Privacy Policy

4Ds Metrics ("we", "us", or "our") owns and operates the 4Ds Metric platform — a business diagnostics and startup development platform built on the 4Ds Metric framework that guides startups, facilitators, hubs, development partners, and investors through the Define, Design, Develop, and Deploy (4Ds) journey. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your information when you use our platform.

1. Information We Collect

To provide and improve our services, we collect the following:

• Account information: your name, email address, and the role you select (startup, facilitator, investor, hub/development partner).
• Profile & product data: details you provide about your products, business sector, business model, target market, and development stage.
• Diagnostics & assignments: your responses to diagnostic questions, submitted assignments, uploaded files, and the resulting scores and recommendations.
• Facilitator profiles: for facilitators, professional details such as bio, specializations, CV, and contact information.
• Usage data: how you interact with the platform, used to improve the experience.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Deliver the 4Ds diagnostic and development journey and generate your scores, gaps, and recommendations.
• Connect startups with facilitators, hubs, and the AI facilitator for assignment reviews and feedback.
• Enable development partners and investors to track the progress of relevant startups.
• Send notifications about assignment reviews, approvals, and platform activity.
• Maintain security, prevent abuse, and improve the platform.

3. AI-Powered Features

Our platform uses AI to review assignments and generate diagnostic recommendations. When you submit an assignment or complete a diagnostic, relevant content may be processed by AI services to produce feedback. We do not use your submissions to train third-party public AI models.

4. Sharing Your Information

We share information only as needed to operate the platform:

• With facilitators, hubs, and partners you choose to connect with, so they can support and review your work.
• With service providers who help us run the platform (e.g., hosting and AI processing) under appropriate confidentiality obligations.
• When required by law or to protect the rights and safety of our users.

We do not sell your personal information.

5. Data Security

We apply reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your data. Access to elevated roles (such as facilitator or hub partner) is controlled and requires administrator approval. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Your Rights

You may access and update your account and profile information at any time from your Settings. You may request deletion of your account and associated data by contacting us. Where applicable law grants additional rights, we will honor them.

7. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide our services, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements.

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will post the updated version with a new "Last updated" date. Continued use of the platform after changes constitutes acceptance.

9. Contact Us

For privacy questions or requests, contact us at info@4dsmetric.com or call (+250) 787 591 833.