PART 1: PRIVACY POLICY
Who We Are
The Refinery Collective is a social impact initiative owned and operated by Hortiki Plants LLC, based in Washington, DC, USA. We operate globally and aim to protect your personal data in line with strong privacy standards, including Singapore’s Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) and GDPR-style principles. Questions about privacy can be sent to info@refinerycollective.co.
Information We Collect & How We Use It
We collect only what we need to run The Refinery Collective safely and effectively. Here is how that works in practice:
Waitlists and inquiries: When you join a waitlist or contact us through our help forms, we collect details such as your name, email address, and any information you choose to include in your message. We use this to respond to you, manage enrollment interest, and send related updates. Waitlist and support records are stored in our databases and may also sync to our email provider so we can communicate with you.
Membership accounts: If you create or use a member account, we collect account information such as your email address, login session details, and profile or activity data you provide inside the member portal. We use this to authenticate you, deliver the curriculum and community features, track progress where the product requires it, and keep the platform secure.
Optional member communications channels: Inside the member portal, you can choose how cadence cues reach you. Depending on what you enable, that may include email preferences, browser or installed-app push notification subscriptions, calendar subscribe links, optional phone-tap (haptic) settings stored on your device, and an optional Telegram members-channel invite. Push subscription details are stored so we can deliver the cues you opted into. Telegram membership is handled on Telegram’s platform after you accept an invite.
Payments: Paid membership and related purchases are processed by Stripe. Payment card details are handled by Stripe. We receive billing-related information needed to confirm your membership status (such as email and payment status), but we do not store your full card number on our servers.
Community Scholarship Contributions: At checkout, you may optionally add a Community Scholarship Contribution (for example $5 or $10, one-time or recurring) to support expanded scholarship access. These amounts are processed by Stripe with your membership purchase. We may retain records of contribution amounts and frequency for impact reporting and operations.
Identity and age verification: When membership enrollment requires identity or age checks, we may use secure third-party identity processors (such as Stripe Identity). In those cases, government ID or biometric selfie data is captured and processed inside that provider’s system. Hortiki Plants LLC does not store your biometric data or ID documents on our servers. Retention and deletion follow the provider’s policies and applicable law.
Optional media and coaching tools: Some features may let you upload photos, audio, or written practice responses for coaching feedback (for example, style reviews or roleplay exercises). If you use those features, that content is stored as needed to provide the service and may be sent to trusted processors (such as AI analysis providers) solely to generate feedback. You control whether you use these optional tools.
Mailing address: If you provide a shipping or delivery address in orientation or Account settings, we store it to send occasional physical member mailings. This address is separate from your Stripe billing address and is not used to calculate checkout tax. You can update or clear it anytime in Account settings. While Away / vacation mode is on, we hold physical mailings along with pausing reward earning.
Community sharing: If you share photos, voice notes, written posts, questions, or other personal content in our private member community spaces, you do so voluntarily. You are responsible for what you choose to share. You can remove content you uploaded where the product allows it, or request help deleting content by emailing info@refinerycollective.co.
Member responses stored for The Refinery (Practice, Reflect, Q&A, journals, Lab, Connect): When you use member features that save responses—such as Practice notes or voice, Reflect answers, Bonfire or Reflect questions, Connect posts and replies, Lab or coaching submissions, attendance check-ins, or short session “what landed” reflections—we store that content in our databases and link it to your membership account (typically your email). Authorized Refinery operators (founders and trusted staff with admin access) can review those records to run the program: select questions, moderate safety, coach, improve the curriculum, and support you. Features labeled private or personal in the product usually mean other members do not see that content in the shared room—not that it is invisible to The Refinery.
“Submit anonymously” / “Post anonymously”: Choosing anonymous display hides your name, signet, or similar identity cues from other members in the shared feed or question list. It does not make you anonymous to The Refinery. We still store the submission with your account so staff can moderate, answer, or operate the service. Do not treat anonymous posting as a way to hide content from operators.
Coaching profiles and physical-program intake: As you move into deeper coaching or in-person experiences, we may ask for lifestyle and physical-baseline information (such as grooming, fitness, or home routines). This is used to personalize audits and action plans. You may request deletion of this profile data at any time.
Anonymized research: Because our frameworks are science-based, we may aggregate and anonymize responses, usage patterns, and outcome metrics for internal research, product improvement, industry education, and marketing. Anonymized data is not used to identify you personally.
Analytics and advertising measurement: We use Google Analytics (GA4), the Reddit Pixel, and the Meta Pixel (Facebook/Instagram) to understand how visitors use our site, measure ads, and improve onboarding. These tools collect browsing data such as pages viewed and general device or traffic information. We use a consent banner so analytics and advertising storage stay denied until you accept cookies. You can decline and still use the site. Your choice is stored in your browser so we remember it on return visits.
Location for pricing: We may show a location-based pricing estimate on public pages. At enroll you enter the billing country that matches your payment method; that sets your first membership rate. Ongoing renewals may be aligned to the billing country Stripe has on file. Using a VPN or location spoofing to obtain a lower pricing tier is addressed in our Terms.
How We Contact You (Email, App Notifications, Telegram, Calendar)
Members control most cadence contact settings in the member portal under Preferences and Notifications (your Membership Home). Those preferences are meant to match how The Refinery actually reaches you:
- Email: We may send membership and operations email (for example a Monday plan for the current cycle, login links, and important account notices). In Preferences you can choose which cadence cues you want reflected in your email rhythm. Separate marketing or waitlist email is covered below. Use the unsubscribe link in marketing emails, or write to info@refinerycollective.co, to stop marketing mail.
- App / browser notifications (Web Push): If you enable app notifications (often after adding The Refinery to your Home Screen), we may send short cadence pings for the cues you selected—such as Digest live, Radio about to start, Connect day, team answers, optional question deadlines, and similar. You can turn push off or change which cues are included anytime in Preferences. Turning off push in Preferences or in your device/browser settings stops those pings.
- Phone taps (haptics): Optional light vibration for selected cues is a device preference stored on your phone or browser. It does not send a message through a third-party messaging network.
- Telegram: Joining the members Telegram channel is optional. If you open the invite from Preferences or orientation, Telegram processes your Telegram account under Telegram’s own terms and privacy policy. Soft cycle cues or live-moment pings in that channel are for members who chose to join. Leave the channel in Telegram anytime to stop those messages.
- Calendar: You may subscribe to a personal calendar feed of soft stage dates (and Radio’s timed window). That feed helps you set your own alerts in your calendar app; it is not a third-party marketing list.
Transactional messages needed to run your account (such as login magic links, billing receipts from Stripe, or security notices) may still be sent even when optional cadence channels are off.
Email Communications vs. Membership Status
When you join our waitlist or become a member, you agree we may email you about products, services, and community updates. Canceling a paid membership does not automatically remove you from marketing emails. To stop marketing emails, use the unsubscribe link in those emails or request deletion by writing to info@refinerycollective.co.
Our Promise on Data Sharing & Vendor Partnerships
We will never sell your personal information. We do not share your contact details for unrelated third-party marketing. We only share data with service providers who help us operate The Refinery (such as hosting, email, payments, analytics, identity verification, and—if you opt in—push delivery or Telegram for the members channel), and only as needed for those services. If you book a specialized vendor service through our platform (for example, styling or grooming), we will ask your permission before sending relevant profile details to that provider.
Your Global Rights
You can ask to access, correct, or delete your personal data. Email info@refinerycollective.co and we will respond in line with applicable privacy laws.
International Data Transfers & Security
Our community is global. Primary infrastructure runs on Cloudflare and related cloud services, with operations connected to the United States. By using this platform, you understand your information may be processed in the U.S. and other countries where our providers operate. We use reputable vendors (including Cloudflare, Stripe, Brevo, Google, and—if you choose Telegram—Telegram) and industry-standard protections, but no internet transmission is 100% secure.
PART 2: TERMS OF USE
Content & Ecosystem Ownership
All content within The Refinery Collective—including The Refinery Protocol™ frameworks, The Progressive Refinement Method™, curriculum, tools, reports, and website copy—is owned by Hortiki Plants LLC and protected by copyright. You may not reproduce, share, or create derivative works from our curriculum outside our private member areas without written permission.
The Digital Discretion & Non-Disparagement Agreement
To keep a safe space for practice and honesty, we host private community features such as listening rooms, reviews, and member discussions. Screenshotting, recording, revealing another member’s real-world identity, or sharing private member content—including profiles, audio, images, or likeness—outside our private member areas is a serious breach of these Terms. It can lead to immediate termination and possible legal liability.
Code of Conduct, Community Integrity & Membership License
Access to The Refinery Collective is a revocable privilege, not a permanent right. Approved members receive a limited license to participate in our digital features and physical events.
Optional communications: Members may enable or disable optional cadence channels (email cue preferences, app notifications, calendar subscribe, and Telegram) in Preferences and Notifications. Using those channels is subject to this Privacy Policy and, for Telegram, Telegram’s own terms.
Our Standard of Kindness: The Refinery is built for positive community support. We enforce a clear Standard of Kindness.
Zero Tolerance for Toxicity: Hostility, harassment, unsafe dating behavior, or breaking our community rules is not allowed.
Right of Revocation & Account Exit: We may cancel and terminate the membership of anyone who fails to uphold these standards. When your membership ends for any reason, your access to private member areas and community features is removed.
Revocation of "Refined" Status for Off-Platform Circumvention
"Refinery Credits" and matchmaking access are privileges tied to protocol compliance. Trying to bypass safety steps (such as pushing for off-platform contact before you are authorized) or failing to show up for scheduled curated dates ("ghosting") violates this agreement. That behavior may lead to loss of refined status and removal from the matchmaking pool.
Geographic Pricing and Integrity of Billing
The Refinery Collective uses regional pricing so more people can access the curriculum while we keep the ecosystem sustainable.
VPN and location spoofing: Using a VPN, proxy, or other location spoofing to obtain a lower membership pricing tier is a violation of these Terms. If we detect this, we may adjust your ongoing renewal rate to the rate for the billing country on your payment method (with notice), and/or terminate your membership without refund.
Community Scholarship Contributions (Not Tax-Deductible)
The Refinery Collective is operated by Hortiki Plants LLC, a for-profit company. Optional Community Scholarship Contributions offered at checkout are community contributions toward subsidized membership access, not charitable donations. They are ordinary business revenue associated with membership purchases.
Not tax-deductible: Community Scholarship Contributions are not tax-deductible charitable gifts. We do not issue charitable donation receipts. Our “match” is an in-kind subsidy of platform access (margin we choose to absorb), not a cash transfer into a separate charitable fund. Scholarship awards are discretionary and subject to application review; contributions do not purchase a specific named seat for a specific person.
Self-Directed Exercises & Personal Safety
Our curriculum includes general suggestions to practice social skills in the real world (for example, starting conversations or exploring new hobbies). We do not require specific locations or track your physical whereabouts. These are educational suggestions. You are responsible for your own safety and judgment when you leave home. Choose safe, public settings you are comfortable with. Hortiki Plants LLC is not liable for incidents, injuries, or disputes that happen during your self-directed real-world practice.
Real-World Conduct and Respecting Boundaries
The Refinery helps you build confidence and healthier social habits. When you interact with people in the real world, you must show respect and emotional intelligence. Read social cues and accept rejection gracefully. Do not force engagement, harass anyone, or make others uncomfortable. If someone shows they are not interested, stop and leave them alone. We are not liable for your offline behavior, but reports of harassment or toxic conduct off-platform can lead to immediate membership revocation.
Physical Dates & Third-Party Vendor Liability
As part of matchmaking milestones, we may arrange introductions and activity dates at partner locations. Hortiki Plants LLC is not liable for conduct, safety, or injuries during in-person dates, community outings, or visits to third-party venues.
Medical Disclaimer & Limitation of Liability
The frameworks and coaching in The Refinery Collective are educational tools for social connection.
Not Medical Advice: We are not licensed therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, or medical professionals. Our content is not medical or psychological advice.
Seek Professional Help: If you need support for your mental or emotional health, please talk with a qualified licensed professional. In an emergency, contact local emergency services right away.
Assumption of Risk: Hortiki Plants LLC is not liable for personal, relational, mental, emotional, or financial damages arising from your participation. You are responsible for your own social and romantic decisions and use our information at your own choice and risk.
Background Check Disclaimer & Definition of "Vetting"
We may use moderation, community standards review, and third-party identity tools to build a high-character community. Hortiki Plants LLC does not run formal state or federal criminal background checks on members. "Vetting" means assessing alignment with our standards and protocols. It does not guarantee absolute physical or emotional safety. You are responsible for taking sensible safety precautions with other members online and in person.
No Guarantee of Results
The Refinery Collective provides education, coaching, and curated matchmaking opportunities. Human connection is subjective. We do not guarantee success, a specific number of matches, or a long-term romantic relationship or friendship.
Indemnification
By participating in The Refinery Collective, you agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Hortiki Plants LLC, its founders, employees, coaches, and vendor partners from claims, damages, losses, and expenses (including attorney fees) connected to your violation of these Terms, your violation of third-party rights, or your offline conduct with members or vendors.
Maximum Financial Liability Cap
To the fullest extent allowed by law, Hortiki Plants LLC’s total liability for claims related to these Terms or your use of The Refinery Collective will not exceed what you paid us for membership in the twelve (12) months before the event that caused the claim.