Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Black Hills Consortium ("BHC," "we," "us," or "our"), headquartered in Custer, South Dakota, is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website and use services provided by Black Hills Consortium and its 13 affiliated entities. This policy applies to information collected through our website, mobile applications, email communications, and any other platforms or services we operate. Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. If you do not agree with the terms of this Privacy Policy, please do not access our website or use our services.

2. Information We Collect

We collect information that you voluntarily provide to us when you register on our website, express interest in obtaining information about us or our entities, participate in activities on our website, or otherwise contact us. The personal information we collect may include:

• Name, email address, phone number, and mailing address
• Business information, including company name, job title, and industry
• Investment interest and accreditation information for investor-related inquiries
• Event registration details for THE CULT convention and other BHC events
• Relocation program application data for Settle the West
• Educational enrollment information for Seed Academy
• Donation and payment information processed through secure third-party payment processors
• Communications data, including messages sent through contact forms and customer support

We also automatically collect certain information when you visit our website, including your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, access times, and pages viewed. We may use cookies, web beacons, and similar tracking technologies to collect this information.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for various purposes, including to:

• Provide, operate, and maintain our website and services
• Improve, personalize, and expand our website and services
• Understand and analyze how you use our website
• Develop new products, services, features, and functionality
• Communicate with you about updates, events, promotions, and other information related to BHC and its entities
• Process transactions and send related information, including purchase confirmations and invoices
• Send you technical notices, security alerts, and support messages
• Respond to your comments, questions, and customer service requests
• Facilitate investor communications and data room access
• Comply with legal obligations and enforce our terms and policies

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We may share your information in the following circumstances:

• Among Affiliated Entities: We may share information between Black Hills Consortium and its 13 affiliated entities to provide integrated services, coordinate programs, and improve your experience across the ecosystem.
• Service Providers: We may share information with third-party vendors, service providers, contractors, or agents who perform services on our behalf, including payment processing, data analysis, email delivery, hosting services, and customer service.
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities, including law enforcement or regulatory agencies.
• Business Transfers: We may share or transfer information in connection with, or during negotiations of, any merger, sale of company assets, financing, or acquisition of all or a portion of our business.
• With Your Consent: We may disclose your personal information for any other purpose with your explicit consent.

We do not sell your personal information to third parties. We do not share your personal information with third parties for their direct marketing purposes without your consent.

5. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures designed to protect the security of your personal information. We use encryption, access controls, and secure hosting infrastructure to safeguard your data. However, despite our safeguards and efforts to secure your information, no electronic transmission over the Internet or information storage technology can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security. We encourage you to use strong, unique passwords and to be cautious about sharing personal information online.

6. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information, including the right to access, correct, update, or request deletion of your personal information. You may also have the right to object to processing, request restriction of processing, or request portability of your personal information. If you wish to exercise any of these rights, please contact us at the information provided below. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe and in accordance with applicable law. You may opt out of receiving promotional communications from us by following the unsubscribe instructions in those messages or by contacting us directly.

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to track activity on our website and store certain information. Cookies are files with a small amount of data that may include an anonymous unique identifier. We use both session cookies (which expire when you close your browser) and persistent cookies (which remain on your device until deleted). We use cookies for website analytics (via Vercel Analytics), to remember your preferences, and to improve your browsing experience. You can instruct your browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent. However, if you do not accept cookies, some portions of our website may not function properly.

8. Third-Party Services

Our website may contain links to third-party websites and services that are not operated by us. If you click on a third-party link, you will be directed to that third party's site. We strongly advise you to review the privacy policy of every site you visit. We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites or services. Our website integrates with third-party services including Vercel for hosting and analytics, Supabase for data management, and Stripe for payment processing. These services have their own privacy policies governing their collection and use of information.

9. Children's Privacy

Our website and services are not directed to individuals under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, we will take steps to delete such information from our files. If you are a parent or guardian and you are aware that your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us so that we can take the necessary actions. Some educational programs operated by Seed Academy may serve individuals under 18, in which case parental or guardian consent is required for participation and data collection.

10. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as is necessary for the purposes set out in this Privacy Policy. We will retain and use your information to the extent necessary to comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our policies. When we no longer need your personal information, we will securely delete or anonymize it. Investor-related communications and financial records may be retained for longer periods as required by applicable securities laws and regulations.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Changes to this Privacy Policy are effective when they are posted on this page. Your continued use of our website and services after any modifications indicates your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

12. Contact Information

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at: