Alexis Ohanian: The Inspiring Story of Reddit’s Co-Founder
The “Mayor of the Internet,” Alexis Ohanian, who is well-known for being one of the Reddit co-founders, followed an unusual route to fame. Ohanian was reared in Baltimore, Maryland, after being born in Brooklyn, New York, and at first wanted to practise law. But it was during a pivotal encounter at a Waffle House that he realised his genuine calling was business.
Reddit's Founding
Image Source: inc.com
Ohanian met Steve Huffman, who would later co-found Reddit, while he was a student at the University of Virginia. They became good friends because of their mutual passion for video gaming. They came up with the concept for MyMobileMenu, a mobile meal ordering service, during their junior year. They were encouraged to join the startup accelerator with a new directive, despite Paul Graham, one of the co-founders of Y Combinator, initially rejecting them: to build the first page of the internet.
Ohanian and Huffman created Reddit, a basic website with text and links, in just three weeks in 2005. Ohanian rapidly realised the potential of their user base, and it began to incorporate user comments. Due to Reddit’s explosive growth, Condé Nast purchased the site in 2006 for an estimated $10–20 million.
Individual Sad Events and Novel Pursuits
Ohanian has personal difficulties in spite of his success in his career. After an accident, his then-girlfriend went into a coma but arose months later. 2008 saw the passing of his mother, who had been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer at the same time.
After leaving Reddit, Ohanian started other projects. He accepted a fellowship in Armenia, started the travel website Hipmunk, and co-founded the “geek” marketplace Breadpig. In order to defend online liberties, he also became a vocal opponent of the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and co-founded the Internet Defense League.
Personal Life and Reddit
Ohanian and Huffman got back together in 2015 amidst internal strife and public controversy to help revive Reddit. Ohanian travelled to Rome in the same year to meet tennis sensation Serena Williams. As their romance developed, they got engaged in 2016 and welcomed their daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., into the world in 2017. Adira River Ohanian, their second daughter, was born in 2023 after they were married later that year.
Advocacy and Venture Capital
Ohanian co-founded Initialized Capital in 2016 with an emphasis on inclusive and diverse investing. Later on, he founded Seven Seven Six, a venture capital company whose goal is to uplift marginalised areas. Ohanian has also supported paternity leave, highlighting its significance in advocacy and personal essays.
Latest Advancements
Ohanian still has an impact on the IT and startup industries. He oversaw a 2020 investment in the National Women’s Soccer League team Angel City FC. His recent purchase of a Tesla Cybertruck generated headlines and cemented his reputation as a tech aficionado.
In summary, Alexis Ohanian’s path from aspiring lawyer to digital tycoon is characterised by creativity, tenacity, and a dedication to social justice. The digital world is still being shaped and inspired by his influence on the internet and his support for inclusive growth.
I am a student pursuing my bachelor’s in information technology. I have a interest in writing so, I am working a freelance content writer because I enjoy writing. I also write poetries. I believe in the quote by anne frank “paper has more patience than person