Robinhood

Office address: 85 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025
Website: robinhood.com
Year established: 2013
Company type: financial services
Employees: 2,300+
Expertise: retail brokerage, stock trading, ETF trading, options trading, cryptocurrency trading, portfolio management, cash management, debit card services, futures trading, financial technology, investment education
Parent company: Robinhood Markets, Inc.
Key people: Vlad Tenev (CEO), Stephanie Guild (chief investment officer), Matt Billings (president), Dan Gallagher (chief legal officer), Steve Quirk (chief brokerage officer), Jason Warnick (CFO), Johann Kerbrat (SVP)
Financing status: corporation

Robinhood provides commission-free trading for stocks, ETFs, options, and cryptocurrencies to more than 26.7 million customers. The company operates from Menlo Park and employs 2,300 people. It is recognized for its user-friendly platform and a customer base that is mostly millennials and Gen Z. 

History of Robinhood

Robinhood started in 2013 when Baiju Bhatt and Vlad Tenev, two Stanford graduates, saw a gap in the market. They noticed that big Wall Street firms traded for almost nothing, while regular people paid high commissions. This inspired them to build a platform that would let anyone invest without paying those fees.

A new way to invest

The founders moved back to California and raised money to build their app. They created buzz by setting up a waitlist, and over one million people signed up before the app launched in 2014. Robinhood’s simple design and no-commission trades quickly caught the attention of younger investors.

Robinhood’s growth and recognition

The company won an Apple Design award in 2015, which helped boost its reputation. By 2019, the company reached a $7.6 billion valuation and had millions of users. Major brokerages soon followed Robinhood’s lead by dropping their own trading fees.

Expanding access and features

Robinhood added features like fractional shares and early access to cryptocurrency trading. The firm expanded to the UK in 2024 and launched margin trading with new safety measures. In 2025, it introduced Robinhood Social, a platform for users to share trades and follow public figures.

Robinhood’s products and services 

Robinhood offers a range of products designed to make investing simple and accessible for individuals. The platform covers trading, retirement, and educational resources:

• invest: users can buy and sell stocks and ETFs with no commission
• strategies: investors can explore different portfolio ideas and investment approaches
• trading: active traders have access to real-time market data and trading tools
• retirement: retirement accounts are available to help users plan for long-term goals
• options: users can trade options for advanced investment strategies
• futures: access to futures trading for those seeking alternative investments
• crypto: users can buy and sell cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum
• learn: educational resources help users understand investing and market trends

Robinhood is also known for its easy-to-use app and website, which make investing simple for all experience levels. The platform provides real-time updates and helpful educational content.

Culture and corporate values

Robinhood states that its mission is to make finance open to everyone, highlighting the coming $124 trillion wealth transfer. The firm describes its culture as fast-paced and focused on ambitious goals. It values these principles:

1. high performance
2. safety always
3. one Robinhood
4. participation is power
5. first-principles thinking
6. lean and disciplined

According to the company, employees are expected to take on challenging work and learn quickly. In return, Robinhood offers these benefits:

• career growth: high-impact projects, direct feedback, and learning from top talent
• health and wellness: medical, dental, vision, mental health, and fertility benefits
• financial benefits: 401(k) match, equity, employee stock purchase program, and tax-advantaged accounts
• lifestyle perks: lifestyle wallet, commuter stipends, paid time off, and disability insurance
• community: employee resource groups, clubs, and volunteer time off
• office experience: catered meals, events, and comfortable workspaces in several US locations

Robinhood reports that ESG programs support transparency and long-term impact for its business and customers. In 2025, about 50 percent of new investors identified as first-time users, and 75 percent as millennials or Gen Z. It highlights offsetting 1,634 metric tonnes of Scope 2 emissions and purchasing 6,550 megawatt-hours of Green-e wind energy

About CEO Vlad Tenev and key people

Vlad Tenev is the CEO and chair of Robinhood Markets, leading the company and its board. He aims to democratize finance for all and believes tokenization and blockchain technology will transform the industry. Before this, Tenev co-founded two finance firms in New York City. He holds math degrees from Stanford and UCLA and has several FINRA licenses.

The leadership team at Robinhood oversees key areas of the company’s growth and innovation:

• Stephanie Guild leads as chief investment officer, focusing on investment strategy and market insights for customers
• Matt Billings manages brokerage operations as president, overseeing Robinhood Financial and Robinhood Securities
• Dan Gallagher serves as chief legal, compliance and corporate affairs officer, guiding regulatory and legal strategy
• Steve Quirk acts as chief brokerage officer, bringing experience in trading and brokerage services
• Jason Warnick directs financial operations as CFO, managing company finances and reporting
• Johann Kerbrat heads crypto as senior VP and GM, driving Robinhood’s cryptocurrency business

Robinhood’s leadership team works to deliver new products and value for today’s investors. They focus on putting customers first and adapting to changing market needs.

The future at Robinhood

In August 2025, Robinhood’s stock was up 440 percent over the previous year as it moved into RIA custody and rolled out new AI features. The company announced a referral program with TradePMR and launched prediction markets for sports, aiming to reach more advisors and investors. These actions support Robinhood’s future growth and strengthen its position with a broad, younger client base.

In launching Robinhood Social, the company aims to connect investors and increase transparency. This new feature lets users share trades, discuss strategies, and follow the moves of public figures in real time. While the rollout was met with some industry caution, Robinhood looks to engage its large, young user base and shape how people interact with investing