Havven Founder Derek Hanjora on Building Safe Adult Spaces

Dr. Elena Janssen · 2026-02-21

Ever wonder what happens when a top UX designer gets frustrated with how online communities treat their members? That's exactly where Derek Hanjora's journey began. With over 18 years of experience, his career has been built on one simple idea: always put the user first. It sounds obvious, right? But you'd be surprised how often that gets lost in the shuffle. He's worked on projects across SaaS, government, media, and retail. But it was a personal frustration that sparked his biggest project yet. He kept asking himself, why does something meaningful have to feel so complicated? That question led him from designer to founder, and ultimately to creating something entirely new. ### From UX Principles to a Digital Sanctuary Derek's philosophy is all about transforming chaos into clarity. He's passionate about creating solutions that work so well you almost don't notice them. The kind that support you quietly instead of overwhelming you. In recent years, that drive pulled him toward a much bigger mission. He launched Sanctuary Innovations to bring his vision to life through Havven. This isn't just another social platform chasing clicks and attention. Havven is a secure, inclusive, and thoughtfully designed digital space built specifically for the kink, alternative lifestyle, and LGBTQ+ communities. It was his answer to a nagging question: what would an online space look like if safety and intention were built in from the start, not tacked on as an afterthought? ### The Person Behind the Platform Outside of work, Derek's life is layered and rich. He's a husband and father first. He's been a Marvel comics fan for as long as he can remember and proudly calls himself a movie geek. For more than three decades, he's followed professional wrestling—not just for the spectacle, but for the storytelling. The heroes, the antiheroes, the constant reinventions. That deep appreciation for narrative doesn't just stay on the couch. It fundamentally shapes how he leads his team, how he builds his platform, and how he thinks about fostering a real community. ### Building With Empathy and Experience Sanctuary Innovations, the company behind Havven, brings a unique perspective. The team has over 100 years of combined tech experience. But what matters just as much is who they are. They're real members of the communities they serve. - They've personally navigated censorship and sudden platform bans. - They've experienced the sting of algorithmic silence. - They know what it feels like to build something meaningful online, only to have it pulled away without warning. That empathy isn't theoretical. It's deeply personal. It's the foundation of their "Safety by Design" philosophy, which is baked into every feature and policy. ### A Mission-Driven Necessity Their core mission is to create a safe, inclusive digital home. A place where users can connect, create, and even earn a living in an environment built on trust and respect. A space where you don't have to live in fear of being erased tomorrow because an algorithm changed or a policy shifted. As one industry expert noted, "What Derek has created is phenomenal! It will help many people who didn't have a social media place to go." Ultimately, Sanctuary Innovations exists for one reason: to empower adults in alternative lifestyles with the secure, stigma-free digital space they deserve. Not because it's the trendy thing to do. Not because it's easy. But because after everything they've seen and experienced, they believe it's absolutely necessary. And when something is necessary, you build it—even if no one else will.