The concept of Haven was first devised in September of 2014 after hearing the updated news of University of Virginia student, Hannah Graham’s, abduction. It had been six weeks since the police reported Hanna missing, and her remains had been found only eight miles from where she was taken. This case ironically involved the same man that had taken the life of a fellow Hokie, Morgan Harrington, nine
years earlier. Morgan’s body was found one-hundred days later and also less than ten miles from where she stood before she was abducted. Both of these girls had cell phones with them when they were taken, but that was the first thing the kidnapper took from them eliminating any hope of getting help from the outside world. Ultimately this lack of communication ended up costing them their lives. It is naïve to think that just a cell phone will promise safety and Haven is working to provide girls with a faster, safer solution to the dangers that may ensue as a young woman. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, over 467,000 college age students and younger are reported missing annually in the United States alone. This has become an ongoing, nation-wide problem, but can be prevented with the help of increasing abilities in wearable technology. The team working to develop Haven have designed a device in the form of a bracelet to potentially save lives in emergency situations. Our founder, Emily Wills, has tied her fashion expertise that she has gained from her first start up, Empire Designs, to ensure that the bracelet will not only be crafted beautifully to adapt to current fashion trends, but to also potentially save the lives of women. Haven is a wearable technology company that incorporates interchangeable components to create fashionable jewelry for young women. Our initial product line are watches that allows the wearer to input emergency contacts, track GPS coordinates, and record audio via a microphone in the case of an emergency. The watch is very inconspicuous, but can easily be activated when needed. In the case of a kidnapping, rape, or murder, Haven has the potential to save a person’s life. As rising juniors attending a large state school and hours away from home, our safety on campus was not only important to us, but also to those closest to us. As young woman deeply involved in our studies and extracurricular activities, late night (or early morning) walks across campus from the library or local pizza joint back to our dorms isn’t uncommon for us. We’ve seen the headlines: young ladies abducted walking home from a late night. We’ve heard story after story of young women going missing, with no way to find them except for grainy footage of her walking past a convenience store security camera. When it comes to a missing persons case, the first 24-48 hours are the most crucial time period to find that person. This is why we’ve created Haven. Haven is wearable technology, that when activated, utilizes GPS technology as well as audio to track your location and alert your loved ones as well as responders that you need help in the case of an abduction. We need your help to create a product that not only helps keep young women safe and sound, but is also fashionable and inconspicuous. We’re Haven, and we’ll bring you home. To learn more or subscribe for updates on our progress, visit http://www.havenwearables.com
