The Compound and Friends Inside the Robinhood Revolution With Vlad Tenev
67 snips
Dec 5, 2025 
Vlad Tenev, Co-founder and CEO of Robinhood Markets, dives into his journey from Bulgaria to revolutionizing the investing landscape. He discusses the GameStop phenomenon, the surge of retail trading during the pandemic, and how commission-free trading transformed the industry. Tenev reveals insights on customer retention strategies, the impact of prediction markets, and Robinhood's evolution amid scrutiny. With 11 revenue streams, he reflects on overcoming challenges and innovating for active traders and future growth.
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From Physics To Fintech Pivot
- Vlad Tenev met his co-founder in the physics department at Stanford and both pivoted into finance after the 2008 crisis.
- Their first firms (Solaris Trading and an enterprise software pivot) led directly to building Robinhood.
How Robinhood Changed Brokerage
- Robinhood combined HFT-driven efficiency with mobile UX during the mobile revolution to create commission-free, mobile-first brokerage.
- That combo made fractional shares and 24-hour markets mainstream and shifted the industry's default model.
Retail Investing's Reawakening
- Robinhood played a central role in reawakening retail investing, especially among younger households during 2020.
- The platform accelerated equity ownership for lower-income cohorts, contributing to sizable wealth growth.
