Who We Are
KAIAK is operated by Benedict Rinne. We run two web properties:
- kaiak.io — blog, services, and resources
- academy.kaiak.io — online course platform
This policy covers both. If you have questions, email ben@kaiak.io.
What We Collect
When you visit the site
We use Vercel Analytics and Web Vitals for basic traffic data — page views, load times, and referral sources. This is aggregate data. We don't use cookies for tracking. We don't run Google Analytics.
When you subscribe to the newsletter
We collect your first name and email address through ConvertKit. ConvertKit stores this data on their servers under their privacy policy. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in any email.
When you create an academy account
On academy.kaiak.io, you can sign up with email/password or Google OAuth. We collect:
- Email address
- Display name (from Google, or what you provide)
- Course progress (which lessons you've completed)
- Quiz responses
Authentication is handled by Supabase. Your password is never stored in plain text. Google OAuth follows Google's standard consent flow — we receive your name and email, nothing else.
When you use the AI chat
Both kaiak.io and academy.kaiak.io include an AI chat assistant powered by Anthropic's Claude. Your messages are sent to Anthropic's API for processing. We do not store chat conversations. Anthropic's data handling is governed by their privacy policy.
Do not share sensitive personal information, student data, or confidential organizational data in the chat. It is not a secure communication channel.
When you make a purchase
Payments are processed by Stripe. We do not see or store your full card number. Stripe handles all payment data under their privacy policy. We receive a transaction record (amount, date, product purchased) for our records.
How We Use Your Data
- To provide the services you signed up for (courses, newsletter, resources)
- To track your course progress so you can pick up where you left off
- To send you the newsletter (only if you subscribed)
- To respond to your messages if you contact us
- To improve the site based on aggregate usage patterns
We don't sell your data. We don't share it with third parties for advertising. We don't build profiles for targeting.
Third-Party Services
We use the following services that process your data:
| Service | Purpose | Data Processed |
|---|---|---|
| Vercel | Hosting and analytics | Page views, performance data |
| Supabase | Authentication and database | Account data, course progress |
| Google OAuth | Sign-in option | Name, email (from your Google account) |
| ConvertKit | Newsletter | Name, email |
| Anthropic (Claude) | AI chat assistant | Chat messages (not stored by us) |
| Stripe | Payment processing | Payment details (handled by Stripe) |
Cookies
We use essential cookies only — session cookies for authentication on academy.kaiak.io and theme preference (dark/light mode). We don't use tracking cookies or third-party advertising cookies.
Your Rights
You can:
- Access your data — email us and we'll tell you what we have
- Delete your account — email us and we'll remove your academy account and all associated data
- Unsubscribe — click the link in any newsletter email
- Export your data — email us for a copy of your data
If you're in the EU, you have additional rights under GDPR including the right to rectification, restriction of processing, and the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority.
Data Retention
We keep your account data for as long as your account is active. Newsletter data is retained until you unsubscribe. If you request account deletion, we remove your data within 30 days.
Children
Our services are designed for adults — school leaders, educators, and professionals. We do not knowingly collect data from children under 16. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, contact us and we'll delete it.
Changes
We'll update this page if our practices change. The date at the top tells you when it was last revised.
Contact
Questions about your data? Email ben@kaiak.io.