Robinhood Markets, Inc. (NASDAQ: HOOD) is a U.S.-based financial services company best known for its mobile-first brokerage platform that aims to "democratize finance for all." Founded in 2013 by Vladimir Tenev and Baiju Bhatt and headquartered in Menlo Park, California, the company built early traction by offering commission-free trading and a simplified user experience that attracted a large base of retail investors.
Robinhood’s core products and services include a mobile app and web platform for trading U.S. equities and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), options trading, and cryptocurrency trading where available. The platform also supports fractional-share investing, cash management features, margin lending through its Robinhood Gold subscription and related premium services, and educational tools aimed at new investors. The firm generates revenue from a mix of subscription fees, interest on margin and cash balances, securities lending, and order-routing practices including payment for order flow.
Robinhood primarily serves retail customers in the United States and has focused its product development on U.S. markets and retail investor needs. The company went public in July 2021 and subsequently attracted significant regulatory and public attention after the meme-stock trading events in early 2021, which led to scrutiny, litigation, and regulatory reviews of its business practices. Vladimir Tenev serves as chief executive and remains a prominent leader in the company’s management team, with co-founder Baiju Bhatt also recognized as a key founder. Robinhood continues to evolve its product set and compliance efforts as it navigates regulatory expectations and competitive pressures in the digital brokerage space.