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    Privacy Policy

    Last Updated: October 1, 2025

    This Privacy Policy (“Policy”) explains how AxelResearch, LLC (“AxelResearch,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, discloses, and safeguards personal information in connection with our website at www.axelresearch.org and related services. By using our website or engaging with our services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to this Policy, as well as our Terms of Use and Expert Terms & Conditions, which are incorporated by reference.

    If you do not agree, please refrain from using our services.

    A. Scope

    This Policy applies to the information collected through:

    • Websites: www.axelresearch.org and any subdomains displaying this Policy.

    • Outreach and business development activities: including cold emails, messages, and professional contact within the United States.

    • Communications: including email, text, or other electronic channels.

    • Professional services: such as expert interviews, consultations, or research engagements (“Client Services”).

         California Consumer Privacy Act. If you are a California resident, please review our Privacy Notice for California Residents. Additional privacy information for California residents below, for important information about how we collect, use and disclose personal information about California residents and your rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act.

          Not in scope.  This Policy does not apply to personal information collected from employees, contractors, or job applicants, nor to aggregated or anonymized data. Our Services are not directed to children under 18, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from such individuals. If we learn that we have collected such information, we will delete it.

    B. Information We Collect

      1. Categories of Personal Information

      Depending on your interactions with AxelResearch, we may collect:

    • Identifier Data: name, company, professional title, or position.

    • Contact Data: email address, telephone number, or other contact details.

    • Profile Data: professional background, qualifications, areas of expertise, and content submitted through forms or communications.

    • Discussion & Interview Data: audio or video recordings, transcripts, notes, and responses from research discussions or expert interviews, collected only with explicit consent.

    • Due Diligence & Screening Data: publicly available information or data collected to support conflict screening, eligibility checks, and compliance with “Know Your Customer” obligations.

    • Payment Information: limited details required to process expert honoraria or other payments (AxelResearch does not store bank or card data; payments are handled by secure third-party providers).

    • Technical & Usage Data: IP address, device information, browser type, and clickstream data collected via cookies or similar technologies.

    • Aggregated & De-identified Data: anonymized usage or statistical data that cannot identify an individual.

      Sensitive Data: AxelResearch does not seek to collect sensitive personal information. If you voluntarily provide such information (for example, in a discussion), we process it only with explicit consent and apply heightened safeguards.

      2. Sources of Personal Information

      We collect personal information:

    • Directly from you: through forms, emails, interviews, or other communications.

    • Automatically: via cookies, web beacons, log files, and similar technologies when you access the Website.

    • From third parties: including professional networks, referral sources, and vendors such as payment processors or transcription providers.

      3. Cookies and Similar Technologies

      We use cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies to help operate our Website, measure effectiveness, and improve user experience. You can control cookies through your browser settings; disabling them may limit certain features. Third parties may also use automated technologies in connection with our Website or communications. Their practices are governed by their own privacy policies.

    Questions or opt-out requests regarding cookies may be sent to privacy@axelresearch.org.

    C. How We Use Personal Information

    We use personal information for the following purposes:

    • Provide and support Services: including scheduling, coordinating, and fulfilling expert interviews or research engagements.

    • Respond to inquiries and provide support or account assistance.

    • Personalize content and improve Website functionality.

    • Conduct analytics to evaluate performance and enhance services.

    • Ensure compliance and prevent misuse, including identity verification and conflict screening.

    • Comply with legal obligations and respond to lawful requests.

    • Support business operations and transactions, such as audits, reorganizations, or acquisitions.

    We do not sell personal information and do not share data for cross-context behavioral advertising.

    D. How We Disclose Personal Information

    We may share personal information with:

    • Affiliates: within the AxelResearch group for operational purposes.

    • Service Providers: including payment processors, reward fulfillment vendors, transcription providers, hosting, and analytics partners, each under confidentiality obligations.

    • Clients and Experts: only when required to coordinate engagements, typically in anonymized form unless you expressly consent to sharing identifiable details.

    • Professional Advisors: such as attorneys, accountants, or auditors.

    • Regulators and Authorities: to comply with applicable laws, subpoenas, or investigations.

    • Business Successors: in the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets.

    We do not disclose personal information to third parties for their independent marketing use.

    E. Confidentiality, Recordings, and Anonymization

    All research interviews, consultations, and expert discussions facilitated by AxelResearch are treated as confidential.

    • Recordings: are made only with explicit consent and used solely for approved purposes, such as transcription or anonymized analysis.

    • Sensitive Data: processed only with consent and safeguarded through restricted access and pseudonymization.

    • Anonymization: personal identifiers (e.g., names, job titles) are removed before use in aggregate or analytical reports, unless you explicitly consent to attribution.

    F. Data Security

    We implement technical and organizational measures designed to protect personal information from accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorized access, or disclosure.

    Because the internet is not completely secure, transmission of data to or from our Website is at your own risk.

    G. Data Retention

    We retain personal information only for as long as necessary for the purposes described in this Policy, or as required by law. This may include:

    • For as long as we maintain an ongoing relationship with you or your organization;

    • For compliance, audit, or reporting obligations; or

    • For a reasonable period to resolve disputes or enforce agreements.

    Once no longer needed, we securely delete, destroy, or de-identify personal information.

    H. Direct Marketing

    We may send periodic emails or messages about AxelResearch services, projects, or updates that may interest you. Where required by law, we will obtain your consent before sending such communications.

    You may opt out of marketing or promotional emails at any time by following the unsubscribe link in any email or by contacting privacy@axelresearch.org.

    If you opt out of marketing messages, we may still send you non-promotional communications related to your account, payments, or research participation (e.g., confirmations, receipts, or policy updates).

    I. Privacy Choices

    If you would like to review, update, or delete the personal information we have collected about you—or exercise your rights under applicable privacy laws—please contact privacy@axelresearch.org.

    You may also:

    • Opt out of marketing emails using the unsubscribe link in our communications or by emailing us directly.

    • Manage cookies through your browser settings (please note, some functionality may be affected if cookies are disabled).

    California residents should review the Privacy Notice for California Residents below for information about additional rights.

    J. Children’s Privacy

    Our Services are not directed to, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from, individuals under 18 years of age. If you believe we have collected such information, please contact privacy@axelresearch.org, and we will delete it promptly.

    K. Data Security Incident Notification

    In the event of a security breach involving unauthorized access to personal information, AxelResearch will notify affected individuals and relevant authorities in accordance with applicable U.S. law, including state-specific breach notification requirements.

    L. Contact Information

    For questions about this Privacy Policy or to exercise your privacy choices, please contact: privacy@axelresearch.org

    Privacy Notice for California Residents

    A. This Notice

    This Privacy Notice for California Residents (“CCPA Notice”) supplements, and should be read together with, that certain AxelResearch Privacy Policy above.

    This Notice describes how AxelResearch, LLC and its affiliates (collectively, “AxelResearch,” “Company,” “we,” or “us”) collect, use, disclose, and retain personal information about California residents.

    The California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (CCPA), as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act of 2020 (CPRA), requires us to provide this Notice describing our practices regarding the collection, use, sale, sharing, and retention of personal information, as well as the rights that California residents have regarding their personal information. Any terms defined in the CCPA have the same meaning when used in this Notice. This Notice does not apply to employment-related personal information collected from California-based employees, job applicants, contractors, or similar individuals.

    B. Information We Collect

    We collect information that identifies, relates to, describes, references, is reasonably capable of being associated with, or could reasonably be linked, directly or indirectly, with a particular consumer or household (“personal information”).

    Personal information does not include:

    • Publicly available information (including government records or information the consumer makes public without restricting it to a specific audience).

    • Lawfully obtained, truthful information that is a matter of public concern.

    • De-identified or aggregated consumer information.

    • Information excluded from the CCPA’s scope, such as:

      • Health or medical information covered by HIPAA, the California Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (CMIA), clinical-trial data, or other qualifying research data; or

      • Personal information covered by certain sector-specific privacy laws, including the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), the California Financial Information Privacy Act (FIPA), and the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act of 1994 (DPPA).

    Personal Information Categories Chart

    The chart below identifies which categories of personal information we collected from our consumers within the last twelve (12) months.

    CategoryExamples
    IdentifiersA real name, alias, unique personal identifier, online identifier, Internet Protocol address, email address, account name, Social Security number, driver's license number, passport number, or other similar identifiers.
    Personal information categories listed in the California Customer Records statute (Cal. Civ. Code § 1798.80(e)) (“California Customer Records”)A name, signature, Social Security number, physical characteristics or description, address, telephone number, passport number, driver's license or state identification card number, insurance policy number, education, employment, employment history, bank account number, credit card number, debit card number, or any other financial information, medical information, or health insurance information. Some personal information included in this category may overlap with other categories.
    Internet or other similar network activityActivity on our websites, mobile apps, or other digital systems, such as internet browsing history, search history, system usage, electronic communications with us, postings on our social media sites.
    Professional or employment-related informationCurrent or past job history.

    C. Use of Personal Information

    In addition to all the stated uses of Personal Data set forth in Section (C) of the AxelResearch Privacy Policy above, we may use or disclose your personal information for any purpose described to you when collecting your personal information or as otherwise set forth in the CCPA.

    We do not sell or share personal information, and we do not use or disclose sensitive personal information beyond the CCPA’s Permitted SPI Purposes. 

    D. Sharing Personal Information

    We may disclose your personal information to a third party for a business purpose. When we do, we enter into a contract requiring the recipient to use the information only for that specific business purpose and to maintain confidentiality and security.

    In the preceding twelve (12) months, we have disclosed the following categories of personal information for a business purpose:

    • Identifiers.

    • California Customer Records personal information categories.

    • Internet or similar network activity.

    • Professional or employment-related information.

    We have not sold or shared consumers’ personal information in the preceding twelve (12) months, and we do not knowingly sell or share the personal information of individuals under 16 years of age.

    E. Your Rights and Choices

    If you are a California resident, the CCPA grants you the following rights regarding your personal information:

    Right to Know and Data Portability Requests

    You have the right to request that we disclose certain information to you about our collection and use of your personal information (the "right to know"), including the specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you (a "data portability request"). Our response will cover the 12-month period preceding the request, although we will honor requests to cover a longer period that do not extend past January 1, 2022, unless doing so would be impossible or involves disproportionate effort. You may exercise your right to know twice within in any 12-month period. Once we receive your request and confirm your identity (see Section F herein (How to Exercise Your Rights)), we will disclose to you:

    • The categories of: 

      • personal information we collected about you; and

      • sources from which we collected your personal information.

    • The business or commercial purpose for collecting your personal information and, if applicable, selling or sharing your personal information.

    • If applicable, the categories of persons, including third parties, to whom we disclosed your personal information, including separate disclosures identifying the categories of your personal information that we:

      • disclosed for a business purpose to each category of persons; and

      • sold or shared to each category of third parties.

    • When your right to know submission includes a data portability request, a copy of your personal information subject to any permitted redactions.

    For more on exercising this right, see Section F herein (Exercising the Rights to Know, Delete, or Correct).

    Right to Delete and Right to Correct

    You have the right to request that we delete any of your personal information that we collected from you and retained, subject to certain exceptions and limitations (the "right to delete"). Once we receive your request and confirm your identity, we will delete your personal information from our systems unless an exception allows us to retain it. We will also notify our service providers, contractors, and other recipients to take appropriate action.

    You also have the right to request correction of personal information we maintain about you that you believe is inaccurate (the "right to correct"). We may require you to provide documentation, if needed, to confirm your identity and support your claim that the information is inaccurate. Unless an exception applies, we will correct personal information that our review determines is inaccurate and notify our service providers, contractors, and other recipients to take appropriate action.

    For more on exercising this right, see Section F herein (Exercising the Rights to Know, Delete, or Correct).

    Right to Non-Discrimination

    You have the right not to be discriminated or retaliated against for exercising any of your privacy rights under the CCPA.

    F. How to Exercise Your Rights

    Exercising the Rights to Know, Delete, or Correct

    To exercise the right to know, data portability, delete, or correct described above, please submit a verifiable request to us by either:

    Please describe your request with sufficient detail so we can properly understand, evaluate, and respond to it. You or your authorized agent may only submit a request to know, including for data portability, twice within a 12-month period.