Draft:Ana Kirova
| Submission declined on 10 November 2025 by Avgeekamfot (talk). This submission's references do not show that the subject qualifies for a Wikipedia article—that is, they do not show significant coverage (not just passing mentions) about the subject in published, reliable, secondary sources that are independent of the subject (see the guidelines on the notability of people). Before any resubmission, additional references meeting these criteria should be added (see technical help and learn about mistakes to avoid when addressing this issue). If no additional references exist, the subject is not suitable for Wikipedia. This submission does not appear to be written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. Entries should be written from a neutral point of view, and should refer to a range of independent, reliable, published sources. Please rewrite your submission in a more encyclopedic format. Please make sure to avoid peacock terms that promote the subject.
Where to get help
How to improve a draft
You can also browse Wikipedia:Featured articles and Wikipedia:Good articles to find examples of Wikipedia's best writing on topics similar to your proposed article. Improving your odds of a speedy review To improve your odds of a faster review, tag your draft with relevant WikiProject tags using the button below. This will let reviewers know a new draft has been submitted in their area of interest. For instance, if you wrote about a female astronomer, you would want to add the Biography, Astronomy, and Women scientists tags. Editor resources
|  |
Comment: A bit promotional. Sources largely not linked even though they would be online, largely the sources are about the company or interviews with her about the company. Avgeekamfot (talk) 02:35, 10 November 2025 (UTC)
Ana Kirova | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1992 (age approx. 33) Varna, Bulgaria |
| Alma mater | Imperial College Business School (MBA) |
| Occupation(s) | Business executive, product & design leader |
| Years active | 2014–present |
| Known for | CEO of Feeld |
Ana Kirova (born c. 1992) is a Bulgarian-born designer, technologist, and business executive based in London. She is the chief executive officer of the dating app Feeld, a company known for its inclusive approach to intimacy, identity, and relationship structures.[1][2] Kirova has been credited with reshaping Feeld’s image from a niche app for threesomes into a global platform for queer and open-minded connection, while also instituting progressive internal policies such as a company-wide minimum salary and a fully remote workforce.[3][4][5]
Her work sits at the intersection of technology, sexuality, and design, and she is frequently cited as one of the few queer women leading a major global tech company.[6]
Early life and education
[edit]Kirova was born in Varna, Bulgaria, in the early 1990s and grew up during the country’s post-Soviet cultural transition.[7] She attended a public language high school in Varna before relocating to London in 2011 to study graphic design.[8] In London, she studied Graphic and Digital Design at the University of Greenwich and completed a BA in 2014. In 2022, she graduated with an MBA from Imperial College Business School.[9]
Career
[edit]Early career (2011–2014)
[edit]Before joining Feeld, Kirova worked as a freelance designer and brand strategist in London’s tech and fashion sectors.[8] Her early work involved collaborations with independent studios and clients focused on digital aesthetics and social identity.
Feeld and the evolution of 3nder (2014–2020)
[edit]In 2014, Kirova began collaborating with multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur Dimo Trifonov, who had created an early prototype of the app then called 3nder.[10] The concept emerged from their shared interest in creating a space for open relationships and self-expression. When Tinder’s parent company Match Group filed a trademark lawsuit over the name, 3nder rebranded as Feeld in 2016.[10] By 2018, Kirova had become Feeld’s head of product, leading key differentiating features such as expanded gender options.[11]
CEO tenure (2021–present)
[edit]Kirova was appointed Chief Executive Officer in April 2021.[12] Her leadership marked a new phase for Feeld, emphasizing ethical growth and cultural dialogue rather than scale alone.[13]
In November 2021, she announced a minimum salary of £60,000 (approximately US $80,000) for all full-time employees, a move covered by Time and The Guardian as a rare example of equitable pay in tech startups.[3][4] Between 2022 and 2025, Feeld doubled its revenue, reaching £39.5 million in 2024 according to The Guardian.[14] Feeld now operates in more than 100 countries, and under Kirova’s leadership the company has focused on sustainable and profitable growth.[15]
Under her leadership, Feeld underwent a community-driven rebrand in 2023, involving members in most aspects of the rebrand and marking the app’s second major redesign since 2016.[16]
In 2024, Feeld launched A Feeld/Fucking Magazine (AFM), an annual print publication exploring art, sexuality, and intimacy with contributors such as Leilah Weinraub, Sasha Bonét, and Tavi Gevinson.[16] Under Kirova’s direction, Feeld also introduced new moderation protocols, anti-harassment tools, and AI-assisted privacy features aimed at preventing image misuse and data leaks.[17]
Her public interviews, such as those in Interview Magazine, The Independent, and Them, have often focused on the ethics of digital desire, consent, and inclusivity in product design.[18][2][6]
Influence and impact
[edit]Kirova’s leadership has been cited by journalists and cultural critics as emblematic of a “post-Tinder” era of online connection—one in which dating apps function as spaces for identity exploration rather than transactional matching.[19][15] She has been recognized for applying design principles from fine art and architecture to digital products, emphasizing “spatial empathy” i.e the sense of care and awareness users bring into virtual encounters.[13] Her decision to continue expanding Feeld as a remote-first company with staff across more than 30 countries has also influenced hiring models among ethical and creative-tech startups.[4]
Public speaking and media
[edit]Kirova has spoken at SXSW (2024), Web Summit Lisbon (2023), and the London Design Biennale (2022), discussing subjects such as “Designing for Intimacy” and “The Future of Ethical Tech.”[20][21][22]
She appeared on the Simon Sinek Podcast episode “Love Without Judgment” (2024) and on Annie Mac’s Changes podcast (2023), where she discussed the psychology of online connection and queer visibility in tech leadership.[23][24]
Her written work includes essays in A Feeld/Fucking Magazine blending memoir and design criticism.[25]
Personal life
[edit]Kirova lives in Europe with her partner Dimo Trifonov, Feeld’s founder and creative director.[19] She has said her Bulgarian upbringing and design training shaped her focus on ambiguity and emotional minimalism in both life and work.[7]
Recognition
[edit]- Named to The Independent’s E2E Tech 100 list (2024)[2]
- Featured in Forbes “Next 1000 Tech Leaders” (2023)[26]
- Included in Time’s Leaders in Work Culture roundup (2022)[27]
- Named a Forbes 30 Under 30, Europe Class of 2022 (2022)[28]
She has been interviewed or profiled in The New Yorker, The Guardian, Fast Company, Wired, Elle, Interview Magazine, Them, and the Financial Times.[19][1][13][5][16][18][6][15]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "Unconventional dating app Feeld reports surge in 'vanilla tourists'". The Guardian. 1 June 2025.
- ^ a b c "E2E Tech 100: Ana Kirova of Feeld". The Independent. April 2024.
- ^ a b "Why This Dating App Is Paying All Employees an $80,000 Minimum Salary". Time. December 2021.
- ^ a b c "Feeld announces remote-first work policy". The Guardian. November 2021.
- ^ a b "It's Fine to Never Meet IRL". Wired. February 2023.
- ^ a b c "Can a Dating App Be a Radical Tool for Self-Discovery? Feeld's CEO Thinks So". Them. February 2024.
- ^ a b "Ana Kirova, CEO of Feeld, on Unconventional Sex and Dating". Hypebae. August 2022.
- ^ a b "Profile: Ana Kirova". Mind the Product.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ "Imperial College Business School Alumni Listing: Ana Kirova". Imperial College. 2022.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ a b "Threesome App 3nder Renames to Feeld After Tinder Lawsuit". TechCrunch. 2 August 2016.
- ^ "Feeld's Gender and Sexuality Options Expand". Them. February 2024.
- ^ "Corrections and Clarifications". The Guardian. 16 September 2024.
- ^ a b c "How Feeld Completely Reinvented the Idea of a Dating App". Fast Company. July 2023.
- ^ "Throuples Dating App Feeld Nearly Doubles Turnover to £39.5m". The Guardian. 8 September 2024.
- ^ a b c "Targeted Dating Apps Make Match with Mainstream Rivals". Financial Times. 27 July 2024.
- ^ a b c "The Feeld Dating App Is Publishing a Magazine". Elle. March 2024.
- ^ "Users of 'Throuples' App Feeld May Have Had Data Exposed". Wired. September 2024.
- ^ a b "Feeld CEO Ana Kirova on Skincare, Saltburn, and Sexual Awakenings". Interview Magazine. February 2024.
- ^ a b c "A Hookup App for the Emotionally Mature". The New Yorker. 11 July 2022.
- ^ "SXSW Conference Schedule – Designing for Intimacy: Ana Kirova". March 2024.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ "Web Summit Lisbon – Speaker Bio: Ana Kirova". November 2023.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ "London Design Biennale – Panel "Tech and Tenderness"". June 2022.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ "Love Without Judgment with Ana Kirova". Simon Sinek Podcast (Podcast). April 2024.
{{cite podcast}}: Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ "Changes with Annie Mac – Episode with Ana Kirova" (Podcast). 2023.
{{cite podcast}}: Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ "A Note from Ana: The Feeld Effect". Feeld Magazine. November 2023.
- ^ "Ana Kirova Profile". Forbes. 2023.
- ^ "Leaders in Work Culture 2022". Time. 2022.
- ^ "Forbes 30 Under 30 2022: Technology". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-11-08.