Last updated: May 28, 2026
This Cookie Policy explains how Startups Map ("we", "us", "our") uses cookies and similar tracking technologies on startupsmap.xyz and our related services. It describes what cookies are, the types we use, why we use them, and how you can manage or opt out of them.
Cookies are small text files placed on your device (computer, smartphone, or tablet) by websites you visit. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently, to remember your preferences, and to provide information to website owners about how their sites are used.
Cookies can be "session cookies" (which are deleted when you close your browser) or "persistent cookies" (which remain on your device until they expire or you delete them). They can be set by the website you are visiting ("first-party cookies") or by third-party services integrated into that website ("third-party cookies").
In addition to traditional cookies, we may also use similar technologies such as:
We categorise the cookies and similar technologies we use as follows:
These cookies are essential for the platform to function and cannot be disabled. They enable core functionality such as authentication, session management, security features, and accessing secure areas of the website. Without these cookies, services you have requested cannot be provided.
Examples
auth-token / session
Maintains your login session so you don't need to sign in on every page.
csrf-token
Prevents Cross-Site Request Forgery attacks by validating form submissions.
workos-session
Manages authentication state via WorkOS for enterprise sign-in.
supabase-auth-token
Stores your Supabase authentication token to maintain database session.
These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make (such as your preferred language, theme settings, or saved filters) and provide enhanced, personalised features. They may be set by us or by third-party providers whose services we have added to our pages.
Examples
user-preferences
Remembers UI preferences such as map zoom level, saved filter states, and onboarding completion.
mapbox-session
Used by Mapbox GL JS to manage map tile caching and session state for the interactive startup map.
These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our Services by collecting and reporting information anonymously or in aggregate. This helps us improve the platform's performance, fix bugs, and understand which features are most valuable. We do not use these cookies to track you across other websites.
Examples
analytics-session-id
A randomly generated identifier used to track a user session for analytics purposes without identifying you personally.
page-view-counter
Records which pages and features are most frequently used to guide product development.
These cookies are set by our payment processor, Stripe, to enable secure payment processing, prevent fraud, and manage your billing session. These cookies are necessary when you access any paid features or billing-related pages.
Examples
__stripe_mid
Set by Stripe for fraud prevention and risk assessment. Identifies your device across sessions to detect unusual payment activity.
__stripe_sid
Set by Stripe to maintain your payment session during the checkout process.
stripe-checkout-session
Tracks the state of an active checkout session to allow resumption if interrupted.
Currently, Startups Map does not use marketing or advertising cookies. We do not serve third-party advertisements on our platform, and we do not share data with advertising networks or data brokers. If this changes in the future, we will update this policy and obtain your explicit consent before placing any marketing cookies.
Some cookies on our platform are placed by third-party services that we integrate with. Here is a detailed breakdown:
We use Mapbox to power the interactive startup map on our homepage and profile pages. Mapbox may set cookies and use local storage to cache map tiles, improve rendering performance, and maintain session state. Mapbox's own privacy policy governs their data practices: mapbox.com/legal/privacy.
We use Stripe as our payment processor. Stripe sets cookies for fraud prevention and to manage payment sessions. These cookies are only active when you interact with payment-related features. Stripe's privacy policy is available at: stripe.com/privacy.
We use Supabase for our backend infrastructure, including authentication. Supabase may set cookies and local storage items to maintain your authenticated session. Supabase's privacy policy is available at: supabase.com/privacy.
We use WorkOS for enterprise-grade authentication. WorkOS may set cookies to manage the authentication flow and session state. WorkOS's privacy policy is available at: workos.com/privacy-policy.
Depending on your location, we may ask for your consent before placing certain categories of cookies (specifically functional, analytics, and marketing cookies). Strictly necessary cookies are placed without your consent as they are required for the platform to operate.
You have several options to control cookies:
All major browsers allow you to manage cookies through your browser settings. You can typically:
Instructions for managing cookies in common browsers:
Please note that blocking or deleting cookies may affect the functionality of our Services. In particular, blocking strictly necessary cookies will prevent you from logging in to your account.
If we use third-party analytics services in the future, you will be able to opt out via those services' opt-out mechanisms. We will update this policy to include specific opt-out links if and when third-party analytics are introduced.
Some browsers include a "Do Not Track" (DNT) feature that sends a signal to websites requesting that your browsing is not tracked. There is no standardised response to DNT signals, and we do not currently change our data practices in response to DNT signals. However, we remain committed to minimising unnecessary tracking.
The following table provides an overview of cookie lifespans on our platform:
| Category | Typical Duration | Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Strictly Necessary | Session – 30 days | Yes |
| Functional / Preference | Up to 12 months | No |
| Analytics & Performance | Up to 12 months | No |
| Payment & Commerce | Session – 1 year | When paying |
| Marketing & Targeting | N/A | N/A (not used) |
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in the cookies we use, the purposes for which we use them, or applicable laws. When we make material changes, we will notify you by updating the "Last updated" date at the top of this page and, where appropriate, by email or in-app notification. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.
If you have any questions about our use of cookies or this Cookie Policy, please contact us: