Privacy Policy
We take your privacy seriously, not because we have to, but because trust is the foundation of everything we do.
When you work with CarterIGNITE, you share sensitive information about your business, your plans, and your challenges. We understand that trust isn't given lightly, especially when expanding into new markets. This policy explains exactly how we protect the information you entrust to us.
What Information We Protect
Personal information means anything that could identify you as an individual — names, contact details, business affiliations, or any combination of data that could lead back to you. We protect this information whether you're a client, research participant, team member, or potential hire.
How We Use Your Information
We use your information for one clear purpose: to help you succeed in Japan. Specifically:
For Clients: To deliver the strategic guidance, cultural insights, and market entry support you've engaged us to provide.
For Research Participants: To conduct market research and cultural validation studies that inform our recommendations.
For Team Members: To manage employment, compensation, and workplace safety requirements.
For Potential Hires: To evaluate candidates fairly and thoroughly. If we don't move forward with your application, we delete your information promptly.
For Former Team Members: We retain information for three years as required by law, then it's gone.
We Don't Share Your Information
Your information stays with us unless you explicitly agree otherwise. When we share research insights with clients, we remove all identifying details, your anonymity is protected.
How We Keep Information Secure
When We Work with Partners: Any external company handling your information must meet our security standards and sign agreements protecting your data.
Internal Safeguards: Our entire team understands that protecting your information isn't just policy — it's fundamental to who we are. We train accordingly.
If Something Goes Wrong: While we've built systems to prevent data breaches, if an incident occurs, we'll act immediately to contain it, understand what happened, and prevent it from happening again.
Your Rights
You control your information. You can request to see what we have, ask us to correct it, or tell us to delete it. You can also file complaints or ask questions about how we handle your data.
Staying Current
Privacy protection evolves with technology and regulations. We regularly review and improve our practices to ensure we're always providing the best possible protection for your information.
Terms & Conditions
Clear expectations create successful partnerships.
These terms aren't legal fine print designed to confuse you — they're the foundation for a productive working relationship. When you engage with CarterIGNITE, whether through our website or our services, you deserve to know exactly what to expect from us and what we expect in return. This document outlines those mutual commitments in plain language, because transparency builds the trust that real partnerships require.
Acceptance of Terms
By using our website or engaging our services, you're agreeing to these terms. If something doesn't make sense or feels unreasonable, contact us before proceeding. We'd rather clarify expectations upfront than resolve misunderstandings later.
Our Services
CarterIGNITE provides strategic market entry guidance, cultural intelligence, and execution support for companies seeking success in Japan. We offer this through our modular service framework: Research & Validation, Investment & Piloting, and Market Entry & Execution. Each engagement is tailored to your specific needs and market readiness.
Intellectual Property
What's Ours: Our methodologies, frameworks, Market Performance Index, research insights, and proprietary tools remain our intellectual property. This includes the strategic approaches and cultural intelligence that differentiate our work.
What's Yours: The strategic recommendations, market insights, and execution guidance we provide specifically for your business belong to you. We don't retain ownership of customized strategies we develop for your market entry.
What We Share: Case studies and general market insights may be shared with other clients, but always with identifying details removed to protect your confidentiality.
Your Responsibilities
Information Accuracy: Provide us with accurate, complete information about your business, objectives, and constraints. Our recommendations are only as good as the information they're based on.
Confidentiality: Respect the confidentiality of insights we share about Japanese market dynamics, cultural nuances, and business practices. This intelligence is part of our competitive advantage.
Implementation: While we provide strategic guidance and execution support, ultimate responsibility for business decisions and their outcomes remains with you.
Privacy and Information Protection
What We Protect: Any information that could identify you, your business, or your strategic plans. This includes contact details, business plans, market research responses, and proprietary information shared during our engagement.
How We Use It: Exclusively to deliver the services you've engaged us to provide — strategic guidance, cultural insights, and market entry support. Nothing more, nothing less.
Information Security: We maintain strict security measures to protect your information, including secure systems, trained team members, and confidentiality agreements with any external partners who might handle your data.
Your Control: You can request to see, correct, or delete information we have about you at any time. You can also ask questions about how we handle your data.
Limitation of Liability
We provide strategic guidance based on our expertise and market intelligence, but business outcomes depend on multiple factors beyond our control. While we're committed to your success, we can't guarantee specific commercial results. Our liability is limited to the fees you've paid for our services.
Service Modifications and Termination
Our Right to Modify: We may update these terms as our services evolve or regulations change. We'll notify you of significant changes and give you the opportunity to review them.
Ending Our Relationship: Either party can terminate our engagement with appropriate notice as outlined in your service agreement. We'll ensure smooth transitions and protect confidential information regardless of how our relationship concludes.
Governing Law
These terms are governed by Japanese law, reflecting our expertise in the Japanese market and business environment.
Questions or Concerns
If anything in these terms feels unclear or problematic, contact us directly. We'd rather address concerns through conversation than through legal processes.