you have not published, and any journey or step you mark as private/archived.

If you publish a journey or step, assume it is visible to other users of the app. Don't post anything you wouldn't want shown publicly.

6. Sharing with third parties

We share data only with the service providers needed to run the app:

• Google Firebase — hosting, authentication, database, storage, crash reporting.
• Apple — TestFlight delivery and Sign in with Apple authentication.
• Google — Google Sign-In authentication.

We may disclose information if required by law, to enforce our Terms, or to protect users and the public from harm.

7. Data retention

We keep your information for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account, your profile, journeys, steps, and uploaded media are removed from our systems. Some records (e.g. minimal authentication logs and backups) may persist for up to 90 days for security and recovery purposes, after which they are purged.

8. Your rights

Depending on where you live, you may have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you.
• Correct inaccurate information.
• Delete your account and associated data.
• Object to or restrict certain processing.
• Receive a copy of your data in a portable format.
• Lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

You can delete your account from inside the app (Profile → Settings → Delete Account), or by emailing strive2start@gmail.com.

9. Children

Strive To Start is not directed at children under 13 (or under 16 in regions where the GDPR applies). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, contact us and we will delete it.

10. International transfers

Because Firebase operates globally, your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than the one you live in, including the United States. We rely on the safeguards Google Firebase provides for international data transfers.

11. Security

We use industry-standard measures — encryption in transit (HTTPS/TLS), encryption at rest, scoped access rules in Firestore and Cloud Storage, and provider-managed authentication — to protect your information. No system is perfectly secure; if you believe your account has been compromised, contact us immediately.

12. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as the app evolves. When we make material changes, we will update the "Effective" date at the top and, where appropriate, notify you in the app. Continued use of the app after a change means you accept the revised policy.

13. Contact

Questions, requests, or concerns? Email us at strive2start@gmail.com.