Greenlight

Greenlight's journey began when founders Tim Sheehan and Johnson Cook identified a gap in the market: a lack of practical tools for parents to teach their children about money. Sheehan, drawing from his own experiences and realizing the importance of early financial habits, envisioned a solution. As a father of four, he saw firsthand the limited resources available for instilling financial literacy in kids. This personal insight, coupled with surveys of other parents, solidified the potential for a family-focused financial tool, leading to the birth of Greenlight. The company was founded in 2014 with a mission to help parents raise financially-smart kids.

Originally based in Atlanta, Greenlight developed an all-in-one money management platform specifically designed for families. This platform includes a debit card for kids and teens, alongside a companion app that empowers parents with tools to automate allowances, manage chores, and set flexible spending controls. Simultaneously, children and teenagers learn crucial financial skills encompassing earning, saving, wise spending, giving, and even investing, all under parental guidance. The core belief driving Greenlight is that every child deserves the opportunity to grow into a financially healthy and happy adult. This dedication fueled the company's growth, and by January 2023, it had expanded to 380 employees. As of June 2023, Greenlight served over 6 million users, demonstrating significant market penetration in the teen app category. The company's innovative approach and focus on family financial empowerment have positioned it as a leader in the fintech space, attracting substantial investment and achieving a multi-billion dollar valuation.