Email Marketing & Communication Policy

1. Overview

This Email Marketing & Communication Policy explains how CIBA Startups ("CIBA Startups," "we," "our," or the "Platform") may communicate with users, subscribers, applicants, submitters, event participants, contributors, partners, community members, and other contacts by email or similar communication channels.

CIBA Startups operates under CIBA Business Network.

This Policy applies to communications related to the Platform, events, startup submissions, editorial content, community updates, opportunities, announcements, sponsored or partner-related content, and other activities connected to CIBA Startups.

2. Types of Communications

CIBA Startups may send communications including, without limitation:

  • platform updates and announcements;
  • newsletters and editorial content;
  • event invitations, reminders, confirmations, and follow-ups;
  • startup-related opportunities, features, showcases, or community updates;
  • application, submission, or participation-related messages;
  • interview, media, article, or contributor-related communications;
  • partner, sponsor, or third-party opportunity notices;
  • administrative, transactional, legal, safety, or service-related messages; and
  • other communications reasonably related to the Platform's purpose and activities.

Some communications may include promotional, sponsored, partner-related, or third-party content relevant to the CIBA Startups community.

3. Consent and Communication Basis

We may send communications based on:

  • your voluntary subscription or sign-up;
  • your registration for an event, program, webinar, or activity;
  • your submission of a form, startup application, article, media content, inquiry, or other materials;
  • your participation in CIBA Startups activities;
  • an existing relationship with CIBA Startups or CIBA Business Network;
  • your request to receive information; or
  • another lawful basis permitted by applicable law.

Where required by applicable law, we will obtain consent before sending marketing communications.

By providing your contact information to CIBA Startups, you acknowledge that we may use that information to communicate with you in connection with the purpose for which it was provided and related Platform activities.

4. Marketing vs. Administrative Communications

Marketing communications may include newsletters, announcements, event promotions, sponsored content, partner opportunities, community updates, or other non-essential communications.

Administrative or service-related communications may include messages about registrations, submissions, event logistics, policy updates, security issues, account or form activity, legal notices, operational matters, or other communications necessary to operate or administer the Platform.

You may opt out of marketing communications, but you may still receive administrative, transactional, legal, safety, or service-related messages where permitted by law.

5. Opt-Out and Unsubscribe

You may opt out of receiving marketing emails at any time by:

  • clicking the "unsubscribe" link included in applicable emails; or
  • contacting us directly at info@cibastartups.com.

We will process unsubscribe requests within 10 business days, as required by applicable law, including the CAN-SPAM Act.

Opting out of marketing communications does not necessarily prevent CIBA Startups from sending non-promotional, administrative, transactional, legal, safety, or service-related communications.

We may require reasonable verification before processing certain requests where needed to protect security, prevent misuse, or confirm the request.

6. Sender Identification and Transparency

CIBA Startups will not use deceptive subject lines, misleading sender information, or materially misleading email content.

Marketing emails sent by CIBA Startups will:

  • clearly identify CIBA Startups as the sender or responsible organization;
  • include accurate sender information;
  • provide a valid method to contact us;
  • include an unsubscribe mechanism where required; and
  • include our valid physical mailing address: 25351 Commercentre Dr, Suite 100, Lake Forest, CA 92630, United States.

7. Third-Party Service Providers

CIBA Startups may use third-party service providers to help send, manage, deliver, analyze, or support communications. These may include email delivery platforms, mailing list tools, customer relationship tools, analytics providers, website service providers, event platforms, or similar vendors.

These providers may process information on behalf of CIBA Startups and may use technical tools necessary to deliver, secure, manage, or measure communications.

Use of such providers is subject to applicable privacy, security, and data-handling practices.

8. Sponsored, Partner, and Third-Party Content

CIBA Startups communications may include sponsored content, partner messages, third-party opportunities, event notices, community announcements, or other content connected to the Platform's mission.

Unless expressly stated otherwise:

  • inclusion of third-party content does not constitute an endorsement, guarantee, verification, or recommendation by CIBA Startups;
  • CIBA Startups does not guarantee the accuracy, availability, quality, legality, or outcome of any third-party opportunity;
  • users are responsible for evaluating any opportunity, claim, event, sponsor, partner, product, service, or relationship before relying on it; and
  • CIBA Startups is not responsible for decisions, communications, transactions, disputes, or outcomes involving third parties.

9. Startup Features, Visibility, and Opportunities

CIBA Startups may use email communications to share startup features, community highlights, founder stories, event recaps, editorial content, application opportunities, visibility opportunities, or other startup-related materials.

No communication from CIBA Startups guarantees:

  • selection for any program, feature, interview, event, article, showcase, or opportunity;
  • equal visibility or equal treatment across all users, startups, contributors, or participants;
  • funding, investment, business opportunities, partnerships, mentorship, introductions, or media exposure;
  • continued inclusion in any communication, list, feature, or campaign; or
  • any specific outcome from receiving or being included in a communication.

CIBA Startups may decide what to include, exclude, highlight, promote, edit, summarize, or distribute in its communications at its sole discretion.

10. Communication Data and Engagement Information

Where applicable, CIBA Startups may collect or use communication-related data such as delivery status, opens, clicks, bounce information, unsubscribe activity, interaction data, device or browser information, and general engagement trends.

This information may be used to:

  • deliver and manage communications;
  • improve message quality, relevance, and timing;
  • understand audience engagement;
  • maintain mailing lists;
  • reduce spam, abuse, or delivery issues;
  • comply with legal requirements; and
  • improve Platform-related communications.

Not all tracking or analytics features may be active at all times. The specific tools used may change as CIBA Startups grows or updates its communication systems.

11. Frequency of Communications

CIBA Startups reserves the right to determine the frequency, timing, format, and content of communications.

We aim to maintain a reasonable balance and avoid excessive or disruptive messaging. However, communication frequency may vary based on user activity, subscriptions, event participation, submissions, program involvement, operational needs, or Platform developments.

12. No Professional Advice

Emails and communications from CIBA Startups are provided for informational, educational, community, promotional, or operational purposes only.

They do not constitute legal, financial, investment, business, tax, professional, or other regulated advice.

Any decision made based on information received through CIBA Startups communications is made at the recipient's own risk.

13. No Guarantee of Outcomes

CIBA Startups does not guarantee any particular result, benefit, opportunity, response, relationship, exposure, transaction, funding, partnership, investment, media attention, or business outcome from any communication.

Receiving a communication from CIBA Startups, being mentioned in a communication, or responding to a communication does not create any entitlement to participation, selection, promotion, compensation, partnership, investment, or future opportunity.

14. Relationship to Other Policies

This Policy should be read together with the CIBA Startups Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, Notice at Collection, Startup Submission & Idea Disclosure Policy, Media Release & Consent Agreement, Event Liability Waiver & Participation Agreement, Cookie Policy, and any event-specific, submission-specific, contributor-specific, or program-specific terms that may apply.

If there is a conflict between this Policy and a separate written agreement signed by an authorized representative of CIBA Startups, that separate written agreement will control only to the extent of the specific conflict.

15. Changes to This Policy

CIBA Startups may update this Policy from time to time to reflect changes in law, communication practices, email tools, Platform features, service providers, event activities, sponsored content, partner activities, or operational needs.

Any updated version will become effective when posted or otherwise made available, unless a different effective date is stated.

Continued use of the Platform, continued subscription, continued participation, or continued receipt of communications after an updated version becomes effective may constitute acceptance of the revised Policy to the extent permitted by law.

16. Severability

If any provision of this Policy is found to be invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable, that provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, and the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

17. Contact Information

For questions, concerns, or requests regarding communications, please contact us at info@cibastartups.com or 25351 Commercentre Dr, Suite 100, Lake Forest, CA 92630, United States.

Effective April 10, 2026Last updated April 27, 2026