SMS messaging policy

About our messages

This policy describes Georgia Kickstart Fund’s optional text-messaging program for founders who have applied for or received a grant. Enrollment is not available on this website. Our team will provide a separate opt-in process before messaging begins.

Messages may include founder check-ins, short surveys about company progress, and program updates. This program does not send marketing or promotional messages. Messages may be sent using automated technology.

How you opt in

We obtain your permission before sending an enrollment text. You can give that permission through a separate SMS opt-in request, such as an optional form choice or a request you make to our team. Providing a phone number in an application, visiting this page, or accepting website terms alone does not enroll you.

After that initial permission, we send a confirmation text identifying Georgia Kickstart Fund and asking you to reply YES. Recurring program messages begin only after your YES reply. If you do not reply, or reply NO, we do not enroll you or send further enrollment reminders. We keep a record of consent.

Only enroll a number you own or are authorized to use. SMS consent is optional and is not a condition of applying, receiving a grant, or obtaining program support. You can communicate with us by email instead.

Frequency and cost

Message frequency varies, usually a few messages per check-in, about twice a year. Replies, help requests, and program updates may result in additional messages.

Message and data rates may apply, depending on your mobile plan. We do not charge a separate fee for this SMS program. Delivery depends on your carrier and service availability. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.

How to stop messages

Reply STOP at any time to stop program text messages. We also honor other clear requests to stop, including requests sent to our help email. You may receive one final non-promotional text confirming that you have been unsubscribed. No further program messages will be sent unless you opt in again.

If your number changes or is no longer yours, tell us so we can update our records. Unsubscribing does not affect your grant eligibility.

Help and contact

Reply HELP for help, or email pm@georgiakickstart.com. Include only what we need to identify your request. Do not text passwords, banking credentials, government identifiers, or sensitive personal documents. Text messaging is not an emergency service.

Messaging privacy

We do not sell, rent, or share phone numbers or text-messaging opt-in data and consent with third parties or affiliates for their marketing or promotional purposes. We provide information to messaging providers and carriers as needed to deliver and support our program, and may disclose it when required by law. We do not authorize providers to use SMS consent to enroll you in another sender’s program. Providers also have their own applicable legal obligations.

We use message responses for founder support, records, and program assessment. We may retain limited consent and opt-out records to honor your preferences and meet applicable obligations. See our Privacy Policy for more about data use, retention, and requests, and our Terms of Use for website terms.

Policy updates

We will post updates with a new effective date and obtain new consent when required for a material change in messaging purpose or scope. Updating this page does not enroll anyone or reactivate an unsubscribed number.