Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to Stage Seeker.

Stage Seeker is a digital platform designed to help speakers, entrepreneurs, thought leaders and industry experts discover speaking opportunities around the world.

We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store and protect your information when you visit our website, create an account, purchase a membership or use our services.

Stage Seeker is operated by Emerald Search Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales under company number 16996143. For the purposes of applicable data protection legislation, Emerald Search Ltd is the data controller responsible for your personal information.

We process personal information in accordance with applicable data protection legislation, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

2. Information we collect

When you use Stage Seeker, we may collect the following information.

Account information

• Name and email address.
• Login and authentication information.
• Membership type and subscription status.
• Account preferences.

Payment information

• Billing information.
• Transaction history.
• Payment and subscription status.
• Relevant invoice information.

Speaker preferences

• Speaking topics and areas of expertise.
• Preferred geographical locations.
• Preferred event formats.
• Compensation preferences.
• Saved speaking opportunities and application tracking information.

Technical information

• IP address.
• Browser and device information.
• Website usage information.
• Cookies and session information.

We collect only the information reasonably necessary to operate, maintain and improve Stage Seeker.

3. How we use your information

We use your information to:

• Create and manage your account.
• Provide access to your purchased membership.
• Process payments and administer subscriptions.
• Personalise your speaking opportunity searches.
• Save your preferences and opportunity pipeline.
• Communicate important account and service updates.
• Respond to customer support enquiries.
• Improve website functionality and security.
• Comply with applicable legal and financial obligations.

We process this information on the basis of contractual necessity, legitimate business interests, legal obligations or your consent, as appropriate to the particular activity.

4. Payments and subscriptions

Stage Seeker uses Stripe to securely process membership payments and subscriptions.

When you purchase a membership, Stripe may collect your payment card information, billing details and other information necessary to complete the transaction. Stage Seeker does not store your full payment card details or card security code.

We may retain limited payment information, including transaction amounts, payment dates, subscription status and Stripe customer identifiers, to administer your membership and maintain appropriate financial records.

Your payment information is processed in accordance with Stripe’s Privacy Policy: https://stripe.com/privacy

5. Your membership information

Your Stage Seeker account allows you to discover, save and manage speaking opportunities.

Information you save within your personal dashboard, including application tracking and private notes, is not publicly displayed or automatically shared with event organisers.

We use your preferences to help make the platform more relevant to your professional interests.

Stage Seeker does not sell your personal information to third parties.

6. Third-party speaking opportunities

Stage Seeker provides information about speaking opportunities advertised by independent event organisers and third-party platforms.

Where we collect publicly available professional information relating to event organisers, we use it for the purpose of identifying and presenting relevant speaking opportunities.

If you choose to apply for an opportunity through an external website, any information you provide directly to that organisation will be subject to its own privacy policy. Stage Seeker does not control how independent event organisers process information you submit directly to them.

Event organisers or individuals whose professional contact information appears on Stage Seeker may request a correction or removal by contacting hello@stageseeker.com. We will review such requests in accordance with applicable data protection legislation.

7. Third-party service providers

We use trusted third-party technology providers to operate and maintain Stage Seeker. These include:

These providers may process limited personal information necessary to deliver their services, including names, email addresses, account identifiers and relevant transaction information.

We seek to ensure that appropriate data protection safeguards are in place when working with third-party service providers. We do not sell or rent your personal information to third parties.

8. Email and marketing communications

We use Resend to deliver account-related and other authorised email communications. These may include:

• Registration confirmations.
• Password resets.
• Payment notifications.
• Membership and subscription updates.
• Important service announcements.
• Customer support communications.

We may also send occasional information about new Stage Seeker features, membership offers and relevant platform developments where permitted by applicable law. Where consent is required for marketing communications, we will obtain it before sending them.

You can unsubscribe from optional marketing communications at any time using the unsubscribe link provided in our emails or by contacting hello@stageseeker.com. Unsubscribing from marketing will not prevent you from receiving essential account, security or billing communications.

9. Cookies

Stage Seeker may use cookies and similar technologies to maintain website functionality, manage secure login sessions, remember preferences and understand how the platform is used.

Essential cookies are necessary for the operation of certain website features. Where required by applicable law, we will obtain your consent before using non-essential analytics or marketing cookies.

You can manage cookies through your browser settings and any cookie preference controls made available on our website. Disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of the platform.

10. Data security

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information from unauthorised access, loss, misuse or disclosure. These measures include secure authentication, encrypted communications and restricted access to personal information.

Although we take reasonable precautions to protect your information, no internet-based service can guarantee absolute security.

If we become aware of a personal data breach, we will investigate and take appropriate action, including notifying affected individuals and relevant authorities where legally required.

11. International data transfers

Stage Seeker operates internationally and provides speaking opportunities to members around the world. Some of our technology providers may process or store information outside the United Kingdom.

Where personal information is transferred internationally, we take appropriate steps to ensure that applicable data protection requirements are met, including the use of recognised international transfer safeguards where required.

You may contact us for further information about the safeguards applicable to your personal information.

12. How long we keep your information

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary to provide our services and fulfil applicable legal, accounting and regulatory obligations.

Account information and speaker preferences are generally retained while your account remains active. Payment and transaction records may be retained for longer where required by applicable financial or tax legislation.

Customer support communications may be retained for as long as reasonably necessary to resolve enquiries and maintain appropriate business records.

When information is no longer required, we will securely delete or anonymise it, subject to applicable legal obligations and reasonable backup retention periods.

13. Your privacy rights

Depending on applicable law, you may have the right to:

• Request access to your personal information.
• Request correction of inaccurate information.
• Request deletion of your personal information.
• Object to certain processing activities.
• Request restrictions on how your information is used.
• Request a portable copy of certain information.
• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.

To exercise your rights, contact: hello@stageseeker.com

We may request reasonable information to verify your identity before fulfilling a request. We will respond in accordance with applicable data protection legislation. Under UK GDPR, this is generally within one month, subject to permitted extensions.

14. Account deletion

You may request deletion of your Stage Seeker account at any time by contacting hello@stageseeker.com.

When an account is deleted, we will remove or anonymise associated personal information where required by applicable law. This may include your speaker preferences, saved opportunities and private pipeline information.

Certain financial or transaction records may be retained where necessary to comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes or establish, exercise or defend legal claims.

Deleting your Stage Seeker account does not automatically remove information you have independently submitted to external event organisers or third-party websites.

15. Children’s privacy

Stage Seeker is intended for individuals aged 18 and over.

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If we become aware that personal information has been collected from a child in circumstances that do not comply with applicable law, we will take appropriate steps to delete that information.

16. Future platform features

Stage Seeker may introduce additional features and services as the platform develops. These may include enhanced opportunity recommendations, speaker profile functionality, podcast guest opportunities and additional tools designed to support members in discovering and managing professional opportunities.

Where new features involve collecting additional categories of personal information or materially changing how existing information is processed, we will update this Privacy Policy and provide additional notice where required by applicable law. We will establish an appropriate lawful basis before processing personal information for new purposes.

17. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes to our services, technology, business practices or applicable legislation.

The latest version will be available on our website, with the date of the most recent update displayed at the beginning of this policy. Where material changes affect how we process your personal information, we will provide additional notice where required by law.

18. Contact us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, how your information is handled or your data protection rights, please contact:

If you are located in the United Kingdom and believe your personal information has been processed unlawfully, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). Website: https://ico.org.uk

We encourage you to contact us first so that we have an opportunity to address your concerns.