Privacy Policy

Last updated November 10, 2026

Who is responsible

RaiseFM, the consultancy that runs this site, is responsible for the personal information described in this policy. Under privacy laws such as the EU and UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), that makes RaiseFM the "controller" of that information. You can reach RaiseFM about privacy at alex@raisefm.com or through the contact page.

What RaiseFM collects

What you send through the raise questionnaire or the contact page's inquiry form. Both ask the same questions: your answers about your raise (where it stands, how the offering is structured, your monthly investor acquisition budget, and your raise target), your name and email address, and, if you add them, your company name and website. RaiseFM also records the time you sent it and the page you sent it from. Your responses are stored in a Google Sheet that RaiseFM keeps in its Google account, and RaiseFM receives an email about each one.

Booking a call. The contact page offers a scheduling calendar from Cal.com. Nothing loads from Cal.com until you press Show available times; then the calendar loads from Cal.com. If you book, Cal.com collects the details you enter there under its own privacy policy and may store data on your device. RaiseFM also records in its Google Sheet that you booked and the time of the call.

What you send by email or on a call. Whatever you choose to share if you write to us or book a conversation.

Basic technical data. Like most websites, this site's web host, Cloudflare, records standard request data such as IP address, browser type, and pages requested. The site's fonts are served from this site, not from Google Fonts.

Analytics, only if you allow it. With your permission, this site uses Google Analytics to see which pages are visited and how visitors find the site. Nothing loads from Google Analytics unless you press Accept in the cookie notice. If you do, Google Analytics sets cookies on your device and receives details such as your IP address, browser and device type, the pages you visit, and the site that sent you here. When you send the raise questionnaire or the inquiry form, or book a call, Google Analytics records that it happened, never what you entered. Google Analytics' advertising features are turned off, and this site has no advertising pixels. You can change your choice at any time with Cookie settings at the bottom of every page.

Your cookie choice. This site stores whether you accepted or declined analytics on your device, so the notice does not appear on every page. It sets no other cookies of its own.

Embedded video. The StartEngine page and the StartEngine and Innovega case studies each include a video hosted on YouTube, and the LiquidPiston case study includes three: its investor webinars with Kevin O'Leary, on national security, and on the road to commercialization. Nothing loads from YouTube until you press play. When you do, YouTube's privacy-enhanced player loads, and Google receives your IP address and may store data on your device under its own privacy policy.

How RaiseFM uses it

• To review your inquiry, reply to you, and arrange a first conversation
• To decide whether the work is a fit, and to carry out any engagement you agree to
• To keep basic business records and meet legal obligations
• To keep the site running and secure

RaiseFM does not add inquiries to a marketing list without asking you first.

Legal bases

Where the GDPR or a similar law applies, RaiseFM relies on these legal bases:

• Steps you ask for, and any engagement. Reviewing your inquiry, replying, arranging a call, and carrying out work you agree to
• Legitimate interests. Keeping business records of inquiries, and keeping the site running and secure
• Legal obligations. Records RaiseFM must keep by law
• Your consent. Google Analytics, if you accept it, loading the Cal.com calendar or a YouTube video when you ask for it, and any marketing emails you agree to receive. You can withdraw consent at any time.

Who receives it

RaiseFM does not sell your personal information or share it for advertising. It reaches other companies only as needed to run the site and reply to you: Google, which stores raise questionnaire and inquiry form responses in a Google Sheet and, if you accept analytics, provides Google Analytics; Cloudflare, the web host; Zoho, RaiseFM's email provider; YouTube if you play a video on the StartEngine page or the StartEngine, Innovega or LiquidPiston case study; and Cal.com, the scheduling service, if you open the calendar on the contact page or book a call. RaiseFM may also disclose information if the law requires it, or to protect its rights.

Where it is stored

RaiseFM is based in the United States, and the services it uses (Google, Cloudflare, Zoho, and Cal.com) store information in the United States and other countries. If you are in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or Switzerland, your information is transferred to the United States. Where the law requires it, RaiseFM relies on safeguards its providers offer for these transfers, such as certification under the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework or the European Commission's standard contractual clauses.

How long it is kept

RaiseFM keeps inquiries and related messages for as long as they are useful for the conversation, any engagement, and its business and legal records, then deletes them. If you accept analytics, Google Analytics keeps that data for up to 14 months.

Your choices

You can ask RaiseFM what information it holds about you, and ask it to correct or delete that information, at alex@raisefm.com or through the contact page. You can accept or decline analytics, or change your choice, with Cookie settings at the bottom of every page. If the GDPR or UK GDPR applies to you, you can also ask RaiseFM to restrict or stop using your information, object to uses based on its legitimate interests, receive a copy in a portable format, and withdraw any consent you gave. You also have the right to complain to the data protection authority where you live or work. RaiseFM replies to these requests within one month. Depending on where you live, including California, you may have further rights under privacy law. RaiseFM will not treat you differently for using them.

Security

RaiseFM takes reasonable steps to protect the information it receives, but no website or email system is completely secure. Please do not send passwords, account numbers, or other sensitive personal information through the form.

Children

This site is for businesses and is not directed to children under 18. RaiseFM does not knowingly collect their information.

Other websites

Links to other websites are governed by those sites' own privacy policies.

Changes

RaiseFM may update this policy. The date at the top of this page shows when it last changed.

Questions

Privacy questions can be sent to alex@raisefm.com or through the contact page. See also the Terms of Use.