Privacy Policy

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MatesInvest Pty Ltd (“MatesInvest”, “we”, “our” or “us”) operates an Australian investing community and financial education platform through our website and mobile applications. This policy explains how we collect, hold, use and disclose personal information, and how you can contact us about your privacy.

Registration is not marketing consent. We may use details you submit to manage your registration and provide appropriate assistance, even if you do not finish creating an account. Promotional communications require the consent or other permission required by law.

1. Information we collect

The information we collect depends on the services you use and what you submit. It may include:

  • Your name, email address, mobile telephone number, username and profile information.
  • Details submitted during registration, account identifiers, registration progress and completion status, and preferences you provide.
  • Community messages, posts, discussions, group participation and content you submit, including stories and accompanying display names.
  • Support enquiries, issue categories, feedback, reports and correspondence with us.
  • Newsletter and waitlist subscriptions, communication choices, and records relating to consent and unsubscribing.
  • Subscription status, purchase and subscription identifiers, and relevant renewal or expiry information used to manage access.
  • Browser and device information, online identifiers, pages visited, session duration, interactions, and campaign and email-link engagement information.
  • Answers and contact details you voluntarily submit through feedback questionnaires or lead forms, and information submitted for rewards, competitions or giveaways you enter.
  • Where a supported broker connection is used, connection identifiers and account information such as account name, type, currency and balances.
  • For Creator Program applicants and participants, contact and profile details, social media handles, application responses, business and tax details, account credentials and bank details for commission payments.

We collect information directly when you submit it or use our services, and through service providers where relevant, such as advertising lead forms, subscription platforms and supported account connections. Some information may be submitted by another person, for example in a community report or a reward claim. Please only provide another person's information where you are entitled to do so.

You can browse public information without registering. If you choose not to provide information needed for a particular service, we may be unable to create an account, respond to an enquiry or provide that service.

2. Registration and incomplete account creation

When you begin registering for MatesInvest, we may collect personal information such as your name, email address and mobile telephone number before your registration is completed. Information you submit may be retained even if you do not finish creating an account.

We may use this information to manage your registration, verify your details, respond to enquiries and, where appropriate, contact you to assist with completing your registration or resolving technical difficulties. This may include contacting you using the email address or mobile telephone number you provided.

Where we have obtained the consent or other legal permission required under applicable Australian law, we may also use your contact details to provide information about MatesInvest features, promotions, competitions, services and other marketing communications.

Beginning registration or providing your contact details does not automatically mean you have consented to receive promotional communications. A registration reminder is not automatically exempt from marketing laws. We must consider its content, purpose and circumstances; a message that promotes our services may be direct marketing even if it also offers help.

3. How we use personal information

Account management

To create and manage accounts, verify registration details, manage authentication and access, maintain account security and provide features you use, including Premium access and supported account connections.

Customer support and service communications

To respond to enquiries, assist with registration and account access, troubleshoot technical problems and communicate genuinely necessary account, security and service information.

Product and community services

To operate groups and discussions, deliver market information and educational content, provide property-related features, manage user content, administer rewards and competitions you enter, and administer Creator Program applications and commissions.

Improvement and analytics

To understand usage and engagement, investigate reported errors, improve functionality and onboarding, and measure campaign performance. See cookies, analytics and attribution.

Marketing and communications

Where legally permitted, to send newsletters, product and feature announcements, Premium offers, educational content, competitions and giveaways, community initiatives and relevant partner offers.

We may also use information to investigate misuse, handle complaints, protect platform integrity and meet applicable legal obligations. Operational communications are not a way to bypass marketing consent requirements: adding promotional content can change how a message is treated under the law.

4. Marketing communications and consent

We will only send marketing communications where we have a legally valid basis, including the consent required by the Spam Act 2003 for commercial electronic messages. Express consent may be given by a clear opt-in or a specific subscription request. We will not assume inferred consent merely because you have an account, began registering, made an enquiry or supplied contact details.

Marketing may be sent by email and, where supported and legally permitted, SMS, push notifications, in-app notifications or other supported channels. Permission must cover the relevant communications and channels; permission for one purpose or channel is not unrestricted permission for others.

Accepting or acknowledging this Privacy Policy or agreeing to our Terms of Use is not, by itself, express marketing consent. Publishing or updating this policy does not create consent. We consider the Privacy Act 1988 and Australian Privacy Principles to the extent applicable, the Spam Act and, for any marketing calls, applicable Do Not Call Register and telemarketing requirements.

5. Unsubscribing and communication choices

You may opt out of marketing or withdraw consent at any time:

  • Use the unsubscribe link in a marketing email.
  • For any marketing SMS, use the opt-out instructions provided in that message.
  • Use relevant app communication preferences where available. Device settings can also control push notifications, but do not unsubscribe you from email or SMS.
  • Email hello@matesinvest.com and tell us which contact details or communications your request concerns.

You do not need an active MatesInvest account to unsubscribe. We will action marketing unsubscribe requests within the period required by Australian law; for commercial email and SMS, this is no later than five working days. We may retain a limited suppression record to help ensure your choice is respected.

Unsubscribing from marketing does not prevent genuinely necessary account, security or service communications. We will not use those communications to continue sending promotions without the required permission.

6. Existing accounts and registration records

These distinctions also apply to existing users and incomplete registrations. Account administration and legitimate support are different from registration assistance, and both are different from promotional campaigns. Registration assistance must be appropriate to the original collection context and is subject to any applicable marketing rules.

This policy does not retrospectively opt anyone into marketing. Holding a contact record or including it in a subscriber database is not, on its own, proof of permission. Where required permission cannot be established, we need valid consent before sending marketing. An unsolicited commercial email or SMS asking for marketing consent is not a workaround.

7. Payments and Premium subscriptions

Mobile application purchases

Premium subscriptions purchased through the MatesInvest mobile application are processed by Apple App Store or Google Play Store, as applicable. MatesInvest does not directly collect, process or store your credit card details, debit card details or banking information in connection with these purchases.

We may receive limited subscription-related information, such as subscription status, purchase identifiers, renewal dates and expiry dates, to manage your Premium membership and provide access to paid features. Payment information provided to Apple or Google is handled in accordance with their respective privacy policies: Apple and Google.

Separate website offers and creator payments

The app-store statement above does not cover separate website purchases. Where you use a MatesInvest + AFR Access website checkout, Stripe handles payment details. We receive contact, transaction and subscription records, and provide your name and email address to the Australian Financial Review for access provisioning. See Stripe's privacy policy. Bank details submitted by Creator Program participants are separately used to administer commission payments, not to charge app subscriptions.

8. Community groups and user content

Your username, profile information, group participation, messages, posts and discussions may be visible to other participants according to the feature you use. Information shared with a group can be copied or shared by others. Do not post personal information you do not want others to see. We do not represent community messages as confidential or end-to-end encrypted.

We may handle user content, reports and related correspondence to moderate content, investigate inappropriate behaviour, support community safety and protect platform integrity. To request removal of content or report a privacy concern, contact hello@matesinvest.com. Removal is subject to applicable law and legitimate retention needs; we cannot guarantee removal of copies held independently by others.

9. Cookies, analytics and attribution

Our website uses browser local storage and session storage, tracking links and third-party pixels. These help recognise repeat visits, measure page views, time and engagement, attribute email-link visits and app-download clicks, and understand advertising performance. Such information is not necessarily anonymous: online identifiers and email-link activity can be associated with a subscriber or device.

Website integrations include Meta Pixel, LinkedIn Insight Tag and OpenAI's advertising measurement pixel. On supported signup forms, a hashed email address may be sent to Meta for advertising matching. Hashing does not necessarily make that information anonymous. Our app-download links use AppsFlyer OneLink for routing and attribution.

You can manage cookies and browser storage through browser settings and use relevant advertising controls offered by providers. Blocking these technologies may affect some features. Browser privacy signals are not honoured uniformly by every integration, and changing browser settings does not withdraw email or SMS marketing consent.

10. Service providers and other disclosures

We may disclose information relevant to providing a service to providers supporting hosting, storage, communications, account access, analytics and platform operations. Verified website services include Netlify for hosting and form handling, Upstash for data storage, and Resend for email delivery and contact management. Advertising and attribution providers are described above; subscription platforms and the separate website checkout are described under payments. SnapTrade supports broker account connections where used.

Providers' handling of information is also described in their privacy notices: Netlify, Upstash, Resend, Meta, LinkedIn, OpenAI, AppsFlyer and SnapTrade.

We may also disclose information where required or authorised by law, or where reasonably necessary to investigate misuse or protect legal rights and safety. We do not sell your personal information. Obtaining market or property data from a supplier does not, by itself, mean we disclose your personal information to that supplier.

11. Partner enquiries and introductions

Registering with MatesInvest does not authorise automatic sharing of your contact details with financial advisers, property brokers or commercial partners for their marketing. This policy is not consent to third-party marketing.

If we offer an enquiry or introduction service, we will explain the information requested, its purpose, the intended recipient and any relevant referral remuneration before you choose to submit it. Sharing for an introduction must follow your affirmative request and any additional consent required by law.

12. Overseas handling

Some providers operate internationally, and personal information may be stored, processed or accessed outside Australia. The countries involved depend on the provider, service configuration and support arrangements. Contact hello@matesinvest.com for information about relevant overseas handling.

Where Australian privacy law applies to an overseas disclosure, we must meet the applicable requirements, including taking reasonable steps required by law concerning the recipient's handling of information. This policy does not ask you to waive protections for overseas disclosures.

13. Security and retention

We take reasonable steps to protect the information we hold from misuse, interference, loss and unauthorised access, modification or disclosure, using appropriate technical and organisational safeguards and restricting access for legitimate operational purposes. No online service can guarantee absolute security.

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the relevant purposes, subject to applicable legal obligations. This includes information needed to operate active accounts, assist with incomplete registrations, resolve support matters, maintain consent and suppression records, handle disputes and meet legal requirements. Incomplete registration does not justify indefinite retention.

Retention depends on the purpose and circumstances; this policy does not prescribe a fixed period for incomplete registrations. When information is no longer needed, we take reasonable steps to delete or de-identify it, subject to legal requirements. Account deletion requests are considered alongside any information that must be retained for legal, security or regulatory reasons.

14. Access, correction and deletion

Email hello@matesinvest.com to request access to or correction of personal information, request account or information deletion where applicable, withdraw marketing consent or raise a concern. You can make a request even without an active account. We may need to verify your identity before providing information or changing records.

We will consider requests in accordance with applicable law and explain any lawful limitations or reasons we cannot fulfil a request. Deletion is not immediate or unconditional: some records may be needed for legal, security or regulatory purposes, or to respect a marketing opt-out.

15. Privacy complaints

If you believe we have mishandled personal information, email hello@matesinvest.com with details of your concern and the outcome you seek. We will review the complaint, investigate relevant circumstances and communicate our response and any appropriate action. We may request further information to investigate.

If you are not satisfied with our response, or have not received a response within a reasonable time, you may be able to complain to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC), where it has jurisdiction. The OAIC generally expects you to complain to us first and allow about 30 days for a response. This is not a guarantee of resolution within that period. Concerns about commercial electronic messages can also be raised with ACMA.

16. General financial information

MatesInvest provides general financial information, educational content and community features, not personalised financial advice. Information does not take account of your objectives, financial situation or needs. See our Terms of Use for further information.

17. Policy updates and contact

We may update this policy as our services and information practices evolve. The current version and its last updated date will be available at matesinvest.com/privacy. Where material changes affect how we handle personal information, additional notice or consent may be required. Publishing an updated policy does not retrospectively authorise new uses or create marketing consent.

Privacy contact: MatesInvest Pty Ltd — hello@matesinvest.com.