Capital Allocators – Inside the Institutional Investment Industry Alexis Ohanian – From Reddit to 776, a Technology Company that Deploys Venture Capital (EP.388)
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May 27, 2024 
Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit and General Partner at Seven Seven Six, dives into his entrepreneurial journey and the evolution of venture capital. He reflects on his early days at Reddit, the complexities of managing social media platforms, and the challenges of safety versus free speech. Ohanian discusses the innovative use of technology in venture capital through his platform, Cerebro, and shares insights on resilience in founders. He also highlights his investments in women’s sports and lessons learned from his wife, tennis star Serena Williams.
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Early Entrepreneurial Instincts
- Alexis Ohanian's first entrepreneurial venture was mowing lawns, realizing he could earn more from neighbors than his dad's allowance.
- He later worked at CompUSA, overcoming public speaking fears, and built websites for extra income.
Waffle House Epiphany
- Initially pre-med at UVA, Alexis switched to history, considering law, but walked out of the LSAT due to hunger.
- This "Waffle House epiphany" led him to pursue entrepreneurship, ultimately resulting in Reddit.
Reddit's Origin
- Reddit's initial concept was a text-message-based food ordering service for cell phones.
- After rejection from Y Combinator, they pivoted to "the front page of the internet" concept.