Cookie Policy
Last updated April 2026
What Are Cookies
Cookies are small text files that websites store on your device. They help sites remember your preferences, understand how you use the site, and improve your experience. Some cookies are essential for the site to work, while others help us measure performance and improve our content.
How StartupOwl Uses Cookies
We use a small number of cookies, split into two categories: necessary cookies that the site needs to function, and analytics cookies that help us understand how visitors use the site. We do not use cookies for advertising, retargeting, or selling data to third parties.
Necessary Cookies
These cookies are required for the site to function correctly. They cannot be turned off. They do not track you across other websites and do not contain personal information.
| Cookie | Purpose | Duration | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| _so_v | Visitor verification. Confirms the visitor has browsed the site before following an affiliate redirect. Prevents direct link abuse. | 24 hours | HTTP (secure, httpOnly) |
| _so_consent_required | Geo-detection flag. Set by our server when a visitor is in a jurisdiction that requires cookie consent (EU/EEA, UK, Brazil, South Korea, Japan). Not set for US visitors. | 24 hours | HTTP (secure) |
| _so_consent | Stores your cookie consent choice (accepted or rejected) so you are not asked again on future visits. | 1 year | HTTP (secure) |
| _so_sid_n | Session identifier. Groups your activity within a single browsing session so affiliate clicks can be attributed accurately and checked for fraud. Strictly necessary. | 30 minutes (sliding) | HTTP (secure, httpOnly) |
| _so_entry | Records the first page you landed on this session, used for affiliate attribution and fraud detection. Strictly necessary. | 30 minutes (sliding) | HTTP (secure, httpOnly) |
| _so_eref | Records the external website that referred you (if any), used for affiliate attribution and fraud detection. Strictly necessary. | 30 minutes (sliding) | HTTP (secure, httpOnly) |
| _so_sfirst | Timestamp of when your session started, used for affiliate attribution and fraud detection. Strictly necessary. | 30 minutes (sliding) | HTTP (secure, httpOnly) |
| _so_ccount | Counts affiliate link clicks within your session so each click can be sequenced for accurate attribution. Strictly necessary. | 30 minutes (sliding) | HTTP (secure, httpOnly) |
Analytics and Performance Cookies
These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with the site so we can improve it. They are loaded through Google Tag Manager and include Google Analytics, Microsoft Clarity, and PostHog. For visitors in consent-required jurisdictions, these cookies are only set after you give consent.
| Cookie | Purpose | Duration | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| _so_sid | Anonymous session identifier. Groups affiliate clicks within a single browsing session for conversion attribution. | Session | HTTP (secure) |
| _so_src | Traffic source. Records where you came from (e.g. Google, a social media link) so we can understand which channels drive affiliate conversions. | Session | HTTP (secure) |
| _ga, _ga_* | Google Analytics (loaded via Google Tag Manager). Measures page views, session duration, and traffic sources. We use this data to understand which content is helpful and improve the site. | Up to 2 years | HTTP |
| _clck, _clsk, CLID | Microsoft Clarity (loaded via Google Tag Manager). Records anonymized session replays and heatmaps so we can identify usability issues. | Up to 1 year | HTTP |
| ph_* | PostHog (loaded via Google Tag Manager). Product analytics for feature usage and funnel analysis. | Up to 1 year | HTTP |
Managing Your Cookie Preferences
If you are visiting from the EU, EEA, UK, Brazil, South Korea, or Japan, you will see a cookie consent banner when you first visit the site. You can accept all cookies, reject non-essential cookies, or manage your preferences through the banner. Your choice is stored for one year.
You can also manage cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to block or delete cookies. Note that blocking all cookies may affect how the site functions.
Visitors from the United States and Other Regions
If you are visiting from the United States or another region that does not require explicit cookie consent, analytics cookies are loaded automatically. You will not see a consent banner. You can still control cookies through your browser settings at any time.
Google Tag Manager
We use Google Tag Manager (GTM) to manage our analytics scripts. GTM itself does not set cookies or collect personal data. It loads the analytics services listed above (Google Analytics, PostHog, Microsoft Clarity), which then set their own cookies. For consent-required visitors, GTM is not loaded until consent is given.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this cookie policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the “Last updated” date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this page periodically.
Related Policies
For more information about how we handle your data, see our Privacy Policy. If you have questions about cookies or privacy, contact us at [email protected].
This cookie policy was last updated in April 2026.