Privacy Policy

1. Who We Are

Catalyse Angel Network (“CAN”, “we”, “us”, “our”) is operated by Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (WLEP).

WLEP is the data controller responsible for your personal data.

Controller: Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership
Correspondence address: 50-51 Malvern Science Park, Geraldine Road, Malvern, WR14 3SZ
Email: info@catalyse-angels.co.uk
Website: www.catalyse-angels.co.uk
Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership Privacy Policy: www.wlep.co.uk/privacy-policy/

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store and share your personal data when you:

visit our website
apply to join as an investor member
submit a founder/start-up application
use our online platform(s)
attend events or interact with us

This policy should be read alongside any terms and conditions presented to you during the investor onboarding or founder application processes.

2. The Data We Collect

2.1 Investor Members

When you apply for or maintain membership, we may collect:

Name, email address, phone number, data of birth and correspondence address
Professional background, career history and investment experience
Biography, profile information and LinkedIn or similar professional links
Investment preferences, interests and areas of focus
Information provided through investor questionnaires, fact finds or onboarding processes, including details relating to your investor profile, experience, investment intentions, capacity, preferences and motivations
Information relating to investor eligibility and regulatory certification, including confirmation of high net worth or sophisticated investor status and any related information provided
Records of communications with us
Platform activity (e.g. documents accessed, login activity and preferences)

2.2 Founders / Applicants (via website application)

When you submit a founder or company application, we may collect:

Founder names and contact details
Company details (name, registration, addresses, sector)
Business information, financial data and investment details
Team, stakeholders and key personnel information
Pitch decks, videos, business plans and supporting documentation
Communications and correspondence

Applications, pitch decks and introductory videos are explicitly intended to be shared with investors and other capital providers.

2.3 Website Users

We may collect:

Information submitted via contact and application forms
Account and member information, including name, email address and authentication information necessary to create and access your account
Account activity and technical data, including login activity, use of member-only areas, IP address, browser and device information, pages viewed and website usage information collected automatically through Wix (the hosting platform)
Cookies and similar technologies

3. How We Use Your Data

We use personal data to operate and deliver Catalyse Angel Network.

3.1 Investor Members

We use your data to:

Manage your membership and account
Provide access to the investor platform and shared materials
Share investment opportunities, documents and content
Invite you to events, programmes and networking opportunities
Send relevant updates, insights and communications
Facilitate introductions with founders and other investors
Enable collaboration and co-investment opportunities
Display limited profile information within the platform (where applicable)
Understand your investment interests, preferences and objectives
Match you with relevant opportunities and founders
Verify your eligibility to participate in the network
Comply with applicable financial promotion and regulatory requirements

Your onboarding as an investor member includes agreeing to applicable terms and completing eligibility and certification processes, which involve the collection and use of personal data as described in this policy.

3.2 Founders and Applicants

We use your data to:

Assess and evaluate your application
Communicate with you about your application
Invite you to pitch events or programmes
Share your opportunity with investors and capital providers
Facilitate introductions and fundraising activity
Support wider ecosystem engagement and opportunities

Important:
By submitting an application via our website, you acknowledge that:

your application materials (including but not limited to your application form, introductory video and pitch deck) may be shared with investors and relevant capital providers
you should not include information that requires a non-disclosure agreement
your information will be used to facilitate introductions and investment opportunities

Where sharing goes beyond investors and core capital providers, we will seek consent where required.

3.3 Platforms and Website Operation

We use data to:

Create and manage user accounts
Enable secure login and profile management
Host and share documents
Maintain system security and integrity
Monitor usage and improve services

Catalyse Angel Network uses industry standard software applications to manage investors and founders, schedule and communicate electronically. Systems used include, but are not limited to:

Office 365 Suite
Wix (website hosting, website operation, member accounts and analytics)
Usercentrics for Wix (cookie consent and preference management)
Mailchimp
SurveyMonkey
Zoho

All data will be accessed by devices which are secured via password, PIN, pattern or biometric security as a minimum.

4. Lawful Basis for Processing

We rely on the following lawful bases under UK GDPR:

Legitimate Interests

Operating and developing the angel network
Connecting investors, founders and partners
Facilitating investment activity and relationships
Delivering events, communications and programmes

Contract

Managing investor membership
Administering founder applications
Providing services requested via our website

Consent

Sharing data outside core network activity where required
Sending certain communications where required by law
Using non-essential cookies

Legal Obligation

Complying with applicable laws and regulatory requirements

5. Sharing Your Data

5.1 Sharing with Investors and Capital Providers

Founder/application data may be shared with:

CAN investor members
Other angel networks, venture capital firms and other capital providers

Investor data may be shared with:

Other CAN members to facilitate collaboration and co-investment
Founders where appropriate to enable introductions

5.2 Sharing with Funding, Strategic and Corporate Partners

We may share limited personal data with:

Public sector funders
Sponsors and corporate partners
Strategic and ecosystem partners

This may be for purposes such as:

Programme delivery, monitoring and evaluation
Reporting on network activity, outcomes and impact
Funding administration and compliance
Developing partnerships and opportunities
Supporting events and collaborative initiatives

Where possible, data will be:

Aggregated or anonymised; or
Limited to the minimum necessary

Identifiable personal data will only be shared where supported by an appropriate lawful basis (including consent where required).

5.3 Service Providers

We may share data with trusted third-party providers who support:

IT systems and platform hosting
CRM and communications tools
Event delivery and administration

These providers process data on our behalf under appropriate safeguards.

5.4 Internal Access Within WLEP

As CAN is operated by Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, your personal data may be accessed by authorised employees, contractors and delivery partners where necessary to:

Operate and administer the network
Manage investor membership and applications
Manage founder applications
Deliver programmes, events and communications
Maintain systems and infrastructure

Access is restricted to those who need it, and all personnel are subject to confidentiality and data protection obligations.

5.5 Publicity

We may publicise:

Completed investments
Participating companies
Programme activity and outcomes

Publicising includes, but is not limited to, press releases, newsletter articles, video case studies, or social media content.

We will do so responsibly and will not publish personal data inappropriately.

6. International Data Transfers

Where personal data is transferred outside the UK, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place in accordance with applicable data protection law.

7. Data Retention

We retain personal data:

For the duration of your engagement with CAN
As necessary to manage relationships, investments and reporting
As required by applicable law

We may retain limited data after your involvement ends for:

Record-keeping
Legal and compliance purposes

8. Data Security

We use appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal data, including:

Secure systems and access controls
Restricted access to authorised personnel
Encryption and monitoring where appropriate

9. Your Rights

You have the right to:

Access your personal data
Request correction of inaccurate data
Request deletion (in certain circumstances)
Restrict or object to processing
Data portability
Withdraw consent (where applicable)

To exercise your rights or if you have questions about how your data is handled, please contact:

Email: info@catalyse-angels.co.uk

Catalyse Angel Network is operated by Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (WLEP), and all data protection queries will be handled by WLEP’s nominated Data Protection Officer (DPO).

We will ensure your query is directed appropriately and handled in accordance with data protection law.

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) https://ico.org.uk/concerns/handling/

10. Cookies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

Enable essential website functionality (e.g. login and security)
Understand how users interact with the site
Improve performance and user experience

Our website is hosted and operated using Wix. Wix may place cookies and similar technologies on your device to enable the website to function securely and effectively, including cookies required to support website security, user accounts, member login and access to member-only areas.

Cookies are pieces of data that are often created when you visit a website, and which are stored in the cookie directory of your computer. Several cookies are created when you visit the Catalyse Angel Network’s website.

The cookies do not contain any personal information about you, and they cannot be used to identify an individual user.

We also use Wix's built-in analytics and reporting functionality to help us understand how visitors use our website. This may include information such as website visits, pages viewed, general traffic and usage information, device and browser information, and other technical information collected automatically by Wix. We use this information to monitor website performance, understand how the website is being used and improve our services.

Depending on their purpose, cookies and similar technologies may collect or be associated with technical information about your device, browser, website activity or member account.

We use Usercentrics for Wix to manage cookie preferences and consent. When you first visit our website, you will be given the opportunity to manage your cookie preferences. Cookies that are strictly necessary for the operation, security and functionality of the website may be used without your consent where permitted by law. Other cookies and similar technologies will be managed in accordance with the preferences you select through the cookie banner.

You can review or change your cookie preferences at any time using the cookie settings available on our website. You can also manage or delete cookies through your browser settings, although disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of the website, including member login and access to member-only areas.

To delete cookies or reject cookies

We recommend you allow the cookies we set by this web site as they help us to provide you with a better service.

If you do not want to receive cookies from this website:

Select cookie settings under the privacy settings in your browser options
Add our domain (www.catalyse-angels.co.uk) to the list of websites you do not want to accept cookies from
Under settings you can also delete individual cookies or any cookies that your browser has stored

You can find more information on how to delete and control cookies at www.allaboutcookies.org

If you set your browser to refuse cookies, please be aware that there may be functionality on various web sites that does not work.

The cookies and technologies used on our website may change as Wix updates its services or as we make changes to the website. Up-to-date information about the cookies in use, their purposes and your available choices is provided through our cookie consent tool.

11. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for their content or privacy practices.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Updates will be posted on our website and notified where appropriate.

This policy was last updated on 30.09.2026.