Privacy Policy

StrideCue ("we," "us," or "our") operates the StrideCue mobile application and Apple Watch companion app (collectively, the "Service"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information when you use our Service.

We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your data with transparency. Because StrideCue processes health, fitness, and biometric information, we hold ourselves to the highest standards of data stewardship.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Account and Profile Information

When you create an account, we collect your name, email address, and optional profile details such as age, gender, weight, and height. These help us personalize your training experience.

1.2 Health and Fitness Data

With your permission, we collect data from your Apple Watch and Apple HealthKit, including:

• Heart rate and heart rate variability
• Pace, cadence, and stride length
• Distance and route data
• Calories burned and active energy
• VO2 max estimates and workout metrics
• Recovery and sleep-related metrics (if shared)

This data may qualify as health data, biometric data, or other sensitive personal data under applicable law. We process this information only where we have a valid legal basis and, where required, an additional condition for processing sensitive data, such as your explicit consent.

1.3 Location Data

When you use GPS-based features, we collect precise location data to track your running routes and provide location-aware coaching. You can disable location sharing through your device settings at any time.

1.4 Weather Data (Apple WeatherKit)

For outdoor GPS workouts, we may use your current workout location to request current weather conditions from Apple Weather through WeatherKit. We attach a weather snapshot, such as temperature, humidity, wind, UV index, visibility, pressure, daylight status, cloud cover, and general condition, to your workout context for coaching and run analysis. StrideCue does not provide standalone weather forecasts or weather alerts. Use of WeatherKit is subject to Apple's applicable terms and privacy practices.

1.5 Usage and Device Data

We automatically collect device identifiers, operating system version, app version, session duration, feature usage patterns, crash logs, and performance data. This helps us maintain and improve the Service.

1.6 Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website and Service use cookies and similar technologies to collect usage data. These include:

• Analytics: we use Google Analytics and Vercel Analytics to understand how visitors interact with our website and Service. These tools collect information such as pages visited, session duration, referral sources, and general geographic location.
• Essential cookies: necessary for the Service to function, including authentication and session management.

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of the Service.

1.7 Waitlist and Pre-Launch Data

If you join our waitlist before the Service is publicly available, we collect your email address and any additional information you provide. We use this data to send you updates about the launch, early access invitations, and related communications. You may unsubscribe at any time using the link in our emails.

1.8 Third-Party Fitness Platforms

With your permission, we may receive data from connected third-party fitness platforms such as Strava, Garmin Connect, or similar services. This may include activity history, performance metrics, and profile information from those platforms. We only access data you explicitly authorize and use it solely to enhance your coaching experience within StrideCue.

1.9 Communications

If you contact us for support or provide feedback, we collect the content of those communications along with your contact information.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide, personalize, and improve the Service, including generating training plans, real-time voice coaching cues, and post-run analysis
• Process your biometric and health data in real time to deliver adaptive coaching through your AirPods
• Analyze your performance trends over time and adjust future workouts accordingly
• Communicate with you about your account, updates, and service-related announcements
• Maintain the security, integrity, and performance of the Service
• Comply with legal obligations and respond to lawful requests

3. AI Features and Model Use

StrideCue uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to provide personalized coaching recommendations, adaptive training plans, real-time performance feedback, and post-run analysis.

We use your personal data for these purposes only to the extent necessary to provide, secure, and improve the Service. Specifically:

• No third-party model training. We do not use your health data, biometric data, or precise location data to train general-purpose third-party AI models.
• Contractual safeguards. Where we use a third-party AI provider, we contractually require that provider to process your data only on our instructions, not retain it longer than necessary for the requested response, and not use it to train its own models.
• No automated decisions with legal effect. We do not use solely automated decision-making that produces legal or similarly significant effects on you.

4. Health Data Protections

We treat your health and fitness data with the highest level of care:

• We do not sell your health data to third parties, and we never will.
• We do not disclose your health data to third parties for their own advertising or marketing purposes.
• Health data is stored separately from marketing identifiers and advertising systems.
• Data accessed through Apple HealthKit is used solely to provide and improve health and fitness features within the Service, in accordance with Apple's HealthKit guidelines.

5. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information in the following limited circumstances:

5.1 Service Providers

We share data with trusted processors who assist us in operating the Service, such as cloud hosting, analytics, payment processing, and customer support providers. These providers are contractually obligated to use your data only as instructed and to maintain appropriate security.

5.2 Analytics

We use analytics tools to understand how the Service is used and to improve performance. Analytics data is aggregated or de-identified where possible.

5.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request, or to protect the rights, safety, or property of StrideCue, our users, or the public.

5.4 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred. We will notify you of any such change and any choices you may have regarding your information.

6. International Data Transfers

We may process your personal data in countries other than the country where you live. Where required by law, and especially for transfers from the EEA, UK, or Switzerland to countries that do not provide an adequate level of data protection, we rely on approved transfer mechanisms such as Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs), adequacy decisions, or another lawful safeguard.

We also implement supplementary technical and organizational measures where appropriate. You may request information about the safeguards relevant to your data by contacting our privacy team.

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the Service. Specific retention periods include:

• Account data: retained while your account is active and deleted within 30 days of account deletion, unless a longer period is required by law.
• Health and fitness data: retained while your account is active. Upon deletion, health data is purged from our active systems within 30 days and from backups within 90 days.
• Usage logs and analytics: retained in identifiable form for up to 12 months for security and performance purposes, then aggregated or deleted.
• Legal and compliance records: retained as required by applicable law.

8. Marketing Communications

We may send you emails about product updates, new features, and promotional offers related to the Service. You can opt out of marketing communications at any time by:

• Clicking the "unsubscribe" link in any marketing email.
• Updating your communication preferences in your account settings.
• Contacting us at support@articlecast.ai.

Opting out of marketing communications will not affect service-related messages, such as account notifications, security alerts, and transactional emails.

9. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:

9.1 General Rights

• Access: request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Correction: request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Deletion: request that we delete your personal data, subject to legal exceptions.
• Portability: request a machine-readable copy of your data.
• Withdrawal of consent: withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent, without affecting the lawfulness of prior processing.

9.2 EEA, UK, and Swiss Residents

Under the GDPR, our legal bases for processing include:

• Contract: to provide the Service you requested.
• Consent: for health and biometric data processing, and for optional features.
• Legitimate interests: to improve the Service, maintain security, and prevent fraud.
• Legal obligation: to comply with applicable laws.

You also have the right to object to processing, request restriction of processing, and lodge a complaint with your local supervisory authority.

9.3 California Residents

Under the CCPA/CPRA, California residents have additional rights:

• The right to know what personal information we collect, use, and disclose.
• The right to delete personal information we hold about you.
• The right to opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information. We do not sell your personal information.
• The right to limit the use of sensitive personal information to purposes necessary to provide the Service.
• The right to non-discrimination for exercising your rights.

9.4 Do Not Track and Global Privacy Control

We honor Global Privacy Control (GPC) signals. When we detect a GPC signal from your browser, we treat it as a valid opt-out request for the sale or sharing of personal information under the CCPA/CPRA. Some browsers also send Do Not Track (DNT) signals; however, there is no universally accepted standard for how websites should respond to DNT. We currently treat GPC signals as the operative privacy signal.

10. Security

We implement administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect your personal data. These include encryption of data in transit and at rest, access controls, regular security assessments, and incident response procedures. While no system is completely secure, we are committed to maintaining industry-standard protections appropriate to the sensitivity of the data we process.

In the event of a data breach affecting your personal or health information, we will notify you and any applicable regulatory authorities as required by law, including under the FTC Health Breach Notification Rule where applicable. We will provide notice without unreasonable delay, including a description of the breach and the steps we are taking in response.

11. Children's Privacy

The Service is not directed to children under 16 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16. If we learn that we have collected data from a child under 16 without parental consent, we will delete it promptly. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will notify you through the Service or by other means, such as email. We encourage you to review this page periodically. Your continued use of the Service after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your rights, please contact us: