Michelle Kennedy

Founder and CEO @ Peanut App

About

Michelle Kennedy is the founder and CEO of Peanut, one of the fastest-growing social networking apps for women. Listed as Apple’s Trend of the Year 2021, TIME100’s Most Influential Companies 2022 and Fast Company’s Most Innovative 2023, Peanut has become a coveted destination for women looking to find friendship and support throughout all stages of motherhood. The idea was born when Michelle was expecting her first child in 2014. She realised that there weren’t any social networks for women to connect across key life stages. As the former deputy CEO of dating behemoth Badoo and an inaugural board member of Bumble, Kennedy understood how powerful online communities were. And so, true to the entrepreneurial core of founders, she decided to solve her need by creating a new kind of social network, where women could connect, chat and meet. Having worked in social discovery for ten years, Michelle has unprecedented experience and understanding of the safety and growth components of building a social network for women and continues to execute on her mission to make Peanut the leading network to connect women when they need each other most. Michelle also runs her own fund StartHER where she is committed to challenging the biases in venture capital and giving everyone a fair chance by re-shaping funding dynamics, providing access to professional networks and ultimately, becoming home to the new faces of entrepreneurship. Michelle's investments include Linktree, Sunroom, Intimately, Lex and more. 📥 Reach me at michellekennedy.co

Country

United Kingdom

City

Greater London

Industry

Online Media

Skill

Contract Negotiation, Mergers, Negotiation, Corporate Law, Corporate Governance, Employment Law, Joint Ventures, Start-ups, Digital Media, E-commerce, Social Media, Intellectual Property, Mergers & Acquisitions, Business Development, Licensing, Privacy Law, Management, Leadership, Strategy

Experience

Founder and CEO

Peanut App

2016-9 - Present · 10 yrs 1 mo

Peanut is the first online community to connect women throughout life stages. Whether you’re navigating fertility, pregnancy, motherhood or menopause, the app provides access to a community who are there to listen, share information and offer valuable advice. Created for and by women, Peanut is a safe space to meet women nearby and have conversations across meaningful topics from sex and feminine health to IVF, pregnancy, first years, midlife and beyond. With over 3.5M+ women using the app, Peanut has become a coveted destination for women looking to connect, ask questions and find support. Peanut’s vision is to serve women at every life stage—from puberty through to menopause—so that three women in the same family at different stages of womanhood can all find community, conversation and support on Peanut.

Board Advisor, Director

Bumble Inc.

2014-9 - 2016-9 · 2 yrs 1 mo

Michelle was integral to the founding of the female focused dating app Bumble, championing and working closely with CEO Whitney Wolfe to bring it to life. As a trusted advisor and holding a position on the board, she was actively involved in its growth.

Deputy CEO

Badoo

2015-1 - 2016-2 · 1 yr 2 mos

Badoo is the largest and fastest growing social network for meeting new people locally and globally backed by Finam Capital Partners. As Deputy CEO, Michelle was responsible for key operations in the business and works next to founder Andrey Andreev to identify growth opportunities for Badoo and the Badoo Group.

General Counsel and Director

Badoo

2014-6 - 2015-1 · 8 mos

Head of Legal

Badoo

2011-2 - 2014-6 · 3 yrs 5 mos

Group Legal Counsel and Company Secretary

Pharmaron

2010 - 2011 · 1 yr

Quotient Bioresearch is a leading contract research organisation backed by TA Associates. As the sole legal counsel for Quotient, Michelle was responsible for all general commercial and M&A matters.

Solicitor

Mishcon de Reya LLP

2007 - 2010 · 3 yrs

Mishcon de Reya is a leading international law firm. As Corporate Associate, Michelle was responsible for dealing with a range of M&A and commercial matters.