1. Acceptance of Terms

Welcome to Velia ("the App", "we", "our", or "us"). By accessing or using Velia, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use the App.

These Terms apply to all visitors, users, and others who access or use the App. Your continued use of the App following any changes constitutes acceptance of those changes.

2. Description of Service

Velia is a social connection platform that enables users to create, discover, and book meaningful conversations and meetings. Our services include:

• Creating and sharing conversation invites – Post topics you'd like to discuss with others
• Browsing and booking meetings – Discover interesting conversations and reserve your spot
• In-app messaging – Chat with users you've connected with
• Connecting with other users – Build your Circle (audience) to grant access to private invites and see invites from people you connect with
• Integration with Google Calendar – Automatically schedule meetings you book
• Google Meet integration – Video calls for your scheduled meetings

3. User Accounts and Registration

To use certain features of Velia, you must register for an account using Google Authentication. When you register, you agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration
• Maintain the confidentiality of your account credentials
• Accept responsibility for all activities under your account
• Promptly update us if any of your registration information changes
• Allow only authorized individuals to access your account

4. User Conduct and Responsibilities

When using Velia, you agree NOT to:

• Harassment or Abuse: Harass, abuse, bully, threaten, or intimidate other users
• Inappropriate Content: Post illegal, harmful, threatening, abusive, defamatory, obscene, or otherwise objectionable content
• Impersonation: Impersonate any person or entity, or falsely represent your affiliation
• Illegal Activities: Use the App for any unlawful purpose or to promote unlawful activities
• Unauthorized Access: Attempt to gain unauthorized access to other users' accounts, systems, or networks
• Interference: Interfere with or disrupt the App's functionality, servers, or networks connected to the App
• Reverse Engineering: Copy, modify, decompile, disassemble, or reverse engineer any part of the App
• Spam: Send unsolicited messages, advertisements, or promotional materials
• Multiple Accounts: Create multiple accounts without authorization
• Automated Access: Use robots, spiders, scrapers, or other automated means to access the App without permission
• Circle Abuse: Using the "My Circle Only" broadcast feature to target, harass, or send prohibited content to specific users who have connected with you

5. Meeting and Booking Policies

When creating or booking meetings through Velia, you agree to:

• Create accurate meeting descriptions with honest topics
• Honor your commitments by attending booked meetings or canceling promptly
• Treat all guests with respect and courtesy
• Not use the platform for commercial purposes without authorization
• Ensure your calendar permissions are properly configured

c) Post-Meeting Visibility:

When you book and attend a meeting with another user, the app recognizes that you have "Met" that user. This status is used to prioritize their future public invites in your Discover feed, unless you choose to connect or hide them.

6. Intellectual Property

The content, features, and functionality of Velia are owned by us and protected by international copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

You may not, without our express written permission:

• Copy, modify, or distribute any part of the App
• Use our trademarks, logos, or brand elements
• Reverse engineer or attempt to extract source code
• Create derivative works based on our platform

7. Privacy and Data Protection

Your privacy is important to us. Please review our complete Privacy Policy, which explains in detail how we collect, use, and protect your personal information.

8. Limitation of Liability

Velia is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied. We shall not be liable for:

• Any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
• Loss of profits, data, revenue, or business opportunities
• Actions or conduct of other users
• Technical issues, interruptions, or errors in the service

9. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will notify users of significant changes through the App or email. Continued use of the App after changes constitutes acceptance of the new Terms.

10. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by applicable laws. Any disputes arising from these Terms or use of the App shall be resolved through appropriate legal channels.

11. Contact Information

If you have questions about these Terms, please contact us at [email protected].

Last updated: January 2025

1. Introduction

Velia ("we", "our", or "us") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal data. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application ("the App").

By using Velia, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

2. Data We Collect

We collect the following types of information:

a) Personal Information Provided by You:

• Name and Username: From your Google account or manually entered
• Email Address: For account authentication and communication
• Profile Photo: From your Google account or uploaded by you
• Bio and Gender: Optional profile information you provide

b) Automatically Collected Information:

• Usage Data: Features used, actions taken, time spent on the App
• Device Information: Device type, operating system, unique device identifiers
• Log Data: Technical log data about how you interact with the App
• Calendar Data: Only when you explicitly grant permission to create meeting events

c) Connection & Audience Data:

• Circle/Audience Lists: When you connect with a user, you are added to their "Circle" (audience), and they may be added to yours.
• Meeting History: We track users you have booked meetings with to provide "We've Met" indicators and personalize your Discover feed.

3. How We Use Your Data

We use collected information to:

• Provide, maintain, and improve the App's services
• Create and manage your user account and profile
• Facilitate meeting bookings and generate Google Calendar events
• Enable in-app messaging between connected users
• Send notifications about meeting updates, new messages, or app features
• Personalize your experience and recommend relevant connections
• Detect, prevent, and address technical issues or security threats
• Comply with legal obligations
• Facilitate the "My Circle" audience broadcast system, allowing you to share invites exclusively with users who have connected with you.
• Sort and personalize your Discover feed by prioritizing invites from users you have previously met.

4. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your data with:

a) Other Users:

• Your username, photo, bio, and gender are visible on your public profile
• Audience Visibility: When you create an invite, you may choose "Public" (visible to all users on the Discover feed) or "My Circle Only" (visible only to users who have connected with you / are in your audience).
• Note: Connecting with a user does not give you access to their "My Circle Only" invites unless they also connect with you.
• Chat messages are shared with conversation participants
• Your name is visible on meeting invites you create or book

b) Service Providers:

• Google (for authentication): For Firebase services, Calendar integration
• Google Calendar API: To create meeting events when authorized

All third-party providers are bound by strict data protection agreements.

c) Legal Requirements:

• When required by law, regulation, or legal process
• To protect rights, safety, or property of Velia or others
• In connection with merger, acquisition, or sale of assets (with notice)

5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience:

a) What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help us provide features, analyze usage, and personalize content.

b) Types of Cookies We Use:

• Essential Cookies: Required for basic App functionality (authentication, security, preferences). These cannot be disabled.
• Functional Cookies: Remember your settings, login state, and preferences to improve user experience
• Analytical Cookies: Help us understand how users interact with the App (pages visited, features used, time spent)
• Third-Party Cookies: Used by Google for authentication and Firebase analytics

c) Managing Cookies:

You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling essential cookies may impact App functionality.

6. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures including:

• Encryption of data in transit and at rest
• Secure authentication via Google OAuth
• Firebase Rules for access control
• Limited access to personal data on a need-to-know basis

While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure.

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal data for as long as necessary to:

• Provide our services to you
• Comply with legal obligations
• Resolve disputes and enforce agreements

You can request account deletion, and we will remove your data within 30 days, except where legally required to retain it.

8. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your location, you may have the right to:

• Access: Request copies of your personal data
• Correction: Update inaccurate or incomplete information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your account and data
• Portability: Receive your data in a structured format
• Objection: Object to certain processing of your data
• Withdraw Consent: Revoke previously given consent

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information below.

9. Children's Privacy

Velia is not intended for children under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If we become aware that we have collected data from a child without parental consent, we will take steps to delete such information promptly.

10. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have different data protection laws. By using Velia, you consent to such transfers, and we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. We will notify you of significant changes through:

• In-app notification
• Email (if provided)
• Updated "Last Revised" date

Your continued use after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

Email: [email protected]

We typically respond within 24-48 hours during business days.

Last updated: January 2025

Get in Touch

We'd love to hear from you! Whether you have questions, feedback, need support, or want to report an issue, don't hesitate to reach out.

Thank you for being part of the Velia community! 💜

Our Mission

Velia was born from a simple belief: real human connections matter more than ever.

In a world of endless scrolling and superficial interactions, we wanted to create a space where people can have meaningful conversations and build genuine relationships.

What is Velia?

Velia is a social connection platform designed to facilitate authentic, purposeful interactions. Unlike traditional social media focused on likes and followers, Velia focuses on:

• Meaningful Conversations: Create or join discussion topics that interest you
• Real Meetings: Connect face-to-face through video calls scheduled at convenient times
• Quality over Quantity: Build deeper connections with fewer, more compatible people
• Safe Environment: Community guidelines ensure respectful interactions

Key Features

🧠 Explore Strangers

Browse conversation invites created by the community. Find topics that spark your curiosity and match your interests. Filter by category, date, or host reputation.

📅 Schedule with Ease

Pick a time that works for you. Our Google Calendar integration automatically creates meeting links and sends invitations—no back-and-forth needed. Get reminders before your meetings start.

Supports both one-on-one and group meetings with automatic timezone detection.

💬 Connect & Chat

Once you've booked a meeting, use our built-in messaging to coordinate details, share resources, or just break the ice before your conversation. Messages are encrypted end-to-end for privacy.

👥 Build Your Circle

• Connect with users you've met to add them to your Circle
• See invites from people in your Circle in the "My Circle" tab
• Broadcast your own private invites exclusively to your Circle
• Grow a curated network of meaningful contacts

🔒 Control Your Experience

• Choose who sees your invites: everyone (Public) or just your Circle (My Circle Only)
• Hide users whose content doesn't resonate with you
• Manage your profile visibility and information
• Easily cancel bookings if plans change
• Report inappropriate behavior

Our Values

• Authenticity: Be yourself. Real connections start with honesty.
• Respect: Treat every user with kindness and open-mindedness.
• Privacy: Your data belongs to you. We protect it fiercely.
• Inclusivity: Welcome diverse perspectives and backgrounds.
• Quality: Prioritize meaningful interactions over viral content.

The Story Behind Velia

Velia was created in response to growing digital fatigue. We noticed that while technology connects us more than ever, many people feel lonelier and more disconnected.

Traditional social media often amplifies comparison, performative content, and shallow engagement. The pressure to present a perfect life can be exhausting and isolating.

We asked ourselves: "What if there was a platform designed specifically for depth, not breadth?"

That question became Velia—a space where every interaction has intention, every conversation has purpose, and every connection has potential to enrich your life.

Technology & Security

Velia is built with modern web technologies as a Progressive Web App (PWA), meaning:

• Works on any device with a modern browser
• Can be installed like a native app
• Uses secure Firebase infrastructure for real-time data
• Integrates with trusted Google services for authentication and scheduling
• End-to-end encrypted messaging for private conversations
• Regular security audits and penetration testing
• GDPR compliant data handling

Current Status

Velia is currently in its MVP (Minimum Viable Product) phase. We're actively gathering feedback, improving features, and growing our community.

As an early adopter, your input shapes the future of Velia! Every piece of feedback helps us build something truly special.

Join the Movement

By using Velia, you're part of a movement toward more intentional, fulfilling digital interactions.

Thank you for choosing quality over quantity, depth over breadth, and connection over clicks.

Let's connect with ease and peace of mind. 💜

Last updated: January 2025