Privacy Policy

Last updated: May 30th, 2026

This Privacy Policy describes Our policies and procedures on the collection, use and disclosure of Your information when You use the Service and tells You about Your privacy rights and how the law protects You.

We use Your Personal Data to provide and improve the Service. By using the Service, You agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

Interpretation and Definitions

Interpretation

The words of which the initial letter is capitalized have meanings defined under the following conditions. The following definitions shall have the same meaning regardless of whether they appear in singular or in plural.

Definitions

For the purposes of this Privacy Policy:

  • Account means a unique account created for You to access our Service or parts of our Service.
  • Registered User refers to a person that has created an account in our Service.
  • Athlete means a Registered User who creates a public athlete profile on the Service in order to attract fans, supporters and sponsors.
  • Affiliate means an entity that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with a party, where "control" means ownership of 50% or more of the shares, equity interest or other securities entitled to vote for election of directors or other managing authority.
  • Application means the software program provided by the Company visited in either of our domains www.vtxathlete.com, www.vtxapp.net or www.vertikalsports.com and/or downloaded by You on any electronic device, named VTX Athlete (proprietary of Vertikal X, Inc.).
  • Vertikal X refers to Vertikal X, Inc., located at 115 Wild Basin Rd. S. Suite 307, Austin, TX 78746.
  • VSC refers to Vertikal Sports Capital, Inc., located at 115 Wild Basin Rd. S. Suite 307, Austin, TX 78746.
  • Company ("the Company", "We", "Us" or "Our") refers indistinctively to either Vertikal X, Inc. or Vertikal Sports Capital, Inc.
  • Country refers to: Texas, United States.
  • Device means any device that can access the Service such as a computer, a cellphone or a digital tablet.
  • Personal Data is any information that relates to an identified or identifiable individual.
  • Service refers to the Application.
  • VTX Index refers to the composite score the Company computes and displays on an Athlete's public profile, which may incorporate a Social Performance Index (derived from connected social media accounts) and a Training Performance Index (derived from connected fitness accounts), used to help fans and sponsors evaluate and fund Athletes.
  • Stripe refers to third party Stripe, Inc., which provides payment processing services to the Company and/or its subsidiaries that are used in the operation of the Services.
  • VTX Wallet refers to the Stripe account that the Company registers on behalf of a Registered User in order to process payments related to the operation of the Services.
  • Meta Platform Data means data the Company obtains from the Instagram and Meta application programming interfaces (APIs), as further described below.
  • Service Provider means any natural or legal person who processes the data on behalf of the Company. It refers to third-party companies or individuals employed by the Company to facilitate the Service, to provide the Service on behalf of the Company, to perform services related to the Service, or to assist the Company in analyzing how the Service is used.
  • Usage Data refers to data collected automatically, either generated by the use of the Service or from the Service infrastructure itself (for example, the duration of a page visit).
  • You means the individual accessing or using the Service, or the company, or other legal entity on behalf of which such individual is accessing or using the Service, as applicable.

Collecting and Using Your Personal Data

Types of Data Collected

Personal Data You Provide

While using Our Service, We may ask You to provide Us with certain personally identifiable information that can be used to contact or identify You. This may include, but is not limited to:

  • Email address
  • First name and last name
  • Company or organization name
  • Date of birth
  • Gender and, for Athletes, competition gender category
  • Nationality, country and city / location
  • Profile picture and banner image, and other images You upload
  • Biographical information, "about me" text, sport(s), and coach/trainer information You choose to add to Your profile
  • Payment and payout information processed through the VTX Wallet (see "Stripe" below)

Usage Data

Usage Data is collected automatically when using the Service. Usage Data may include information such as Your Device's Internet Protocol address (e.g. IP address), browser type, browser version, the pages of our Service that You visit, the time and date of Your visit, the time spent on those pages, unique device identifiers and other diagnostic data.

When You access the Service by or through a mobile device, We may collect certain information automatically, including, but not limited to, the type of mobile device You use, Your mobile device unique ID, the IP address of Your mobile device, Your mobile operating system, the type of mobile Internet browser You use, unique device identifiers and other diagnostic data.

Information Collected While Using the Application

While using Our Application, in order to provide features of Our Application, We may collect, with Your prior permission:

  • Pictures and other information from Your Device's camera and photo library. We use this information to provide and customize features of Our Service. The information may be uploaded to the Company's servers and/or a Service Provider's server, or it may be simply stored on Your device. You can enable or disable access to this information at any time through Your Device settings.

Information From Connected Third-Party Accounts

The Service allows Athletes to connect their own third-party accounts so that We can calculate and display the VTX Index. We only access these accounts after You explicitly connect them and grant permission, and only for the connected Athlete's own account.

Instagram (via the Instagram API with Instagram Login). When an Athlete connects their Instagram Business or Creator account, We collect and process, for that Athlete's own account only:

  • Profile information — Instagram user ID, username, account type, and follower, following and media counts.
  • Media — the Athlete's recent posts (typically from the preceding 90 days), including caption, media type, permalink, timestamp, like count and comment count.
  • Insights — performance metrics for the Athlete's own posts, such as reach, views, likes, comments, shares, saves and total interactions.
  • Comment content — the text of comments on the Athlete's own posts. Comment text is processed to derive an aggregate audience-sentiment signal (positive, neutral or negative). We do not reply to, moderate, hide or delete comments, and We do not build profiles of individual commenters.

We use this Instagram data to compute the Social Performance Index, a component of the VTX Index displayed on the Athlete's public profile to help fans and sponsors evaluate and fund the Athlete. To derive the sentiment signal described above, comment text and post captions are sent to a third-party machine-learning inference provider (Hugging Face) for analysis (see "Third-Party Service Providers"). Instagram access tokens are stored in encrypted form and refreshed automatically; they are deleted when You disconnect Your account or request deletion. Our access to and use of Meta Platform Data is further described in the "Meta Platform Data" section below.

Strava. When an Athlete connects their Strava account, We collect activity and performance data for that Athlete's own account, including activity type (such as rides, runs and swims), distance, duration, elevation, intensity metrics and timestamps, together with basic Strava athlete profile information. We use this data to compute the Training Performance Index, a component of the VTX Index. This information is used and disclosed in accordance with this Privacy Policy and with Strava's applicable terms.

Tracking Technologies, Cookies and Analytics

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to operate and analyze the Service. We use Google Tag Manager and associated Google analytics tools to understand how visitors use the Service (for example, pages viewed, events and general usage trends). These technologies may set cookies on Your Device and collect Usage Data as described above. You can instruct Your browser to refuse cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent; however, some portions of the Service may not function properly without cookies. Where required by law, We obtain consent before placing non-essential cookies.

Use of Your Personal Data

The Company may use Personal Data for the following purposes:

  • To provide and maintain our Service, including to monitor the usage of our Service.
  • To compute and display the VTX Index, including the Social Performance Index and Training Performance Index, on an Athlete's public profile.
  • To manage Your Account and Your registration as a user of the Service.
  • For the performance of a contract, including processing funding, payments and payouts through the VTX Wallet.
  • To contact You by email, telephone, SMS, or other electronic communication, including push notifications, regarding updates, security notices and information related to the Service.
  • To provide You with news, special offers and general information about goods, services and events We offer, unless You have opted not to receive such information.
  • To manage Your requests to Us.
  • For business transfers, such as a merger, divestiture, restructuring, reorganization, dissolution, or other sale or transfer of some or all of Our assets.
  • For other purposes, such as data analysis, identifying usage trends, determining the effectiveness of our promotional campaigns, and improving the Service and Your experience.

Sharing and Third-Party Service Providers

We may share Your information in the following situations: with Service Providers who process data on Our behalf; in connection with a business transfer; with Affiliates who agree to honor this Privacy Policy; with business partners; with other users when You interact in public areas of the Service; and with Your consent. We do not sell Your Personal Data.

We rely on the following categories of Service Providers, each of which processes data only as needed to provide its service:

ProviderPurposeData shared
Meta Platforms / InstagramSource of connected-account data for the Social Performance IndexAuthentication; We receive Instagram profile, media, insights and comment data for connected Athletes
StravaSource of fitness-activity data for the Training Performance IndexAuthentication; We receive activity and athlete data for connected Athletes
Hugging Face, Inc.Machine-learning sentiment analysis of Instagram comment text and captionsInstagram comment text and post captions (with URLs and @-mentions removed before sending)
Stripe, Inc.Payment processing and payouts (VTX Wallet)Payment and payout information; processed under Stripe's Privacy Policy at https://stripe.com/privacy
SendGrid (Twilio)Transactional and marketing email and email engagement analyticsEmail address and email engagement data (opens, clicks, delivery status)
Amazon Web Services (AWS)Authentication (Amazon Cognito), cloud hosting and image storage (Amazon S3)Account credentials, uploaded images and stored application data
Google (Tag Manager / Analytics)Usage analyticsUsage Data and cookie identifiers

Meta Platform Data (Instagram)

Our collection and use of data obtained through the Instagram and Meta APIs comply with the Meta Platform Terms and Developer Policies. Specifically:

  • We access an Athlete's Instagram data only after the Athlete connects their own account and grants the requested permissions, and only for that Athlete's own account.
  • We use Meta Platform Data solely to provide and improve the features described in this Policy — principally to compute and display the Social Performance Index — and not for advertising, to make decisions unrelated to the Service, or for any purpose prohibited by Meta's terms.
  • We do not sell, license or transfer Meta Platform Data, and We share it only with the Service Providers listed above to the extent necessary to operate the Service.
  • We retain Meta Platform Data only as long as needed for the purposes described here, and We delete it when You disconnect Your account, when You or Meta send a valid deletion request, or when it is no longer needed.

Your Rights and How to Delete Your Data

Disconnecting an Account and Deleting Connected-Account Data

You can stop Our access to a connected third-party account and delete the associated data at any time:

  • Disconnect within VTX — open Your profile settings in the Application and choose to disconnect Instagram. This immediately revokes Our access and deletes the Instagram data We hold for You — stored posts, post metrics and the access token — and removes it from Your VTX Index. Disconnecting Strava likewise revokes Our access and removes its data from Your VTX Index calculation.
  • Revoke through Instagram — in the Instagram app, go to Settings → Apps and Websites and remove VTX Athlete. Instagram notifies Us, and We delete the associated Instagram data and access token.
  • Request full deletion — email Us at support@vtxathlete.com to request deletion of Your account and associated data. Requests submitted through Meta's data-deletion mechanism are handled automatically: We delete the connected Instagram data, post details, metrics and stored access token, and We provide a confirmation reference.

Data Protection Rights (GDPR)

If You are in the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom, You have the right to access, correct, update or request deletion of Your Personal Data; to object to or restrict processing; to data portability; and to withdraw consent at any time where We rely on consent. Where We process Meta Platform Data, We rely on Your consent as the legal basis. To exercise these rights, contact Us at support@vtxathlete.com. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority.

California Privacy Rights (CCPA/CPRA)

If You are a California resident, You have the right to know what personal information We collect, use and disclose; to request deletion or correction of Your personal information; and to opt out of the "sale" or "sharing" of personal information as those terms are defined under California law. We do not sell Your personal information. To exercise these rights, contact Us at support@vtxathlete.com. We will not discriminate against You for exercising any of these rights.

Retention of Your Personal Data

The Company will retain Your Personal Data only for as long as is necessary for the purposes set out in this Privacy Policy, and to comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our legal agreements and policies. Usage Data is generally retained for a shorter period, except when used to strengthen security or improve functionality, or where We are legally obligated to retain it longer. Data obtained from connected third-party accounts is deleted upon disconnection or a valid deletion request, as described above.

Transfer of Your Personal Data

Your information, including Personal Data, is processed at the Company's operating offices and in any other places where the parties involved in the processing are located. This information may be transferred to — and maintained on — computers located outside of Your state, province, country or other governmental jurisdiction where the data protection laws may differ. Your consent to this Privacy Policy followed by Your submission of such information represents Your agreement to that transfer. The Company will take all steps reasonably necessary to ensure that Your data is treated securely and in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

Disclosure of Your Personal Data

Business Transactions

If the Company is involved in a merger, acquisition or asset sale, Your Personal Data may be transferred. We will provide notice before Your Personal Data is transferred and becomes subject to a different Privacy Policy.

Law Enforcement

Under certain circumstances, the Company may be required to disclose Your Personal Data if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g. a court or a government agency).

Other Legal Requirements

The Company may disclose Your Personal Data in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to: comply with a legal obligation; protect and defend the rights or property of the Company; prevent or investigate possible wrongdoing in connection with the Service; protect the personal safety of users of the Service or the public; and protect against legal liability.

Security of Your Personal Data

The security of Your Personal Data is important to Us, but remember that no method of transmission over the Internet, or method of electronic storage, is 100% secure. While We strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect Your Personal Data, We cannot guarantee its absolute security.

Children's Privacy

Our Service does not address anyone under the age of 13, and connecting an Instagram account requires You to meet Instagram's minimum age requirements. We do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from anyone under the age of 13. If You are a parent or guardian and You are aware that Your child has provided Us with Personal Data, please contact Us. If We become aware that We have collected Personal Data from anyone under the age of 13 without verification of parental consent, We take steps to remove that information from Our servers. Where a minor between 13 and 17 uses the Service, We process their data only as described in this Policy and, where required, with parental consent.

Links to Other Websites

Our Service may contain links to other websites that are not operated by Us. If You click on a third party link, You will be directed to that third party's site. We strongly advise You to review the Privacy Policy of every site You visit. We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies or practices of any third party sites or services.

Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update Our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify You of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date. We will let You know via email and/or a prominent notice on Our Service prior to the change becoming effective. You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, or to exercise any of Your rights, You can contact us:

  • By email: support@vtxathlete.com
  • By mail: Vertikal X, Inc., 115 Wild Basin Rd. S. Suite 307, Austin, TX 78746