The short version: We collect only what we need to run your Forge engagement and communicate with you. We don't sell your data, we don't share it with third parties for marketing purposes, and we keep it secure. The details are below.
VentureForge is a commercial opportunity discovery and validation service operated by Brendan Ralph, based in New Zealand. Our website is ventureforge.co.nz and you can contact us at [email protected].
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect personal information in accordance with the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020 and, where applicable, the Australian Privacy Act 1988.
When you submit a form on our website — either to apply for a Free Forge, submit a paid Forge brief, or contact us — we collect:
When you visit our website we may automatically collect:
This information is collected via Google Analytics 4 and Microsoft Clarity. Neither tool collects personally identifiable information without your consent.
If you proceed with a paid Forge engagement, we may collect additional business information you share with us — including company data, market context, competitive information, and strategic priorities. This information is used solely to deliver your Forge report and is treated as confidential.
We use the information we collect to:
We do not use your information to send unsolicited marketing emails, sell your data to third parties, or share your business information with other clients.
If your business is selected for a Free Forge, the resulting report may be published publicly as a case study on our website. We will always obtain your explicit written consent before publishing any report or identifying information about your business. You retain full commercial rights to the insights in your report.
If you prefer to receive the report privately without publication, this can be agreed in advance of the engagement.
Your form submissions are stored securely by Netlify (our website host), which is SOC 2 Type II certified. Engagement data and correspondence is stored in our secure email and file management systems with access restricted to VentureForge personnel only.
We retain your information for as long as is necessary to deliver your engagement and for a reasonable period thereafter for record-keeping purposes — typically no longer than three years following your last engagement with us.
We do not sell, rent, or share your personal information with third parties for their own marketing purposes. We may share limited information with:
Our website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to understand how visitors use our site and improve the experience. Specifically:
| Tool | Purpose | Data retained |
|---|---|---|
| Google Analytics 4 | Page views, traffic sources, user behaviour | 26 months |
| Microsoft Clarity | Session recordings, heatmaps, click patterns | 13 months |
| Netlify | Form submissions, site hosting | Per our data retention policy |
You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on. Most browsers also allow you to control or disable cookies through their settings.
Under the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020, you have the right to:
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at [email protected]. We will respond within 20 working days.
VentureForge is based in New Zealand and primarily serves clients in New Zealand and Australia. Our service providers (including Google and Microsoft) may process data outside New Zealand. We only use providers that meet appropriate data protection standards.
Our services are intended for business use by adults. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under the age of 18.
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this page periodically. Continued use of our services after any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal information, please contact us:
VentureForge
Email: [email protected]
Website: ventureforge.co.nz
New Zealand