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.

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

The ethos of Robinhood has always been to provide financial tools previously available only to the wealthy, making them accessible to the mass market.

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

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.

Vlad and his co-founder designed Robinhood to be a simple, user-friendly mobile trading application that would attract users who were previously intimidated by complex financial systems.

Eliminating trading commissions and lowering account minimums to zero were key innovations that made Robinhood possible and allowed more people to invest.

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.

Robinhood aims to be a comprehensive platform for all financial assets, offering not just stocks but also credit cards and retirement products to meet the needs of younger investors.