Revolutionizing Financial Literacy for Kids with Dean Brauer of GoHenry

On this episode of Tank Talks, we sit down with Dean Brauer, co-founder of GoHenry, to explore how his revolutionary fintech startup is teaching kids financial literacy in a digital-first world. Dean takes us through his journey from South Africa to Toronto, then London, and back to Canada, highlighting how living abroad shaped his entrepreneurial mindset.

Dean shares how GoHenry was born out of frustration with kids racking up charges on their parents’ credit cards and how he saw the opportunity to build a fintech product that combines financial education with practical money management. GoHenry’s unique approach of pairing a debit card for kids with an intuitive app has empowered millions of young users to learn about saving, spending, earning, and giving—all while giving parents the tools to guide their children responsibly.

We also dive into Dean’s innovative fundraising strategies, including breaking equity crowdfunding records and raising millions from parents-turned-investors. He reveals how customer loyalty and a mission-driven brand helped GoHenry scale to over 2 million users across the UK and the US.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

* The inspiration behind GoHenry and why financial literacy for kids matters

* How Dean navigated London’s emerging tech scene in the late 2000s

* The unique challenges of expanding a fintech startup internationally

* Why GoHenry chose crowdfunding over traditional VC in the early days

* Lessons from GoHenry’s acquisition by Acorns and the strategic alignment between the two companies

* Dean’s practical advice for founders on maintaining balance, focus, and integrity while scaling a business

Building Financial Literacy for Kids (00:04:55)

* How GoHenry’s debit card and app teach money management

* Why kids learn best by doing, and how GoHenry empowers them

The Crowdfunding Success Story (00:25:55)

* How GoHenry raised $15M through customer investment

* Why crowdfunding worked for GoHenry and how it built brand loyalty

Navigating International Expansion (00:35:37)

* Lessons from expanding GoHenry from the UK to the US and Europe

* How to balance home market stability with new market entry

The Acquisition by Acorns (00:40:09)

* Why Acorns and GoHenry make the perfect pair for building financial wellness

* How the acquisition strategy aligned with GoHenry’s mission

Advice for Entrepreneurs (00:44:17)

* Dean’s “Rule of Three” for balancing family, health, and business

* How maintaining integrity and authenticity helps build lasting relationships

About Dean Brauer

Dean Brauer is the co-founder of GoHenry, a fintech platform designed to teach kids money management skills through real-world experience. Originally from South Africa, Dean’s journey took him from Toronto to London, where he co-founded GoHenry and led it to become a leader in the kid-focused fintech space. Following GoHenry’s acquisition by Acorns, Dean continues to inspire entrepreneurs with his practical insights on building mission-driven businesses.

Connect with Dean Brauer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deanbrauer/

Visit the GoHenry website: https://www.gohenry.com/uk/

Connect with Matt Cohen on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/matt-cohen1

Visit the Ripple Ventures website: https://www.rippleventures.com/

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