Cookies
Last updated: July 6, 2026
Why there is no cookie banner
SpotYourStartup is built without tracking cookies. The only cookies we set are strictly necessary for signing you in - exempt from consent under § 25 Abs. 2 TDDDG / the ePrivacy rules. Analytics and performance measurement run cookieless (Vercel Web Analytics and Speed Insights: no cookies, no persistent identifiers, no cross-site tracking). Nothing to consent to means no banner. You can delete or block cookies at any time in your browser settings; controller identity, legal bases and your rights are described in the privacy policy.
The cookies we set
| Cookie | Purpose | Lifetime |
|---|---|---|
| better-auth.session_token | Keeps you signed in (session) | 30 days, refreshed while active |
| better-auth.* (flow cookies) | Short-lived state during sign-in flows (e.g. OAuth, 2FA) | Minutes; deleted after the flow |
Local storage on your device
Besides cookies, the app keeps two small entries in your browser's local storage, both strictly functional and exempt from consent under § 25 Abs. 2 TDDDG: your compare-tray selection (sys.compare.v1) and your breakdown-builder slots (sys_slots). Both exist so the feature you actively used keeps working; for signed-in users the selections also sync to the account. Clearing your browser storage removes them.
Third parties
If you open the checkout, the Paddle overlay (our merchant of record) sets its own cookies strictly for processing the purchase - see Paddle's privacy policy at paddle.com/legal/privacy. No third-party cookies load outside the checkout.
If this changes
Should we ever introduce cookies that need consent, this page and a compliant consent flow will land BEFORE the cookies do. The no-tracking architecture is a product decision, not an oversight.