Ryan Glover: The Definition of Collaboration
by Nyah Chapman
Ryan Glover is an multi-faceted entrepreneur, media executive, and philanthropist. He is the co-founder of Bounce TV, a multicast network targeted towards African American audiences, and the founder of Greenwood Bank, a digital bank aimed at serving Black and Latinx communities.
Glover's journey in entrepreneurship began in the entertainment industry. In the early 2000s, he worked as an executive at Turner Broadcasting, where he helped launch TNT's "Tyler Perry's House of Payne" and "Meet the Browns." In 2011, he co-founded Bounce TV, which became the first-ever African American-owned broadcast network. The network reaches more than 85 million homes and has become a platform for diverse content creators.
In 2020, after the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent protests that erupted across the United States, Glover was motivated to create Greenwood Bank. Named after the Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma, which was once a thriving Black business community before being destroyed in the 1921 Tulsa race massacre, the bank aims to provide financial services to communities that have been underserved and overlooked by traditional banking institutions.
Greenwood Bank is a digital bank that offers checking and savings accounts, as well as a debit card and mobile app. The bank is designed to provide financial literacy and education to its customers, with a focus on helping them build wealth and achieve financial independence. In 2022, Greenwood acquired the private membership network The Gathering Spot in an undisclosed cash and stock purchase.
The Gathering Spot, offers spaces for Black professionals to work, meet and socialize, opened in Midtown in 2016. Since then, the company has opened physical spaces in Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles, while creating communities in New York, Chicago, Detroit, Houston and Charlotte.
In addition, Greenwood acquired Kinly, a digitally native neobank building generational wealth for Black America and its allies. This acquisition marks Greenwood’s third acquisition over the last year, highlighting the company’s continued expansion plans to bring best-in-class offerings together for its members. Since the beginning of 2022, Greenwood has also acquired The Gathering Spot, A3C, and Valence to provide its members with access to additional professional services, networking opportunities and cultural experiences. The company also launched Elevate, a premium lifestyle product designed exclusively for Greenwood members, unlocking unique cultural and lifestyle experiences.
In addition to his entrepreneurial endeavors, Glover is also a philanthropist. He has supported organizations such as the Atlanta Children's Shelter, the United Negro College Fund, and the National Civil Rights Museum.
Ryan Glover's success in the media and banking industries demonstrates his commitment to creating opportunities and improving the lives of marginalized communities. Through his work, he has shown that entrepreneurship and philanthropy can be powerful tools for social change.
