Robinhood transformed stock trading from a cumbersome and expensive process to a free, mobile-first experience aimed at democratizing finance for everyone.

The founders of Robinhood recognized the financial industry's shortcomings and the opportunity to create a new kind of financial services company, driven by the rise of electronic trading and mobile technology.

Robinhood's commission-free model was crucial in removing financial barriers for new investors, particularly young people with limited funds.

Robinhood diversified its product offerings beyond equities trading, introducing retirement accounts and high-yield cash sweep balances, which attracted a broader range of customers.

Young people felt disillusioned with the financial system after the global financial crisis, which created an opportunity for Robinhood to establish a brand that resonated with them.

The founders faced a unique challenge in marketing Robinhood due to regulatory restrictions, which required them to secure funding before they could launch their product.

I was inspired to create Robinhood after witnessing the financial industry's negative reputation and wanting to offer a platform that genuinely helps the average investor. A lot of Robinhood customers start with as little as $10, which was a significant innovation because before Robinhood, trading fees made it impractical to invest small amounts.

When Robinhood launched in March 2015, we converted hundreds of thousands of users from a waitlist, exceeding initial expectations of a 10% conversion rate.

The initial waitlist for Robinhood saw over 50,000 signups in the first week and nearly a million users within the first year, marking a historic demand for a consumer finance product.