From Startup to Legend: Vlad Tenev & Howard Lindzon Recount Robinhood’s Rise

In this candid interview, Vlad Tenev, co-founder and CEO of Robinhood, sits down with Howard Lindzon to reflect on the remarkable journey from a startup idea to a $40 billion company reshaping investing. Vlad recounts Robinhood’s early days—pivoting from high-frequency trading software to mobile-first commission-free investing—and the challenges of fundraising and navigating regulation when no one wanted to back a brokerage startup.The conversation dives into pivotal moments: the explosive growth after Robinhood’s waitlist launch, the GameStop crisis, and steering the company through intense public scrutiny during the COVID era. Vlad opens up about the evolution of his role as CEO, from scrappy founder to leading a 3,000-person company, and shares why his passion remains rooted in building new products—from prediction markets to digital banking.With reflections on competition, leadership, and the future of fintech, this discussion offers a rare inside look at the highs and lows of building one of the most influential platforms in modern finance.#Robinhood #VladTenev #StartupJourney #Fintech #Investing #Leadership #GameStop