The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch 20VC: Reddit CEO Steve Huffman on Scaling Teams; What Works and What Does Not, A CEO's Relationship with Stress and Managing It & How To Structure Internal Decision-Making Effectively
Oct 25, 2019
Steve Huffman, Co-founder and CEO of Reddit, shares his journey from Y Combinator to leading one of the largest online communities. He dives into the early struggles of Reddit's inception and highlights the importance of intuition in product development alongside data. Huffman discusses tackling stress management and how his approach has evolved over the years, especially in leadership roles. He emphasizes the significance of clear communication during tough decisions and the art of assembling a values-aligned team, offering a peek into the dualities of Silicon Valley's tech culture.
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Reddit's Origin
- Steve Huffman and Alexis Ohanian initially pitched My Mobile Menu to Y Combinator, a food ordering service via cell phones.
- Y Combinator rejected the idea but encouraged them to work on something else, leading to Reddit's creation.
YC's First Batch
- Reddit was part of Y Combinator's first batch, alongside companies like MemAmp and Justin.tv (which became Twitch).
- The batch was a tight-knit group, and many participants remain close with Steve Huffman today.
Return to Reddit
- Steve Huffman returned to Reddit in 2015 after leaving in 2009. He rejoined due to Reddit's struggles after it was spun out from Condé Nast.
- He recognized Reddit's untapped potential and felt compelled to help it succeed.
