Baiju Bhatt, the billionaire co-founder of Robinhood, reflected on his entrepreneurial path in a recent Wall Street Journal interview. Before achieving success with the popular trading app, Bhatt faced rejection from 70 potential investors. His story reveals how persistence through early setbacks shaped his approach to business building.

In 2024, Bhatt made the unusual move of stepping away from his successful company to pursue a childhood dream. He launched Cowboy Space Corp., a venture focused on building data centers designed to operate from space. This pivot represents a rare decision by a tech billionaire to start over as a beginner in an entirely new field.

Bhatt's insights about entrepreneurship carry weight given his track record. The Robinhood platform revolutionized retail investing by eliminating trading fees, attracting millions of users and achieving a significant market valuation. His experience highlights how initial skepticism often precedes breakthrough success in the startup world.

The interview, conducted in San Carlos, California, offers a glimpse into how successful founders think about risk and reinvention. Bhatt's willingness to abandon his established position for an ambitious new project demonstrates the mindset that built Robinhood in the first place.