Legal Notice and Privacy Policy

I. Legal Notice
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
jointly represented by
Managing Director Dr. Alexander von Frankenberg
Schlegelstraße 2
53113 Bonn
Telephone: +49 – (0) 228 – 823001-00
Fax: +49 – (0) 228 – 823000-50
Email: info@high-tech-gruenderfonds.de
Commercial register of the local court of Bonn HRB 13863
Chairman of the Investors Advisory Board: Dr. Matthias Koehler
VAT identification number: DE281370736

Online dispute resolution

Please note that, alongside the ordinary legal channels, disputes may also be resolved via an out-of-court solution in line with Regulation (EU) No 524/2013. Details can be found in Regulation (EU) 524/2013 and on the website https://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr. Our email address is info@high-tech-gruenderfonds.de. Please note that, pursuant to Section 36 of the VSBG [German Consumers’ Dispute Settlement Act], we do not have an obligation to participate in out-of-court dispute resolution proceedings before a consumer arbitration board.

Responsibility for online presence:

Dr. Alexander von Frankenberg
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
Schlegelstraße 2
53113 Bonn
Email: info@high-tech-gruenderfonds.de

II. Privacy Policy

1. Name and contact information of the Controller and the Data Protection Officer

This data privacy information is applicable for the processing of data by:
The controller: The company High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH (hereafter HTGF), Schlegelstraße 2, 53113 Bonn, Germany; email: info@high-tech-gruenderfonds.de; tel.: +49 (0) 228 – 823001-00 Fax: +49 (0) 228 – 823000-50
The HTGF Data Protection Officer, Dr. Christian Lenz, attorney at law,, can be contacted in the following ways – post: dhpg IT Services GmbH, Bunsenstraße 10a, 51647 Gummersbach; email: datenschutz@dhpg.de; tel.: +49 (0) 2261-8195-0.

2. The collection and storage of personal data, as well as the nature and purpose of the use thereof

A) Visiting the website

When you visit the website www.high-tech-gruenderfonds.de, your device’s browser automatically transmits information to our website’s server. This information is temporarily stored in a log file. The following data are collected and stored, without any action on your part, until they are automatically deleted:

  • IP address of the computer accessing the website
  • date and time of visit
  • name and URL of the retrieved file
  • website from which access is made (referrer URL)
  • browser used and, in some cases, your computer’s operating system, as well as the name of your access provider

We process the aforementioned data for the following purposes:

  • ensuring a smooth connection is made with the website
  • ensuring the website is user friendly
  • evaluating system security and stability
  • additional administrative purposes

Article 6, Paragraph 1, Sentence 1, Point f of the GDPR forms the legal basis for the processing of data.

Our legitimate interest arises from the purposes of data collection listed above. We do not use the data collected to draw conclusions about you personally under any circumstances. Furthermore, we also use cookies, social plugins and analysis services when you visit our website. More information can be found in Sections 8, 9 and 10 of this Privacy Policy.

B) Newsletter

If you have expressly given consent pursuant to Article 6, Paragraph 1, Sentence 1, Point a of the GDPR, we use your email address to regularly send you our newsletter. To receive the newsletter, you only need to enter your email address. You can cancel this service at any time, for example by using the link provided at the end of every newsletter. Alternatively, you can send an email to info@high-tech-gruenderfonds.de at any time stating that you no longer wish to receive the newsletter.

C) Surveys and event invitations

Contact information of our customers, partners and interested parties such as e-mail addresses are used to receive surveys and event information from the HTGF (legal basis is Art. 6 Par. 1 S. 1 f) DSGVO). This is legal on the basis of our legitimate interest. Our legitimate interest is to inform our customers, partners and interested parties about events and to receive feedback from them via a survey.
If you no longer wish to participate in the above surveys or no longer wish to be invited to events, you can object to the processing of your data at any time, for example via a link at the end of each e-mail. Alternatively, you are welcome to send your unsubscription request at any time to info@high-tech-gruenderfonds.de by e-mail.

d) Job Application postcard

We process your name, your e-mail address, your telephone number and your desired position for the handling of the application process and in particular for contacting you in this regard (legal basis is Art. 6 Para. 1 b) DSGVO in conjunction with § 26 Para. 1 BDSG). We store your data for 6 months, if at the time of the application no position corresponding to your desire is to be filled. If you are hired after the application process, we store the data for the duration of your employment. If you are not eligible for employment, we will delete your data 6 months after completion of the application process.

3. Sharing of data

Your personal data are not shared with third parties for purposes other than those listed in the following. We only share your personal data with third parties if:

  • you have expressly given consent pursuant to Article 6, Paragraph 1, Sentence 1, Point a of the GDPR;
  • the disclosure thereof is necessary for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims pursuant to Section 6, Paragraph 1, Sentence 1, Point f of the GDPR, and there is no reason to believe that you have an overriding interest requiring protection in the non-disclosure of your data;
  • the disclosure thereof is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation pursuant to Article 6, Paragraph 1, Sentence 1, Point c of the GDPR; and
  • the disclosure thereof is permitted by law and is required for the performance of a contract with you in accordance with Article 6, Paragraph 1, Sentence 1, Point b of the GDPR.

Data transfers are only made to third countries if data processing and the transfer to the respective recipient country is permissible. The permissibility of the transfer to third countries is governed by Art. 44 et seq. GDPR. We will inform you in the event of a corresponding transfer with specific data protection information on the concrete processing procedure, stating the respective legal regulation.

4. Rights of the data subject

You have the right:

  • to obtain information about the personal data concerning you that we process in accordance with Article 15 of the GDPR. In particular, you have the right to obtain information regarding the purposes of the processing; the category of personal data concerned; the categories of recipients to whom the personal data have been or will be disclosed; the envisaged period for which the data will be stored; the existence of the right to request rectification or erasure, the restriction of processing, or to object to such processing; the existence of the right to lodge a complaint; the source of your data in cases when the personal data are not collected by us; the existence of automated decision-making, including profiling, and where applicable, meaningful information about the specific details;
  • to obtain without undue delay the rectification of inaccurate personal data concerning you that we have stored, as well as the right to have the personal data completed, in accordance with Article 16 of the GDPR;
  • to obtain the erasure of the personal data concerning you that we have stored, in accordance with Article 17 of the GDPR, provided the processing thereof is not necessary for exercising the right of freedom of expression and information, for compliance with a legal obligation, for reasons of public interest, or for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims;
  • to obtain a restriction of the processing of your personal data where the accuracy of the data is contested by you, the processing thereof is unlawful but you oppose the erase thereof, or we no longer need the personal data but they are required by you for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims in accordance with Article 18 of the GDPR, or where you have objected to the disclosure of this data pursuant to Article 21 of the GDPR;
  • to obtain the personal data concerning you that you have provided us in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format, or to have this data transmitted to another controller (data portability), in accordance with Article 20 of the GDPR;
  • to withdraw the consent you gave to us at any time, in accordance with Article 7, Paragraph 3 of the GDPR. This means that we may no longer process data for which this consent was granted; and
  • complain with a supervisory authority in accordance with Art. 77 GDPR. The responsible supervisory authority is:
    State Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information
    North Rhine-Westphalia
    Kavalleriestraße 2 – 4
    40213 Duesseldorf
    E-mail: poststelle@ldi.nrw.de

5. Right to object

In cases where your personal data are processed on the basis of legitimate interests pursuant to Article 6, Paragraph 1, Sentence 1, Point f of the GDPR, you have the right – in accordance with Article 21 of the GDPR – to object to your personal data being processed on grounds relating to your particular situation or where the objection is to processing for direct marketing purposes. In the latter case, you have a general right to object that will be implemented by us without notification of a particular situation. If you wish to make use of your right of revocation or right to object, you can send an email to info@high-tech-gruenderfonds.de.

6. Data security

We utilize the widely used SSL (Secure Socket Layer) technology for website visits. Beyond this, we utilize suitable technical and organizational security measures to protect your data against accidental or intentional manipulation, partial or complete loss, destruction and unauthorised access by third parties. Our security measures are continuously improved in line with technological developments.

7. Automated decision making

Automated decision-making or profiling in the sense of Art. 22 GDPR does not take place.

8. Validity of and amendments to the Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy is valid in its current version, and was last updated in December 2022. This Privacy Policy may require amendment due to the further development of our website and the offerings on it, or as a result of a change in legal or official regulations. You can access and print out the currently valid version of this Privacy Policy at any time by visiting the website https://www.htgf.de/datenschutz.

9. Cookies

We use cookies on our website. Cookies are small files that are automatically created by your browser and are saved on your device (laptop, tablet, smartphone, etc.) when you visit our website. Cookies do not damage your device and do not contain any viruses, trojans or other malware. The cookie contains information generated in connection with the device used in each specific case. However, this does not mean that we obtain direct knowledge as to your identity as a result. On the one hand, cookies are used to make it easier to access our offerings. We use session cookies to identify whether you have already visited individual pages of our website. These are automatically deleted after you leave our website.

We also use temporary cookies to make our website more user-friendly. These cookies are saved on your device for a set period of time. When you revisit our website to access our services, it automatically recognises that you have already visited our pages and remembers the information and settings you entered so that you don’t have to enter them again. On the other hand, we also use cookies to record website consumption statistics and to evaluate these statistics with a view to optimizing our offering for you (see Section 2). These cookies enable us to automatically identify that you have already visited our website. They are automatically deleted after a set period of time in each case.

The data processed through the use of cookies are necessary for the stated purposes of the legitimate interests pursued by us or a third party pursuant to Article 6, Paragraph 1, Sentence 1, Point f of the GDPR.

Most browsers automatically accept cookies. However, you can configure your browser in such a way that no cookies are saved on your computer, or that a warning appears before a new cookie is created. If you completely deactivate cookies, you may not be able to use all the functions of our website.

10. Tracking tools

The tracking measures listed below and used by us are carried out on the basis of your consent pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a GDPR. In using these tracking tools, we aim to align the design of our website with user needs while continuously optimizing our pages. On the other hand, we also use tracking tools to record website consumption statistics and then to evaluate these statistics with a view to optimizing our offering for you. The respective purposes of processing the data, as well as the data categories, can be taken from the respective tracking tools.

Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics, a web analysis service from Google LLC. (https://www.google.de/intl/de/about/) (1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; hereinafter “Google”), for the purposes of aligning the design of our website with user needs and continuously optimizing our pages. In this context, pseudonymous profiles are created and cookies are used (see Section 8). The information the cookie generates concerning your use of the website, such as

  • browser type/version
  • operation system used
  • referrer URL (page visited beforehand)
  • host name of accessing computer
  • time of server request

is transferred to a Google server in the United States and stored there. This information is used to analyse website usage, to compile reports on website activities, and to perform other services associated with website and internet usage for the purposes of market research and aligning the design of these web pages with user needs. This information may also be transferred to third parties where a legal obligation to do so exists or where third parties are commissioned to process these data. Under no circumstances is your IP amalgamated with other Google data. IP addresses are anonymized, ensuring that they cannot be allocated to users (IP masking).

You can prevent cookies from being installed by configuring your browser software settings. Please note, however, that if you do so, you may not be able to fully use all website functions. Furthermore, you can also prevent the collection of data related to your website usage (including your IP address) that is generated by the cookie, as well as the processing thereof by Google, by downloading and installing a browser add-on (https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=en). As an alternative to installing the browser add-on, and especially for browsers on mobile devices, you can also prevent Google Analytics collecting the data by clicking on this link. This sets an opt-out cookie that prevents your data from being collected when you visit the website. The opt-out cookie only applies to this browser and only to our website, and is stored on your device. If you delete the cookies in this browser, you will have to set the opt-out cookie again.

For more information on data privacy in connection with Google Analytics, you can visit the Google Analytics Help page (https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/6004245?hl=en).

11. Social media plugins

We use social media plug-ins from the social networks Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Xing, YouTube and Instagram on our website on the basis of your consent pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a GDPR in order to raise awareness of our company. The responsibility for data protection-compliant operation shall to be ensured by their respective providers. We integrate these plug-ins using the so-called two-click method in order to protect visitors of our website as best as possible.

a) Facebook

Social media plugins of Facebook Ireland Limited (4 Grand Canal Square, Dublin 2, Ireland) are embedded in our website to ensure it can be used in a more personalised way. We use the “Like” and “Share” buttons for this purpose. This is a service offered by Facebook. If you visit a page on our website that contains one of these plugins, your browser establishes a direct connection with Facebook’s servers. The content of the plugin is directly transmitted from Facebook to your browser and embedded in the website.

Through the integration of plugins, Facebook is informed that your browser has accessed the relevant page of our website, even if you do not have a Facebook account or are not logged into Facebook. This information (including your IP address) is directly transmitted to a Facebook server in the United States where it is stored.

If you are logged into Facebook, your accessing our website can be directly traced back to your Facebook account by Facebook. If you interact with the plugins, for example by using the “Like” or “Share” buttons, this information is also directly transmitted to a Facebook server where it is stored. The information will also be published on Facebook and displayed to your Facebook friends.

Facebook can use this information for the purposes of advertising, market research and the needs-based design of Facebook pages. To this end, Facebook creates profiles concerning usage, interests and relationships, for example to evaluate your use of our website with respect to the advertisements displayed to you on Facebook, to inform other Facebook users about your activities on our website and to provide additional services related to the use of Facebook.

If you do not want Facebook to assign the data collected via our website to your Facebook account, you must log out of Facebook before visiting our website. Please read Facebook’s Data Policy (https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy/) to learn about the purpose and extent of data collection, the further processing and use of the data by Facebook, as well as your rights and settings options for protecting your privacy.

b) Twitter

Plugins of the short message service network Twitter Inc. (Twitter) are embedded in our website. You can identify the Twitter plugins (Tweet button) via the Twitter logo on our site. The following link provides an overview of Tweet buttons:

(https://about.twitter.com/resources/buttons). If you access a page on our website that contains one of these plugins, a direct connection is established between your browser and the Twitter server. Twitter then receives information including your IP address that you have visited our site. If you click on the Tweet button while logged into your Twitter account, you can create a link to the content of our website on your Twitter profile. Twitter is thus able to trace your accessing our site back to your user account. Please note that as the provider of the website, we do not receive any knowledge of the content of the transmitted data or its usage by Twitter.

If you do not want Twitter to trace your visit to our website, make sure to log out of your Twitter account.

You will find further information in Twitter’s Privacy Policy (https://twitter.com/en/privacy).

c) LinkedIn

Social media plugins of LinkedIn Ireland (U.C., Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland) are embedded in our website to ensure it is used in a more personalised way. We use the “share” button for this purpose. The plugins are denoted by a LinkedIn logo, for example in the form of an “in” inside a box. This is a service offered by LinkedIn. If you visit a page on our website that contains one of these plugins, your browser establishes a direct connection with LinkedIn’s servers. The content of the plugin is directly transmitted from LinkedIn to your browser and embedded in the website.

Through the integration of plugins, LinkedIn is informed that your browser has accessed the relevant page of our website, even if you do not have a LinkedIn account or are not logged into LinkedIn. This information (including your IP address, proxy server, browser, add-ons, device ID and functions of your internet provider or mobile phone operator incl. location detection) is directly transmitted from your browser to LinkedIn servers both inside and outside the United States, where they are also stored.

If you are logged into LinkedIn, your accessing our website can be directly traced back to your LinkedIn account by LinkedIn. If you interact with the plugins, for example by using the “share” button, this information is also directly transmitted to a LinkedIn server where it is stored. The information will also be published on LinkedIn and displayed to your LinkedIn contacts.

LinkedIn can use this information for the purposes of advertising, market research and the needs-based design of LinkedIn pages. To this end, LinkedIn creates profiles concerning usage, interests and relationships, for example to evaluate your use of our website with respect to the advertisements displayed to you on LinkedIn, to inform other LinkedIn users about your activities on our website and to provide additional services related to the use of LinkedIn.

If you do not want LinkedIn to assign the data collected via our website to your LinkedIn account, you must log out of LinkedIn before visiting our website. Please read LinkedIn’s Data Policy (https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy) to learn about the purpose and extent of data collection, the further processing and use of the data by LinkedIn, as well as your rights and settings options for protecting your privacy.

d) Xing

Social media plugins of Xing SE (Dammtorstraße 30, 20354 Hamburg, Germany) are embedded in our website to ensure it is used in a more personalised way. We use the “share” button for this purpose. This is a service offered by Xing. If you visit a page on our website that contains one of these plugins, your browser establishes a direct connection with Xing’s servers. The content of the plugin is directly transmitted from Xing to your browser and embedded in the website.

Through the integration of plugins, Xing is informed that your browser has accessed the relevant page of our website, even if you do not have a Xing account or are not logged into Xing. This information (including your IP address) is directly transmitted to a Xing server where it is stored.

If you are logged into Xing, your accessing our website can be directly traced back to your Xing account by Xing. If you interact with the plugins, for example by using the “share” button, this information is also directly transmitted to a Xing server where it is stored. The information will also be published on Xing and displayed to your Xing contacts.

Xing can use this information for the purposes of advertising, market research and the needs-based design of Xing pages. To this end, Xing creates profiles concerning usage, interests and relationships, for example to evaluate your use of our website with respect to the advertisements displayed to you on Xing, to inform other Xing users about your activities on our website and to provide additional services related to the use of Xing.

If you do not want Xing to assign the data collected via our website to your Xing account, you must log out of Xing before visiting our website. Please read Xing’s Data Policy (https://privacy.xing.com/en/privacy-policy) to learn about the purpose and extent of data collection, the further processing and use of the data by Xing as well as your rights and settings options for protecting your privacy.

e) YouTube

YouTube social plugins (plugins) operated by YouTube LLC (901 Cherry Avenue, San Bruno, CA 94066, USA) are also used on our website. The plugins are denoted by a YouTube logo, for example in the form of a YouTube camera.

If you visit a page on our website that contains one of these plugins, your browser establishes a direct connection with YouTube’s servers. The content of the plugin is directly transmitted from YouTube to your browser and embedded in the website. Through this integration of plugins, YouTube is informed that your browser has accessed the relevant page of our website, even if you do not have a YouTube profile or are not logged into YouTube.

This information (including your IP address) is transmitted directly to a YouTube server in the United States where it is stored. If you are logged into YouTube, your accessing our website can be directly traced back to your YouTube account by YouTube. If you interact with the plugins, for example by using the YouTube button, this information is also directly transmitted to a YouTube server where it is stored. The information will also be published on your YouTube account and displayed to your contacts there.

If you do not want YouTube to directly assign the data collected via our website to your YouTube account, you must log out of YouTube before visiting our website.

You will find further information on this matter in YouTube’s privacy policy (https://www.youtube.de/t/privacy).

f) Instagram

Instagram social plugins (plugins) operated by Instagram LLC (1601 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA) are also used on our website. The plugins are denoted by an Instagram logo, for example in the form of an Instagram camera.

If you visit a page on our website that contains one of these plugins, your browser establishes a direct connection with Instagram’s servers. The content of the plugin is directly transmitted from Instagram to your browser and embedded in the website. Through the integration of plugins, Instagram is informed that your browser has accessed the relevant page of our website, even if you do not have an Instagram account or are not logged into Instagram.

This information (including your IP address) is directly transmitted to an Instagram server in the United States where it is stored. If you are logged into Instagram, your accessing our website can be directly traced back to your Instragram account by Instagram. If you interact with the plugins, for example by using the Instagram button, this information is also directly transmitted to an Instagram server where it is stored. The information will also be published on your Instagram account and displayed to your contacts there.

If you do not want Instagram to directly assign the data collected via our website to your Instagram account, you must log out of Instagram before visiting our website.

You will find further information on this matter in Instagram’s Privacy Policy (https://help.instagram.com/155833707900388).

This is a convenience translation. The German version is legally binding.