1. Acceptance of Terms

Welcome to Velia ("the App"). 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.

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
• Browsing and booking meetings with other users
• In-app messaging with confirmed connections
• Following other users and managing connections
• Integration with Google Calendar for meeting scheduling

3. User Accounts and Registration

To use certain features of Velia, you must register for an account using Google authentication. You are responsible for:

• Maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials
• All activities that occur under your account
• Providing accurate and complete profile information
• Notifying us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account

4. User Conduct and Responsibilities

You agree to use Velia in a responsible manner and not to:

• Harass, abuse, or threaten other users
• Post inappropriate, offensive, or illegal content
• Impersonate any person or entity
• Use the App for any unlawful purpose
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to other users' accounts or our systems
• Interfere with or disrupt the App's functionality
• Create multiple accounts without authorization

5. Meeting and Booking Policies

When creating or booking meetings through Velia:

• You must honor your commitments and attend booked meetings
• Cancellations should be made promptly through the App
• Google Calendar integration requires granting calendar access permissions
• Meeting links generated are for personal use only
• We are not responsible for no-shows or cancellations by other users

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:

• Copy, modify, or distribute any part of the App without permission
• Use our trademarks without prior written consent
• Reverse engineer or attempt to extract source code

7. Privacy and Data Protection

Your privacy is important to us. Please review our Privacy Policy, which explains 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. We shall not be liable for:

• Any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
• Loss of profits, data, 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 Contact Us.

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").

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:

• Calendar Data: Only when you explicitly grant permission to create meeting events

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

4. Data Sharing and Disclosure

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

• Other Users: Your username, photo, bio, and gender are visible on your public profile; chat messages are shared with conversation participants
• Service Providers: Google (for authentication, Firebase services, and Calendar integration) under strict data protection agreements
• Legal Requirements: When required by law, regulation, or legal process
• Business Transfers: In connection with merger, acquisition, or sale of assets (with notice)

5. Cookie Use and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience. Here's what you need to know:

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) Specific Cookie Purposes:

• Authentication: Maintain your signed-in session securely
• Preferences: Remember your display settings and choices

d) Managing Cookies:

You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling essential cookies may impact App functionality. Note that some features rely on third-party cookies from Google services.

6. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures including:

• Encryption of data in transit and at rest
• Secure authentication via Google OAuth
• 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.

9. Children's Privacy

Velia is not intended for children under 16 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If we become aware that we have collected data from a child, we will take steps to delete it 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.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. We will notify you of significant changes through the App or by email. Your continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please visit our Contact Us page.

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: Feed safety feature and 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.

📅 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.

💬 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.

👥 Build Your Network

• Follow users whose perspectives you value
• See posts from people you follow in Friend's Plans tab
• Grow a curated network of meaningful contacts

🔒 Control Your Experience

• Hide users whose content doesn't resonate with you
• Manage your profile visibility and information
• Easily cancel bookings if plans change

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.

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

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!

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