Privacy policy
Last updated: 9 October 2026
Topic Tycoon is a public speaking game at topictycoon.com, run from New Zealand. This page explains what personal information we collect when you use it, why we collect it, who helps us handle it, and the choices you have. We follow New Zealand's Privacy Act 2020.
What we collect
Your account. When you sign up, we get your email address, and your name if you give it. If you sign in with Google, Google shares your name, email address and profile picture (more on that below). With your account we keep your email address, your plan, how many speeches you've given, and the topics you've already had, so you aren't given the same one twice. If you give us your name or phone number, for example for a group or organisation account, we may add them to your account.
Your speeches. While you speak, the game records you through your device's microphone. The recording goes to our server and on to OpenAI, which turns it into text, and the text goes to OpenAI to be scored. We don't keep the recording or the text of your speech. For each round we save the topic, the time you chose, how long you spoke, your score and the Tycoon Dollars you earned, so you can see your history.
Matches. Names you type in for the players in a match stay on your device. They aren't sent to us.
Payments. If you buy a plan or the handbook, Stripe takes the payment and collects your card details. We never see your full card number. Stripe tells us a customer reference, what you bought and whether your subscription is active.
The waitlist. If you join the waitlist, we keep your email address, and your name if you give it.
Technical logs. Our server logs which pages and features are used, and any errors, so we can keep the game running. These logs don't contain your recordings.
How we use it
- To run your account and the game, score your speeches and show your history.
- To take payments and manage your plan.
- To email you a reminder before a free trial ends, your results after a game (when that's switched on), and news and updates about Topic Tycoon. You can ask us to stop sending news at any time.
- To tell people on the waitlist when Topic Tycoon opens.
- To keep the game secure and fix problems.
We don't sell your personal information, and we don't use it for advertising.
Signing in with Google
If you choose to continue with Google, Google shares your name, email address and profile picture with us through Clerk, our sign-in provider. We use them only to create your account and sign you in. We can't see your Gmail, contacts, files or anything else in your Google account.
Topic Tycoon's use and transfer of information received from Google APIs adheres to the Google API Services User Data Policy, including the Limited Use requirements.
Who helps us run Topic Tycoon
These companies handle personal information for us, each only what it needs for its job:
- Clerk runs sign-in and account security. It also records the devices you sign in from, to protect your account.
- OpenAI turns your speech into text and scores it. OpenAI may keep what we send for up to 30 days to check for misuse, and doesn't use it to train its models.
- Stripe takes payments.
- Resend sends our emails.
- Render hosts the website and our database.
- Google Fonts supplies the website's fonts. Your browser downloads them from Google, which sees your IP address.
Our database is in the United States, and most of these companies are based there, so your information is stored and processed in the United States.
Cookies and browser storage
Clerk uses cookies to keep you signed in. Before launch, our team also gets a cookie that lets them into the game. While you play, your browser keeps the current round so the results page can show it, and it clears this when you close the tab. We don't use advertising or tracking cookies, or analytics.
How long we keep it
We keep your account and game history while your account is open. If you ask us to delete your account, we'll delete it and your game history, except anything the law requires us to keep, such as records of payments. You can ask to come off the waitlist at any time.
Your rights
You can ask for a copy of the personal information we hold about you, and ask us to correct it. Just email us. If you're unhappy with how we've handled your information, please tell us first. You can also complain to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner.
Security
Everything between your device and Topic Tycoon travels over encrypted connections, and only our team can see your account details.
Changes to this policy
If we change this policy, we'll update this page and the date at the top.
Contact us
Email pete@peterchatteris.com with any question about your privacy or this policy.