Vlad Tenev, Robinhood's co-founder | Candid with Index | In conversation with Jan Hammer

Vlad Tenev, co-founder and CEO of Robinhood, joins Jan Hammer from Index to discuss his journey from studying math at Stanford to transforming the brokerage industry. Vlad shares his personal story of growing up as an immigrant, his early struggles to get a job, and how he discovered his passion for building companies. He also talks about Robinhood’s approach to product innovation, and why he believes the biggest opportunities in fintech are still ahead. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In this Candid with Index, Jan and Vlad discuss: 1. Upbringing and Academia How Vlad’s immigrant childhood shaped his ambition and drive His parents’ sacrifices and the pressure he felt as an only child Why he left his math PhD program for a more meaningful career path 2. The Leap into Entrepreneurship How the 2008 financial crisis drove Vlad to create his own path Lessons from Chronos and how they shaped Robinhood’s foundation The shift from financial success to building a “legacy” business 3. Lessons in Leadership Learning patience and focusing on long-term goals as a leader Parallels between building products and creating works of art Knowing when to listen to feedback and when to trust his vision 4. Disrupting Saturated Markets Robinhood’s entry into the competitive credit card market Attention to detail in design, from cashback to card textures Why Vlad believes challengers can succeed in crowded industries 5. The Future of Fintech Why Vlad sees fintech as a global market full of opportunities How evolving customer needs will drive the next wave of innovation Why financial empowerment remains central despite rapid change ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (0:00) Intro (0:57) Vlad’s immigrant upbringing (3:16) Leaving academia (5:59) Becoming an entrepreneur (8:27) From bootstrapping to building a legacy (12:22) Lessons in leadership (14:10) Disrupting saturated markets (17:45) The opportunities in fintech