Our Values

Who we are 

We are a team of impact-minded engineers who believe that we should use humanity's most advanced tools to solve our most important problems

How we do our work 

• Impact First. We believe that having an impact lens on everything that we do is the best way to generate ROI: positive change for millions of lives today and in the future. Hyfe was born at a moment of crisis for humanity and it has been developed without any consideration for profit. 
  

• Lead with science. We are putting science at the forefront of everything that we do. Our models are developed and tested using rigorous scientific methods and we remain committed to contributing to the scientific efforts around coughing - be they in the area of detection, surveillance, or elsewhere. 

• Share Knowledge. We believe the world as a whole benefits when innovators share their knowledge. We are committed to open data principles and to collaborating with other scientists and projects in this space.
  

• Bias for action. We know that knowledge and insights without execution are worthless. This is why we are committed to reach decisions internally fast and act rapidly. 

• We are part of a community. We are keenly aware of the fact that we are part of a bigger movement. We benefit from community knowledge and support and are doing our part supporting communities. Hyfe is built with this principle in mind;
  

• Technology is a force multiplier. Technology is not an end in itself. However, we are committed to the responsible use of exponential technology - such as Artificial intelligence - because we believe it is a force multiplier for good.  
  

• Humans come first. We are a tech company but we will always put humans first. We know that behind every data point there is a real human and we are committed to create value for this human and protect their rights and their privacy. 
  

Self-generated data

We believe that self-generated data is an important, actionable part of a comprehensive approach to health. Self-generated data can empower people to act and live a healthier life. 

Put into a wider context, self-generated data, such as cough frequency over time and space, can help people understand their health and the health of their loved ones better. 

We are not a health provider nor do we provide any health advice. If you have any concern about your health you should see a health professional. 

Data ownership and use

We believe that individuals should have control over their data. Having control means knowing what data is generated from their interaction with our tools, what data is stored, how that data is analyzed, and what it is used for. It also means being able to say “no”, at any time, to any part of our data use policies. We believe that “ownership” is an integral and ongoing component of how a customer interacts with our tools, and we believe that the customer always retains the right to set the limits on what their data is used for.

We also believe that, in certain circumstances, users of our technology want to share their data. Whether it’s helping researchers better understand how cough relates to illness, or helping public health practitioners detect and control disease outbreaks, sharing data is both a powerful and empowering experience, as long as the customer retains control. For these reasons, we see data-sharing, supervised and understood by the customer, as an opportunity to do good. 

Privacy and Transparency

Transparency and honesty are key to any healthy relationship. We appreciate that you are trusting us with information that is important to you, and we want to be transparent about how we use it. We take your privacy very seriously and would never breach the trust that our users put in us with their data.

We understand that the basis of our relationship with our users is:

• Users trust us with their cough data;
• We use their cough data to improve our algorithms and provide users with better, more actionable insights;
• When explicitly granted permission, we anonymize and aggregate their cough data so as to generate information that could be useful to public health practitioners and researchers in the detection and control of disease.
  
  

How we use your data

There are three ways in which we use your data:

• To provide you with our Services;
• To improve our Services.
• For Research/ greater good, if you consent
  

We will only use your data with your permission. And if you ever change your mind, just tell us - either using the built-in “erase my data” functionality in the application or by writing us an email at privacy@hyfeapp.com.

How We Secure Information

Hyfe implements measures and systems to ensure confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data. Our team regularly reviews and improves our security practices to help ensure the integrity of our systems and your information. These practices include, but are not limited to, the following areas:

• Encryption. Hyfe uses industry-standard security measures to encrypt Sensitive Information both when it is stored and when it is being transmitted;
• Limited access to essential personnel.​ We limit access of information to authorized personnel, based on job function and role.