Effective Date: March 1, 2026
Last Updated: March 1, 2026
Jurisdiction: India (Kerala)
1. About Us
This Privacy Policy applies to ASTIN Aspire to Inspire Private Limited (CIN: U63112KL2026PTC100147), hereinafter referred to as "ASTIN", "we", "us", or "our". We operate the website www.astinaspire.com and the ASTIN App — a cross-border commerce platform connecting Indian sellers with buyers in GCC countries (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman).
By accessing or using our website, app, or services, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.
Data Controller: Akhilesh Kamaleshkumar, CEO & Founder, ASTIN Aspire to Inspire Private Limited, Kerala, India.
2. Information We Collect
Information You Provide Directly
- Account & Registration Data: Name, email address, phone number, business name, business type, product category, and any other information submitted via our seller registration or contact forms.
- Order & Transaction Data: Shipping address, billing information, order details, product information, and purchase history.
- Communication Data: Messages sent through our contact form, WhatsApp, email, or any other communication channel.
- Seller Data: Business documents, bank account details, product listings, pricing, and inventory information provided during onboarding.
Information Collected Automatically
- Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on pages, links clicked, and browsing patterns on our website.
- Device & Technical Data: IP address, browser type and version, operating system, device identifiers, and screen resolution.
- Location Data: Approximate geographic location based on IP address (country/region level).
- Cookies & Tracking Data: Session cookies, preference cookies, and analytics data (see Section 7).
Information from Third Parties
- Payment confirmation and transaction status from our payment gateway provider.
- Shipping and delivery status updates from our logistics partner, ShipGlobal.
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
- Order Fulfillment: Processing purchases, arranging shipping, and delivering orders to buyers in GCC countries.
- Seller Onboarding: Verifying seller identity, reviewing product listings, and managing seller accounts.
- Payment Processing: Facilitating secure payment transactions through our authorized payment gateway.
- Customer Support: Responding to your inquiries, complaints, and support requests.
- Communications: Sending order updates, service announcements, and promotional materials (with your consent).
- Platform Improvement: Analyzing usage patterns to enhance our website, app, and services.
- Legal Compliance: Meeting obligations under applicable Indian laws, customs regulations, and cross-border trade requirements.
- Fraud Prevention: Detecting and preventing fraudulent transactions, unauthorized access, and misuse of our platform.
We will never sell your personal data to third parties for their own marketing purposes.
4. Payment Information & Gateway
ASTIN uses IDFC FIRST Bank as our banking and payment partner. All payment transactions are processed through a secure, PCI-DSS compliant payment gateway.
What We Do NOT Store
- Full credit/debit card numbers
- Card CVV or security codes
- Bank account passwords or PINs
- UPI PINs or netbanking credentials
What Our Payment Gateway Handles
- Secure capture and processing of card details
- UPI, NEFT, RTGS, and other payment methods
- Currency conversion for GCC buyers (INR to AED, SAR, BHD, KWD, QAR, OMR)
- Generating transaction receipts and payment confirmations
Seller Payouts
Upon successful sale completion, ASTIN remits 90% of the sale amount to the seller's registered bank account. Bank account details provided by sellers are stored securely and used solely for payout purposes.
Payment data is transmitted over encrypted HTTPS connections. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of the payment gateway provider. Please review the payment gateway's own privacy policy at the time of transaction.
5. Sharing Your Information
We share your information only where necessary to provide our services, or as required by law:
Service Partners
- ShipGlobal (shipglobal.in): Your name, shipping address, phone number, and order details are shared with our logistics partner to arrange pickup, customs clearance, and international delivery.
- IDFC FIRST Bank / Payment Gateway: Payment details are shared with our payment processor to complete transactions.
- EmailJS: Messages submitted via our contact and registration forms are transmitted through the EmailJS service to reach our team.
- TWIN ELK Tech Solutions: Our marketing partner may access aggregated, anonymized website analytics data for platform growth purposes.
- IOTYPES: Our technology partner may access technical data for platform development and maintenance.
Legal Obligations
- We may disclose your information to regulatory authorities, customs agencies, or law enforcement when required by Indian law or international trade regulations.
- We may share information to protect ASTIN's rights, property, or safety, or the rights of our users.
Business Transfers
In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of company assets, your information may be transferred to the acquiring entity. You will be notified of any such change.
6. Data Security
We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorized access, accidental loss, alteration, disclosure, or destruction:
- All data transmissions are secured via HTTPS/TLS encryption.
- Access to personal data is restricted to authorized personnel only.
- Payment transactions are processed through PCI-DSS compliant systems.
- Regular reviews of our data collection, storage, and processing practices.
No method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your data, we cannot guarantee absolute security. If you believe your data has been compromised, please contact us immediately at akhileshskumar64@gmail.com.
7. Cookies & Tracking
Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to improve your browsing experience:
Types of Cookies We Use
- Essential Cookies: Required for the website to function properly (e.g., session management, navigation).
- Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and preferences (e.g., language, currency selection).
- Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our website through anonymized, aggregated data.
Third-Party Services
- Google Fonts — for typography rendering
- Font Awesome — for icons
- EmailJS — for form submission processing
These services may set their own cookies in accordance with their respective privacy policies. You can control cookie settings through your browser preferences. Note that disabling cookies may affect some functionality of our website.
8. Cross-Border Data Transfers
ASTIN operates across India and GCC countries. To fulfill your orders and provide our services, your personal data may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence, including:
- India (primary data storage and processing)
- UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman (for order delivery and local support)
When transferring data across borders, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, including contractual obligations with our service partners to protect your data in accordance with applicable laws.
9. Your Rights
Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:
- Right to Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
- Right to Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
- Right to Deletion: Request deletion of your personal data, subject to legal retention requirements.
- Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for marketing communications at any time.
- Right to Data Portability: Request your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
- Right to Object: Object to processing of your data for certain purposes.
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at akhileshskumar64@gmail.com. We will respond within 30 days. Note that certain rights may be limited where we have a legitimate legal basis for processing or retention obligations.
10. Data Retention
We retain your personal data for as long as necessary to:
- Provide our services to you
- Comply with applicable legal obligations (including Indian tax and customs laws)
- Resolve disputes and enforce agreements
- Prevent fraud and misuse
Typically, transactional data is retained for 7 years in accordance with Indian financial regulations. Contact form data is retained for up to 2 years. You may request earlier deletion (subject to legal obligations) by contacting us.
11. Children's Privacy
Our platform is not directed at children under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal data from minors. If you believe a minor has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately and we will delete it promptly.
12. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or business operations. When we make material changes, we will:
- Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page
- Post a notice on our website or app
- Notify registered users via email where required
Your continued use of our services after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.