Baiju Bhatt
Baiju Bhatt | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1984/1985 Poquoson, Virginia, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, business leader |
| Years active | 2013–present |
| Known for | Co-founder of Robinhood, founder and CEO of Aetherflux |
| Spouse | Adrienne Sussman |
| Children | 1 |
Baiju Prafulkumar Bhatt (born 1984/1985) is an American business leader and entrepreneur, known for founding Aetherflux, a company focused on space-based solar power solutions. He also co-founded Robinhood, a prominent financial services firm in the United States, where he formerly served as co-chief executive officer.
Early life and education
Bhatt, whose parents immigrated from Gujarat, was raised in Poquoson, Virginia. His early fascination with space was influenced by his father's employment at NASA’s Langley Research Center. He completed both a bachelor's degree in physics and a master's degree in mathematics at Stanford University in 2008, where he connected with Vlad Tenev, who would later become his business partner at Robinhood.
Robinhood
In 2013, Bhatt and Vlad Tenev established the commission-free trading platform Robinhood. The mobile application was introduced in 2015, with Bhatt overseeing product development and design. He emphasized extensive user research, including gathering feedback from Stanford students, which played a key role in Robinhood receiving an Apple Design Award that same year.
After a 2018 investment round that valued the company at $6 billion, both Bhatt and Tenev achieved billionaire status. In November 2020, Bhatt transitioned from his role as co-CEO to chief creative officer. By March 2024, he stepped down from executive duties to pursue other projects but continues to serve on Robinhood’s board of directors.
Aetherflux
Bhatt launched Aetherflux in October 2024 and assumed the position of CEO at this San Carlos-based startup. The company aims to deploy a satellite network designed to harvest solar energy in orbit and transmit it to Earth using infrared laser technology. Their focus is on supplying power to remote areas where conventional electricity infrastructure is either prohibitively expensive or difficult to implement. The initiative is inspired by concepts from science fiction and theories related to aether, reflecting innovative approaches to energy distribution. Additionally, Bhatt invests in private aerospace enterprises such as Reflect Orbit, which develops space mirrors intended to augment ground-based solar farms during nighttime hours, and Apex, a manufacturer specializing in satellite bus systems.
Awards and recognition
Bhatt has received accolades from several organizations and media outlets, including Fast Company’s list of "Most Creative People" in 2017 and Fortune’s "40 Under 40" in 2018, underscoring his impact within fintech and entrepreneurial circles.
Personal life
He is married to Adrienne Sussman and they have one child. As of December 2024, Forbes estimates his net worth at approximately US$2.5 billion.
In popular culture
In the 2023 film Dumb Money, which dramatizes the GameStop short squeeze, Bhatt is depicted by actor Rushi Kota.