Michelle Kennedy

Overview

Michelle Kennedy is the founder and CEO of Peanut, a social networking app designed to connect women across various life stages, including fertility, pregnancy, motherhood, and menopause. Launched in 2017, Peanut has rapidly grown to become a leading platform for women seeking community and support. Prior to founding Peanut, Kennedy served as the deputy CEO of Badoo, a prominent social networking site, and was an inaugural board member of Bumble, a female-focused dating app. In addition to her role at Peanut, Kennedy has established StartHER, a microfund aimed at investing in early-stage, pre-seed startups founded by women and other underrepresented groups. The fund focuses on providing initial capital to entrepreneurs striving to make a positive impact on society, healthcare, or the environment. StartHER offers investments ranging from $25,000 to $50,000, along with access to a network of mentors and advisors. Kennedy's investment philosophy centers on challenging biases in venture capital and reshaping funding dynamics to provide fair opportunities for all entrepreneurs. Through StartHER, she aims to level the playing field by offering financial support and strategic guidance to underrepresented founders, thereby fostering diversity and inclusion in the startup ecosystem.

Investment Focus

• Female founders
• Underrepresented groups
• Pre-seed stage startups
• Positive societal impact
• Healthcare focus
• Environmental focus

Portfolio Companies