Privacy Policy
- Welko answers Instagram messages on behalf of businesses (studios, gyms and shops). To do that, we process the messages people send those businesses.
- We use messages only to reply, hand conversations to the business's team, and run and improve the service for that business. We never sell personal information or use it for advertising.
- Conversations are deleted automatically 90 days after the last message. Contact details people choose to share are kept for up to 12 months.
- Questions or deletion requests: hello@getwelko.com.
Who we are
Welko ("we", "us") provides an automated assistant that replies to Instagram direct messages for businesses. Welko is operated by Mitch Farrell, based in the United States. Contact: hello@getwelko.com.
Two situations this policy covers
1. You message a business that uses Welko. The business decides to use Welko and is responsible for its own customer relationships. We act as its service provider, processing your messages on its behalf and following its instructions. The business's own privacy policy also applies, so please check it too.
2. You visit getwelko.com, message @getwelko, or email us. Here, Welko decides how your information is used, as described below.
What we collect
- Instagram messages and basic profile info. When you message a business that uses Welko (or @getwelko), we receive your message text, your first name as shown on Instagram, and an account identifier from Instagram's messaging platform.
- Details you choose to share. For example, an email address or phone number you send so the business can follow up.
- Service records. Timestamps, whether a conversation was handed to a person, and short notes for staff explaining why (for example, "asked about an injury").
- Website. getwelko.com doesn't use cookies, analytics or ads. Our hosting provider processes basic technical data (like IP addresses) to deliver and secure the site, and the site loads fonts from Google Fonts.
- Email. If you email us, we receive your message and email address.
How we use it
- To write and send replies on the business's behalf, using the information the business has given us (prices, schedules, policies).
- To alert the business's team when a person should take over, with a short summary.
- To pass contact details you share to that business so it can follow up with you.
- To keep the service working, safe and accurate: troubleshooting, preventing misuse, and improving replies for that business.
- For @getwelko and email: to answer your questions about Welko and follow up if you ask us to.
We do not sell personal information, use it for advertising, or use one business's customer conversations to market anything to those customers.
Who can see conversations
- The business you messaged and its team, through its Instagram inbox and messaging tools.
- Welko's operator (currently Mitch Farrell), only as needed to set up, support, troubleshoot and improve the service for that business, or when the business asks.
- Service providers that run the service for us, each processing data only to provide their service:
- Meta (Instagram), which delivers the messages
- ManyChat, the messaging automation platform the business connects to Instagram
- Anthropic, which provides the AI model that drafts replies. Under Anthropic's commercial terms, data sent through its API is not used to train its models.
- Cloudflare, which hosts our software, stores conversation records and handles our email routing
- Legal reasons. If required by law, or to protect people's safety or our rights.
How long we keep it
- Conversation history: deleted automatically 90 days after the last message.
- Contact details you share, and service records: deleted automatically after 12 months.
- Businesses may keep their own copies (for example, in their Instagram inbox or booking system) under their own policies.
- When a business stops using Welko, we delete its customers' conversation data within 30 days, unless the law requires us to keep it.
Your choices and rights
- You can ask to speak to a person at any point in a conversation.
- You can ask us to access, correct or delete information we hold about you: email hello@getwelko.com with your Instagram username and the business you messaged. We may check with that business before acting, since it's responsible for its customer records.
- Depending on where you live (for example, California or the EU/UK), you may have additional rights. Contact us and we'll help.
Automated replies
Replies from Welko are written by an AI system using the business's information. If you ask, the assistant will tell you it's automated, and it hands conversations to the business's team for anything sensitive, such as health questions, billing or complaints. Automated replies can occasionally be wrong. For anything important, confirm with the business directly.
Health and sensitive information
Please don't send detailed medical or other sensitive information by DM. If you mention something like an injury or pregnancy, the assistant won't give advice. It hands the conversation to the business's team so a person can follow up.
Children
Welko isn't directed at children under 13, and we don't knowingly collect their information. Instagram requires users to be at least 13. If you believe a child has sent us information, contact us and we'll delete it.
Security
We use reputable providers, encrypted connections and restricted access to protect information. No system is perfectly secure, but we work to keep your information safe and will notify affected businesses promptly if something goes wrong.
Changes
We may update this policy as the service changes. We'll post the new version here with a new effective date.
Contact
Welko · hello@getwelko.com