Privacy Policy

Effective Date: January 7, 2026

1. Introduction

iStart International Inc. (“we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal data. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you visit our website, use our learning portal, or engage with our services (Corporate Services, Academic Pathways, and Mentors League).

We adhere to the principles of the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10173) of the Philippines and international data protection standards where applicable.

2. Information We Collect

We collect different types of data depending on your role within the iStart ecosystem:

A. For Students & Learners

  • Personal Identification: Name, date of birth, address, email, and contact number.
  • Sensitive Personal Information: Passport copies, government-issued IDs, and visa-related documents uploaded via our secure portal for international pathway processing.
  • Academic Records: Enrollment history, course progress, grades, and certifications.
  • Payment Information: Billing address and transaction history (Note: Credit card details are processed securely by our third-party payment gateways and are not stored on our servers).

B. For Mentors & Instructors

  • Professional Profile: CV/Resume, professional qualifications, and biography.
  • Financial Data: Bank account details or payment coordinates for commission/salary payouts.
  • Activity Logs: Course creation history, student interaction logs, and platform usage.

C. For Corporate Partners & Institutions

  • Business Contact Information: Company name, representative contact details, and partnership agreements.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your data strictly for the following purposes:

  1. Service Delivery: To provide access to courses, process enrollments, and manage the Mentors League platform.
  2. Visa & Pathway Processing: To verify identity and assist with international internship or study applications (strictly limited to authorized personnel).
  3. Certification: To issue certificates of completion in coordination with our educational partners (e.g., St. Angelo Global Academy).
  4. Payments & Accounting: To process tuition fees and disburse mentor earnings.
  5. Communication: To send course updates, administrative notices, and partnership opportunities.

4. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell your personal data. We may share your information only in the following specific circumstances:

  • Educational Partners: With institutions (such as St. Angelo Global Academy) solely for the purpose of curriculum delivery and certification alignment.
  • Service Providers: With trusted third-party vendors who assist us in operating our website, conducting our business, or serving our users (e.g., cloud hosting providers, payment gateways), provided that those parties agree to keep this information confidential.
  • Legal Requirements: If required by law, court order, or government regulation (e.g., SEC, CHED, or TESDA inquiries).

5. Data Security

We implement strict organizational, physical, and technical security measures to protect your data, including:

  • Encryption: All sensitive data transmitted via our portal is encrypted using Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology.
  • Secure Storage: Sensitive documents (passports/IDs) are stored in protected directories with restricted access limited to authorized Admin personnel.
  • Access Control: We utilize role-based access control (Student, Mentor, Admin) to ensure users can only access data relevant to their role.

6. Your Rights (Data Privacy Act of 2012)

As a data subject, you have the following rights:

  • Right to Access: You may request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
  • Right to Rectification: You may ask us to correct any inaccurate or incomplete data (e.g., updating your profile in the Student Dashboard).
  • Right to Erasure: You may request the deletion of your personal data where it is no longer necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, subject to legal retention requirements.
  • Right to Object: You may object to the processing of your data for specific purposes.

To exercise these rights, please contact us at info@istartinc.com.

7. Cookies

Our website uses cookies to enhance user experience, track course progress, and analyze site traffic. You can choose to disable cookies through your browser settings, though this may affect the functionality of the learning portal.

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will notify you of any significant changes by posting the new policy on this page.

9. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact our Data Protection Officer (DPO) at:

iStart International Inc.
Email: info@istartinc.com
Head Office: St. Angelo Training Center Building, Purok Solid, Barangay Dolho, Bato, Leyte (Region VIII)
Cebu Office: 2nd Floor, JY Square, Salinas Drive, Lahug, Cebu City