20VC: Robinhood's Vlad Tenev on Founder Mode | Building 8x $100M Revenue Lines | Lessons from Raising $5BN and the Gamestop Saga | The Future of Artificial Intelligence, Wealth Management and Home Ownership
Vlad Tenev, Co-founder and CEO of Robinhood, dives into his journey of navigating the GameStop saga and the lessons learned in crisis leadership. He shares insights on scaling eight business lines, each exceeding $100 million. Vlad discusses the evolution of wealth management, emphasizing the transformative power of AI. He also reflects on the balance of personal growth through fatherhood and remote work dynamics in leadership. Throughout, he challenges traditional beliefs about innovation and success, offering a fresh perspective for aspiring founders.
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Immigration and Adaptability
Vlad Tenev's family immigrated to the US from Bulgaria after the Berlin Wall fell.
Early childhood experiences of adapting to new environments and languages shaped his resilience and flexibility.
insights INSIGHT
Childhood Moves and Success
Frequent childhood moves are common among successful founders.
Adapting to different environments fosters assimilation and builds crucial social skills.
question_answer ANECDOTE
GameStop and Storytelling
Vlad Tenev reflects on the GameStop saga, a challenging period for him as a leader.
He learned the importance of clear and timely communication, especially during crises.
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In 'The Creative Act: A Way of Being,' Rick Rubin shares his insights on creativity, gathered from his extensive career in the music industry. The book is not limited to musicians but is designed for anyone interested in creative processes. Rubin discusses the concept of 'Source,' a metaphysical idea representing the infinite and constant flow of creative ideas and inspiration. He advocates for a way of being that incorporates creativity into all aspects of life, emphasizing the importance of awareness, noticing, and practicing mindfulness. The book is structured around 78 areas of thought on creativity, making it a versatile and inspiring read that can be revisited multiple times for new insights.
The story of civilization
Will Durant
Ariel Durant
This series, written over a period of 40 years, is a detailed and engaging narrative of human history from prehistoric times to the late 18th century. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of historical events, cultural developments, and the lives of influential individuals. The Durants' approach is characterized by their attention to art, literature, music, and other aspects of culture, making history more accessible and engaging for a broad audience. Despite some criticisms for being Eurocentric and lacking in primary research, the series is praised for its thorough and personable style, making complex historical topics interesting and transparent[2][3][5].
Vlad Tenev is a Co-Founder and CEO of Robinhood, the commission free stock trading and investing app with a market cap today of $20.7BN. Over the incredible 11 year journey Vlad has raised over $5BN from some of the world’s best investors including Sequoia, a16z, DST, Ribbit and Index. Before Robinhood, Vlad started two finance companies in New York City.
In Today’s Episode with Vlad Tenev We Discuss:
1. Surviving a Scandal: The Gamestop Saga:
What was the single hardest element of the sage for Vlad?
What did the sage teach Vlad about how to tell stories effectively?
What did Vlad not do in the period that he wishes he had of done?
What did he do that he wishes he had not done?
What advice does Vlad have for any founder going into a crisis?
2. Founder Mode and The Biggest BS Myths of Leadership:
How does Vlad analyse and assess Paul Graham’s “Founder Mode”?
Where is Founder mode right? Where is it dangerous?
What canonical leadership statements and lessons does Vlad most disagree with?
How has Vlad changed most significantly as a leader?
3. 8x $100M Revenue Lines: Scaling a Juggernaut:
What have been the single biggest challenges of scaling 8 lines of revenue each with over $100M in them?
What have been Vlad’s biggest lessons on when and how to release new products?
Why did Vlad decide to abandon the Europe launch? Was it right with the benefit of hindsight?
What did Vlad not invest in with Robinhood that he wishes he had of done?
The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch 
