Amanda Peyton

Amanda Peyton is a seasoned entrepreneur and the former CEO and co-founder of Braid, a consumer payments startup that operated from January 2019 until its closure in September 2023. Braid specialized in creating FDIC-insured, multi-user financial accounts, allowing users to pool and manage money collectively for shared goals. The company raised $10 million in funding from notable investors, including Index Ventures and Accel.13

Before founding Braid, Peyton had a diverse career in technology and entrepreneurship. She co-founded Grand St., a marketplace for creative technology products, which was acquired by Etsy in 2014. Additionally, she held significant roles at Google, particularly in the Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) lab, where she contributed to Project Ara, and at Etsy, where she led the manufacturing initiative.123

Peyton's educational background includes a BA from Northwestern University, a Chinese Language Certificate from Beijing Language and Culture University, and an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Sloan School of Management. She has been recognized as one of Fast Company’s "100 Most Creative People in Business" and has participated in Y Combinator's startup accelerator program.14

Despite Braid's eventual shutdown, Peyton remains optimistic about the fintech sector and has expressed her commitment to continuing her work in this space, even purchasing Braid's intellectual property following its closure.235