Privacy policy

Effective date: September 9, 2026 · Last updated: September 9, 2026

This privacy policy explains how Found Matcha L.L.C. (“Found Matcha,” “we,” “us”) collects, uses and shares information when you use our websites at foundmatcha.org and foundmatcha.app, the Matcha Match application (web or mobile), and related services (together, the “Services”). It applies to consumers, business users and visitors.

1. Information we collect

Information you give us

• Account and contact details: name, email address, phone number, password (stored hashed), language, country and currency preferences.
• Waitlist sign-ups: email address and, optionally, your role (drinker, café, producer, retailer).
• Profile and activity: matcha you save or own, preparation logs, tasting notes, evaluations, ratings, reviews, comments, photos you upload, and preferences you state.
• Commerce details: shipping addresses, order history, gift details (including a recipient's email or phone if you send a gift). Payment card details are collected and processed by our payment processor; we do not store full card numbers.
• Business information: for producers, brands, cafés and other organizations: company name, registration details, tax identifiers where required, team members, product and provenance data, and documents you submit for verification.
• Communications: messages you send to us or to other users through the Services.

Information collected automatically

• Device and browser type, operating system, app version, IP address, approximate location derived from IP, time zone.
• Usage data: pages and screens viewed, searches, features used, crash reports and diagnostics.
• Cookies and similar technologies (see section 7).

Information from others

• Sellers and producers supply product and provenance information that appears in our catalog.
• If you sign in using a third-party service (for example Apple or Google), we receive the profile details that service shares with us based on your settings.
• Payment, shipping and fraud-prevention partners may share transaction status with us.

2. How we use information

• Provide, operate and improve the Services, including the catalog, marketplace, gifting, subscriptions, education and evaluation features.
• Process orders, payments, refunds and payouts, and communicate about them.
• Personalize recommendations (“find your matcha”) based on your opted-in activity such as ratings, evaluations, saves and purchases.
• Send service messages, waitlist and launch updates, and, with your consent where required, marketing you can opt out of at any time.
• Verify businesses and content contributors, maintain catalog integrity, and detect and prevent fraud, abuse and duplicate records.
• Produce aggregated, de-identified statistics such as community sensory summaries. These never identify you.
• Comply with legal obligations and enforce our terms.

3. How we share information

• Sellers and fulfillment partners: the details needed to fulfil your order (name, shipping address, items). A seller sees only its own suborder, not your history with other sellers.
• Service providers: hosting, payments, email delivery, analytics, customer support and shipping, bound by contract to use data only on our behalf.
• Other users: content you choose to make public (for example a shared preparation session or review) is visible to others. Your private tasting history, evaluations and palate profile are not shown to other users, sellers or gift senders. If a friend uses “choose for my friend,” they receive recommendations, not your data.
• Legal: when required by law, legal process, or to protect the rights, safety and property of users, the public or Found Matcha.
• Business transfers: in connection with a merger, acquisition or sale of assets, subject to this policy.

We do not sell your personal information, and we do not share it with third parties for their own advertising.

4. Your choices and rights

• Access, correction, deletion: email support@foundmatcha.app or use account settings once available. We respond within 30 days.
• Marketing: unsubscribe using the link in any email.
• Visibility: you control whether your profile, collection, sessions and evaluations are private, shared or public.
• Recommendations: you can opt out of personalization in settings once available.
• Regional rights: residents of the EEA, UK, California and other jurisdictions may have additional rights, including data portability and the right to object or lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority. We honor these requests regardless of where you live.

5. Data retention

We keep personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the Services. After deletion, we retain records that the law requires us to keep (such as transaction and tax records) and de-identified data used in aggregate statistics. Waitlist emails are deleted or converted to an account at launch, or on request.

6. Security

We use industry-standard safeguards including encryption in transit, hashed passwords, role-based access, audit logging for sensitive operations and secure gift-claim tokens. No system is perfectly secure; report concerns to support@foundmatcha.app.

7. Cookies and analytics

We use strictly necessary cookies to keep you signed in and to secure the Services. With your consent where required, we use analytics to understand how the Services are used. You can control cookies in your browser. We honor Global Privacy Control signals where applicable.

8. Children

The Services are not directed to children under 13 (or the applicable age in your jurisdiction) and we do not knowingly collect their personal information. If you believe a child has provided us data, contact us and we will delete it.

9. International transfers

We are based in the United States and work with producers and sellers worldwide. Your information may be processed in countries other than your own. Where required, we use appropriate safeguards such as standard contractual clauses.

10. Mobile app disclosures

If you install the Matcha Match app from the Apple App Store or Google Play, the app may request permission to use your camera (to photograph tea or scan a café code), photo library (to attach images to logs) and notifications (order, gift and club updates). Each permission is optional and can be changed in your device settings. We do not access contacts or precise location without asking first, and we do not use device identifiers for cross-app tracking.

11. Changes

We will post updates here and change the date above. For material changes we will notify you by email or in the app.

12. Contact

Found Matcha L.L.C.
support@foundmatcha.app