Cookie Policy

1. Introduction

This Cookie Policy explains how CIBA Startups uses cookies and similar technologies on cibastartups.com and on any related pages, forms, features, portals, event pages, or digital services that link to this Cookie Policy.

This Cookie Policy is intended to provide a clear and durable foundation as CIBA Startups grows. It explains what cookies are, why they may be used, what choices users may have, and how CIBA Startups may update its cookie-related practices if new website features, submission tools, event services, marketing functions, social features, or third-party integrations are introduced in the future.

This Cookie Policy should be read together with the CIBA Startups Privacy Policy.

2. What Are Cookies and Similar Technologies?

Cookies are small text files that may be placed on a user's browser or device when visiting a website. Similar technologies may include pixels, tags, scripts, local storage, software development kits, and other tools that store information on, or access information from, a browser or device.

These technologies may be used for different purposes, including operating a website, remembering preferences, improving security, measuring performance, supporting forms or event functions, and enabling certain third-party services where applicable.

3. Categories of Cookies and Similar Technologies

Depending on the features and tools active on the website at a given time, CIBA Startups may use the following categories of cookies and similar technologies.

A. Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly necessary cookies are used to support the operation, security, and basic administration of the website. These technologies may be used for functions such as page navigation, session management, network administration, security controls, fraud prevention, form handling, or storing a user's cookie preferences. Where permitted by applicable law, these technologies may remain active without separate consent because they are necessary for the website to function properly or to provide a service requested by the user.

B. Functional or Preference Cookies

Functional or preference cookies may be used to remember user choices and improve convenience. For example, they may help the website remember language settings, accessibility preferences, regional selections, or other interface-related choices where such features are available.

C. Analytics or Performance Cookies

Analytics or performance cookies may be used to understand how visitors interact with the website and to improve performance, usability, and reliability. These technologies may help CIBA Startups understand page traffic, user navigation patterns, loading issues, and general engagement trends. This category applies only if and when analytics tools are actually implemented on the website.

D. Security and Integrity Technologies

Security-related technologies may be used to detect malicious activity, reduce spam, prevent abuse of website features, protect forms or accounts, and support the integrity and stability of the platform. These technologies may be used where necessary to help protect CIBA Startups, its users, and its digital services.

E. Embedded Content and Third-Party Integration Technologies

If CIBA Startups uses third-party content or services, those services may use cookies or similar technologies in connection with their functionality. This may apply to embedded videos, maps, scheduling tools, application forms, event systems, livestream services, social media content, customer relationship tools, or similar integrations. Where third-party services are used, they may collect information directly from a user's browser or device in accordance with their own privacy practices.

F. Advertising, Campaign, or Social Media Technologies

If CIBA Startups later engages in digital advertising, sponsored campaigns, retargeting, social media integrations, or campaign measurement, cookies or similar technologies may be used to support those activities. This category is included as part of a future-facing framework and should not be understood as a statement that such technologies are currently active unless and until CIBA Startups actually implements them.

4. How CIBA Startups May Use Cookies and Similar Technologies

Depending on which website features and services are active, CIBA Startups may use cookies and similar technologies to operate and secure the website, remember user settings and preferences, maintain session continuity, support startup-related submission features, manage event-related functions, understand website performance, improve user experience, enable embedded services, and support lawful communications or outreach activities where applicable.

Not every category described in this Cookie Policy will necessarily be active at all times. Some categories are included because they may become relevant as the platform expands.

5. Consent and User Choice

Where required by applicable law, CIBA Startups will seek consent before using non-essential cookies or similar technologies. Users may be given the ability to manage cookie preferences through a cookie banner, settings interface, or preference center, depending on the tools and features active on the website at the time.

Strictly necessary cookies may remain active where permitted by law because they are required for the operation, administration, or security of the website, or because they support a service specifically requested by the user.

Users may also manage cookies through their browser or device settings. However, restricting certain cookies may affect the availability or functionality of some parts of the website.

6. Third-Party Services

Certain features of the CIBA Startups website may depend on services provided by third parties. If such services are embedded, integrated, or otherwise made available through the website, those providers may use cookies or similar technologies under their own terms and privacy practices.

CIBA Startups may revise this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect the addition, removal, or replacement of third-party services, as well as changes to legal requirements or operational practices.

7. Cookie Banner and Preference Tools

Where required by applicable law or where appropriate based on the technologies used on the website, CIBA Startups may provide a cookie banner or cookie preference tool that allows users to make choices regarding non-essential cookies. Such tools may allow users to accept certain categories of cookies, reject non-essential cookies, save their preferences, or revisit those preferences later.

The inclusion of a category in this Cookie Policy does not, by itself, mean that the category is currently active on the website. This Cookie Policy is intentionally structured to provide a stable framework that can be updated as new website features and services are introduced.

8. Retention and Duration

Cookies may remain on a browser or device for different lengths of time depending on their purpose. Some cookies expire at the end of a browsing session, while others may remain for a longer period unless deleted earlier by the user or replaced by updated settings.

If CIBA Startups later adopts specific analytics tools, marketing tools, event systems, or community features that rely on cookies or similar technologies, this Cookie Policy may be supplemented with a more detailed cookie schedule or cookie table identifying the relevant provider, purpose, and duration of those technologies.

9. Regional Rights and Legal Compliance

Depending on a user's location, applicable law may provide rights relating to consent, withdrawal of consent, access to information about tracking technologies, or controls over certain forms of data sharing or targeted advertising.

CIBA Startups intends to update its notices and choice mechanisms as appropriate to reflect the legal requirements that apply to its website activities and the regions in which it operates or reaches users.

10. Changes to This Cookie Policy

CIBA Startups may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in law, website functionality, operational practices, service providers, security measures, event services, startup submission tools, analytics practices, marketing technologies, or other relevant developments.

When changes are made, CIBA Startups may revise the Last Updated date and take any other steps required or appropriate under applicable law.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Cookie Policy or about CIBA Startups' use of cookies and similar technologies, please contact us at info@cibastartups.com or 25351 Commercentre Dr, Suite 100, Lake Forest, CA 92630.