Baiju Bhatt faced years of rejection before co-founding Robinhood, the app that disrupted Wall Street. Now, he shifts focus to Cowboy Space Corporation, aiming to place data centers in orbit and transmit solar power from space.
Bhatt co-founded Robinhood in 2013, enabling commission-free stock trading, particularly appealing to younger investors. The company went public in 2021, marking a remarkable achievement in fintech. However, by March 2024, Bhatt stepped down as chief creative officer to concentrate on his new venture.
Cowboy Space Corporation, launched in October 2024 and rebranded in May 2026, focuses on space-based solar power and orbital data centers to meet the increasing energy demands of artificial intelligence. The company raised $275 million in a Series B round in May 2026, valuing it at $2 billion.
Bhatt contends that the economics of space-based solar power could finally be viable, driven by AI's energy needs. However, the challenges of developing this technology are substantial, as venture costs and timelines are notoriously unpredictable.