Privacy Statement

Privacy Statement

This Privacy Policy applies to personal data collected, used, and stored by Cogneve, Inc., a Delaware corporation, doing business as The Next Web (“TNW”, “we”, “us”, or “our”).

We take your privacy seriously. This Privacy Policy explains what personal data we collect from or about you when you use our websites, platforms, services, and events (collectively, the “Services”), how we use and share that data, how we protect it, and the rights you have in relation to your personal data. For the purposes of applicable data protection laws, including the GDPR, Cogneve, Inc. acts as the data controller with respect to personal data processed through the Services.

Data Controller

For the purposes of applicable data protection laws, including the GDPR, Cogneve, Inc. acts as the data controllerwith respect to personal data processed through the Services.

Scope of This Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy applies to users of the following Services:

  • The Next Web website located at https://thenextweb.com and any related subdomains

  • TNW online and in-person events

  • Event-related websites and registration platforms

  • TNW accounts created for events, subscriptions, or community access

  • TNW communications, including newsletters and event updates

  • TNW social media channels, blogs, and online communities

  • Any other services operated or branded by The Next Web

What is personal data?

“Personal data” means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person. This includes information such as your name, email address, telephone number, postal address, IP address, online identifiers, and other information that can reasonably be linked to you.

What Personal Data We Collect?

Information You Provide Directly

We collect personal data that you voluntarily provide when you use our Services. This may include:

  • Name, email address, username, and telephone number

  • Date of birth where required for specific Services

  • Account credentials and profile information

  • User-generated content, posts, comments, or submissions

  • Event registration details

  • Newsletter sign-ups and communication preferences

  • Any other information you choose to provide

When you create a TNW account, we may use device identifiers, cookies, or similar technologies to associate devices or sessions with your account.

Information Collected Automatically

We use cookies and similar technologies to collect information about how you interact with our websites and Services. This may include:

  • Browser type and device information

  • Pages viewed and links clicked

  • IP address and approximate location

  • Referring URLs

  • Interaction with content and features

For more details, please see our Cookie Policy.

Social Sign-On Information

If you choose to register or log in using a third-party service such as Google or LinkedIn, we may receive limited profile information from that service, such as your name, email address, and profile image, in accordance with your settings and their privacy policies.

Event and Attendee Information

For TNW events, we may collect and process attendee information, including:

  • Registration and ticketing information

  • Profile details shared through third-party event networking tools

  • QR code interactions and contact exchanges initiated by you

  • Preferences and engagement during events

Sharing of attendee information with other attendees, partners, or sponsors occurs only based on your actions or settings within the relevant event tools. Consent may be withdrawn at any time through those tools.

Information from Other Sources

Where permitted by law, we may receive personal data from third parties, including social media platforms, public databases, analytics providers, or marketing partners. This may include contact details, professional information, interests, and aggregated demographic data. Processing may be based on consent or legitimate business interests.

How We Use Your Personal Data

We process personal data based on one or more of the following legal grounds:

  • To perform a contract or provide requested Services

  • To comply with legal obligations

  • Based on our legitimate business interests, balanced against your rights

  • Based on your consent, which may be withdrawn at any time

We may use your personal data to:

  • Provide, operate, and maintain our Services and events

  • Manage registrations, accounts, and subscriptions

  • Facilitate event participation and networking

  • Communicate updates, content, offers, and announcements

  • Send invoices and process payments

  • Respond to inquiries and support requests

  • Improve and personalize user experience

  • Conduct analytics, research, and reporting

  • Deliver customized content or advertising where permitted

  • Prevent fraud, abuse, and security incidents

  • Comply with legal and regulatory obligations

  • Develop new services and improve existing ones

Automated Decision-Making

We do not engage in automated decision-making or profiling that produces legal or similarly significant effects on individuals within the meaning of applicable data protection laws.

Sharing of Personal Data

We may share personal data with:

  • Affiliates and related entities acting on our behalf

  • Service providers and vendors under contractual confidentiality obligations

  • Event partners, speakers, sponsors, or other attendees, where applicable and based on your actions

  • Third-party platforms used for communications, analytics, or event management

  • Legal authorities where required by law or to protect rights, safety, or security

  • A buyer or successor in the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets

We may also share aggregated or anonymized information that does not identify individuals.

International Data Transfers

We operate a global business. Your personal data may be processed outside your country of residence, including outside the European Economic Area. Where required, we implement appropriate safeguards, such as standard contractual clauses, to protect personal data transferred internationally.

Children’s Privacy

Our Services are not intended for individuals under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe that a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us so that we can take appropriate action.

Marketing Communications

If you opt in to receive marketing communications, we may send you information about our Services, content, or events. You may unsubscribe at any time using the link included in our emails or by contacting us directly.

Data Security and Retention

We implement technical and organizational security measures designed to protect personal data against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, or alteration. These measures are reviewed and updated regularly.

We retain personal data only for as long as necessary for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy or as required by law. Where appropriate, data is anonymized, pseudonymized, or deleted.

Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the right to:

  • Access your personal data

  • Correct or update inaccurate personal data

  • Request deletion or restriction of processing

  • Object to certain processing activities

  • Request data portability

  • Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent

GDPR / UK GDPR

If you are located in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or Switzerland, you have certain rights under applicable data protection laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the UK GDPR.

These rights may include:

  • The right to request access to the personal data we hold about you

  • The right to request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal data

  • The right to request deletion of your personal data, subject to legal and contractual limitations

  • The right to request restriction of processing of your personal data

  • The right to object to processing based on legitimate interests or for direct marketing purposes

  • The right to request portability of personal data you have provided to us, where applicable

  • The right to withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details provided in the Contact Us section of this Privacy Policy. We may request additional information to verify your identity before responding to your request.

Exercising your rights will not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before your request or withdrawal of consent.

California Privacy Rights

If you are a resident of California, you may have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA). These rights may include the right to request access to, correction of, or deletion of personal information, and to opt out of certain processing activities where applicable.

Requests can be submitted by email to contact@tekpon.com.

Do Not Track Signals

The Platform does not currently respond to browser “Do Not Track” signals, as there is no consistent industry standard for interpreting such signals.

Complaints and Supervisory Authorities

If you have any questions, concerns, or complaints about this Privacy Policy or about how we process personal data, we encourage you to contact us first so that we can attempt to resolve the matter directly.

Email: contact@tekpon.com

Cogneve, Inc.
2093 Philadelphia Pike
#4977
Claymont, DE 19703
United States

If you are located in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or Switzerland, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with a competent data protection supervisory authority in your country of residence, place of work, or where an alleged infringement of applicable data protection law has occurred.

If you are located in the United States or another jurisdiction outside the EEA, there is no single national data protection authority equivalent to those in the European Union. Privacy-related complaints may be addressed directly to us using the contact details above. Where applicable, you may also raise concerns with relevant state or federal authorities responsible for consumer protection or data privacy enforcement.

Third-Party Websites

Our Services may contain links to third-party websites or embedded content. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those third parties. This Privacy Policy applies only to personal data collected through our Services.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be communicated where required by law. Continued use of our Services after updates become effective constitutes acceptance of the revised Privacy Policy.

Contact Us

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

Email: contact@tekpon.com

Cogneve, Inc.
2093 Philadelphia Pike
#4977
Claymont, DE 19703
United States