Ryan Holmes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ryan Holmes
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Holmes at Collision in 2019
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| Born | December 30, 1974 |
| Occupation | Computer programmer, entrepreneur |
| Known for | CEO of Hootsuite |
Ryan Holmes was born on December 30, 1974, in Canada. He is a computer programmer and a business person who creates internet companies. Ryan is most famous for starting and leading Hootsuite. This company makes a special tool that helps businesses manage their social media. Hootsuite has over 18 million users around the world.
Ryan started working on Hootsuite in 2008 through his company, Invoke Media. He also founded the League of Innovators. This is a charity that helps young people learn how to start their own businesses. Ryan often writes articles about technology and starting businesses for websites like LinkedIn, Forbes, and Fast Company.
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Ryan's Early Life and Learning
Ryan Holmes grew up in Vernon, Canada. He lived on a small farm that was quite isolated and did not have electricity. When he was in fifth grade, Ryan won a computer programming contest. His prize was an Apple IIc computer. He had to change the computer so it could run on a car battery!
Ryan spent a lot of his free time using computers, both at school and at home. In the mid-1990s, he started taking business and computer science classes at Okanagan College. However, he later decided to leave college. In 2018, he received a special honorary degree from the University of British Columbia. This was to recognize his help in making Vancouver a big center for technology.
Ryan's Journey in Business
Ryan Holmes started his first business when he was in high school. It was a paintball field, which later became an online store. After leaving college in 1997, Ryan moved back to his hometown. There, he opened a pizza restaurant called Growlies. He even sold a franchise of the business that same year.
In 1999, Ryan decided to sell Growlies. He wanted to focus again on his love for computers and join the growing tech industry. He moved to Vancouver and taught himself how to design and build websites. He then started working at a local technology company.
How Hootsuite Began
After that, Ryan started his own digital media company called Invoke. This is where the idea for Hootsuite came to life in 2008. Seven of Invoke's employees worked on creating the Hootsuite tool. It was designed to help businesses use social media for their marketing.
In 2009, Ryan raised $1.9 million to help Hootsuite grow. He then made Hootsuite its own separate company. In 2012, Hootsuite received another $20 million in funding. By August 2013, Hootsuite had secured $165 million. This was the largest amount of money ever raised by a Canadian software company at that time!
Today, Hootsuite has almost 1,000 employees. It helps over 16 million users around the world. The company also offers big solutions for large businesses that need to manage a lot of social media.
Helping Young Entrepreneurs
In 2013, Ryan Holmes launched a program for young business people. It was first called The Next Big Thing, but later changed to The League of Innovators. He wanted to help create a "Maple Syrup Mafia." This is a term he used to describe a new group of powerful Canadian technology leaders, similar to the famous "PayPal Mafia."
In 2016, Ryan worked with Steve Suchy to create Oristand. This is an affordable standing desk made from cardboard.
In 2017, Ryan wrote his first book, The 4 Billion Dollar Tweet. This book helps people understand and get the most out of social media. Ryan even said that his book inspired the CEO of Goldman Sachs to send his first tweet!
In 2020, Ryan started working on a new project called Kern.al. It is a platform for new startup ideas.
Awards and Recognition
- 2012: Received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Okanagan College Alumni Association.
- 2013: Awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Ryan's Personal Interests
Ryan Holmes enjoys rock climbing, practicing yoga, and paragliding in his free time.
