Kathryn Kosmides

Kathryn Kosmides is the Founder and CEO of Garbo — a tech nonprofit on a mission to help proactively prevent harm in the digital age through their new kind of safety system, including an innovative consumer online background check, that helps people and platforms protect themselves and their communities. She spent her early career helping early stage technology startups scale their sales and marketing, grew up on the internet, and is a multitude survivor of gender-based violence — all of which she brings to her work at Garbo.

In 2018, Kosmides founded Garbo, recognizing the urgent need to help people and platforms protect themselves and their communities from known repeat offenders of gender-based violence by making it easier and more affordable to know if someone has a history of causing harm alongside resources and education about safety tips and healthy relationships in the digital age. Drawing from her personal experiences and profound understanding of the challenges faced by victims when reporting harm, she set out to develop a novel safety system that bridged the gap between detecting and reporting perpetrators.

Garbo has since partnered with online platforms including Tinder, Match.com, other Match Group brands, HUD, and the roommate app, Roomi. Garbo also works directly with other non-profit organizations including The National Domestic Violence Hotline, RAINN, VictmConnect, and more.

Under Kosmides’ astute leadership, Garbo has made a profound impact, positively influencing the lives of over one million individuals through its technology, tools, and educational initiatives. By empowering people to take control of their safety, providing them with the necessary resources to navigate safety in the digital age, and fostering a supportive community, Garbo has become a beacon of hope for survivors and a catalyst for change in the fight against gender-based violence.

Kathryn has published op-eds in TechCrunch and Fortune about safety in the digital age, she serves on the Advisory Board for Marketplace Risk, was named one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business in 2021, and Garbo’s partnership with Match was named one of Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas for 2023.

Her unwavering dedication to centering survivors and advocating for accountability has shaped her work, revolutionizing the way we approach safety in an increasingly interconnected world. Through her visionary leadership and unwavering dedication, Kathryn Kosmides is paving the way for a future where survivors are supported, perpetrators are held accountable, and make the internet a safer space for all.