Michelle Kennedy

Biography

Michelle Kennedy is a tech industry executive and the CEO and founder of Peanut, the ‘dating app for mums’. She considers the influence of the tech sector, growing a business whilst maintaining social responsibility, and many other lessons from her entrepreneurial journey.

After working as a lawyer with Mishcon de Reya, Michelle joined Badoo’s legal department. She became Deputy CEO of the social media and dating app at the point where the company was generating USD$100 million, making it the market leader by revenue. When the company was involved in the launch of a new dating app, Bumble, Michelle joined the launch team as a board director, closely involved in its growth strategy and working with founder and CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd. Michelle left Bumble and started Peanut.

Having launched and been at the forefront of this new type of digital dating and social matching, Michelle was perfectly placed to turn her personal experience of the struggles of new motherhood into a business. Understanding the power of technology to connect and support, Peanut uses social media at its most positive to bring together mothers at all stages of parenting. As well as understanding the tech landscape, entrepreneurship and startup culture, Michelle also appreciates the responsibility and duty of care tech companies have to users.