Our Team
At Walnut, we’re reimagining how people learn to relate, connect, and grow—guided by a team that brings heart, science, and lived experience to everything we create.
Our team is made up of therapists, product thinkers, and storytellers who believe relationship skills should be as accessible and normalised as fitness or language learning. Together, we’re building an emotionally intelligent dating platform grounded in therapeutic wisdom, designed for healthy, secure relationships.
Richa Raval | Founder and CEO
“I built Walnut because I believe relationship skills should be taught—not left to chance. Like many, I grew up without a roadmap for healthy connection. My personal experience with complex PTSD and relational trauma made it clear just how much our emotional patterns shape our lives as adults—and how few tools we’re given to understand or change them. While previously building an emotional wellbeing app for children, I quickly realised that kid's emotional wellbeing is directly tied to the home environment and relationship between their parents and how safe they feel with them. And the best time to support that? Before those parents even met! Or very early into the relationship when they were building the patterns they would continue long-term and model for their future children. That’s what inspired me to build Walnut. To help people do the inner work and teach them how to build healthy relationships before they get into them, and to support them every step of the way."
Richa holds a BBA in Finance from the University of Miami and an MSc in Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Management from Imperial College Business School. After 6+ years in the corporate world, she founded Walnut to follow her mission to build a world of healthier relationships.
Dayna Mullen, MSc, Registered Psychologist | Expert Advisor & Product Strategy Consultant
“I joined Walnut because I believe in changing the culture of relationships. As a relationship psychologist, I’ve spent the past 25 years helping people understand who they really are, where they come from, and what they’re looking for in a partner. When we learn how to create safety, security, and emotional clarity with ourselves and others—we change the trajectory of future generations.
Understanding attachment helped me build the kind of relationship I now have with my husband of 24 years—and it’s the foundation of the family we’ve built with our three children. With Walnut, I’m excited to bring that same clarity and insight into how we design product experiences, so people can feel supported, connected, and emotionally equipped—right from the start.”
Dayna holds an MSc in Marriage and Family Therapy from Loma Linda University (California), and a BA in Psychology from the University of Lethbridge. She runs a private practice in Calgary, and is a trained PACT level 3 Therapist.
Bettie Smythwood, MBACP, Registered Psychotherapist | Expert Advisor & IRL Events Lead
“I was drawn to Walnut because it offers something truly unique—a space where emotional growth, self-awareness, and connection sit at the center of the experience. Unlike traditional dating or friend-finding apps, Walnut invites users to do the inner work, to reflect, and to grow—and in doing so, creates a community of people who are seeking conscious, meaningful relationships.
I’m especially excited to be leading live events that combine self-discovery with play—offering interactive games and workshops that help people build the emotional and relational tools that truly matter.”
Bettie is a BACP-registered psychotherapist working with individuals and couples in private practice in West London. Her work bridges therapeutic depth with real-life connection, making her the perfect fit to lead Walnut’s immersive, skill-building events.
Calvin Anderson, MBACP, Registered Psychotherapist | Expert Advisor, Therapeutic Content Creator & Podcast Co-Host
“I partnered with Walnut because of the intentional depth it brings to relationships. This isn’t just about finding someone—it’s about finding yourself first. Walnut creates space for meaningful self-reflection, which I believe is the essential foundation for lasting connection.
In a world that rushes into surface-level intimacy, Walnut invites people to slow down, get curious, and build from the inside out. That’s a philosophy I live by, and one I’m proud to share through videos, content, and conversation.”
Calvin is a BACP-registered integrative psychotherapist based in the UK, working across psychodynamic, person-centred, and CBT modalities. At Walnut, he supports users through in-app therapeutic resources and reflections, and co-hosts Walnut’s upcoming podcast series on modern love and emotional wellness.
Tassadaq Hussain, Full-Stack Developer, AI Enthusiast, Builder of Meaningful Tech | Lead App Developer
Tassadaq is a full-stack developer and AI expert who brings Walnut to life through elegant, scalable technology. With a passion for building apps that make a real difference, he was drawn to Walnut’s unique mission—combining emotional intelligence with tech in a way that feels fresh, purposeful, and deeply human.
He leads development across platforms, helping ensure that every feature feels smooth, intuitive, and emotionally intelligent from the inside out.
Stian Erikson, CEO of Codora, Technology Strategist, Scalable Systems Expert | Tech Advisor
Stian is the CEO of Codora and brings over a decade of experience leading high-performing tech teams and scaling innovative digital products. As a technical advisor to Walnut, he offers strategic guidance on architecture, infrastructure, and long-term scalability.
What drew Stian to Walnut was its unique vision—using technology not just to connect people, but to deepen emotional awareness and build meaningful relationships. He’s passionate about supporting products that combine purpose with technical excellence.
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