Gander Social

Gander Social is a Canadian public benefit company focused on creating a privacy-first social media platform. Founded by Ben Waldman and a team of Canadian technologists, the company emphasizes user control, digital sovereignty, and healthy online discourse. It operates under ethical standards inspired by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and is incorporated in British Columbia. Gander Social has raised $1.0 million from over 1,300 Canadian investors and partners with ThinkOn for cloud hosting on Canadian servers.

The platform is built on the decentralized AT Protocol and aims to provide user-controlled feeds, privacy by design, and tools for healthy discourse. Key features include customizable profiles, community moderation, and monetization options for creators. Gander Social positions itself as a hyper-local alternative to major social media platforms, targeting Canadian users and communities who value privacy and local engagement. The platform is currently in development, with a closed beta planned for 2025 and a public beta expected by early 2026.