Is Alexis Ohanian just another tech entrepreneur, or is there more to his story¹? He co-founded Reddit in a college dorm room and built a thriving venture capital firm. His journey is truly extraordinary¹. As an internet entrepreneur, bestselling author, and tech influencer, he’s a digital age titan.

Ohanian’s success shows his determination and ability to spot trends¹. He co-founded Reddit with Steve Huffman in 2005. Then, he sold it to Condé Nast for $10-20 million in 2006, becoming a millionaire at 23¹. He didn’t stop there; he co-founded Initialized Capital in 2011. This firm has backed companies like Coinbase, Instacart, and Opendoor¹.

The Unconventional Journey of Alexis Ohanian

Alexis Ohanian’s rise to tech fame is truly inspiring. In 2005, while at the University of Virginia, he co-founded Reddit with Steve Huffman²³. Ohanian took care of the business side, from design to customer service. Huffman worked on the tech side.

Co-founding Reddit: A Dorm Room Venture

By 2006, Ohanian and Huffman sold Reddit to Condé Nast for $10-20 million³. This made Ohanian a millionaire at 23. It was the start of his journey in tech and business.

Transitioning from Reddit to Venture Capitalism

After Reddit, Ohanian worked on other startups. Then, in 2010, he co-founded Initialized Capital with Garry Tan². At Initialized, he invested in early-stage startups. He used his experience as an early entrepreneur to spot and support new ventures.

“Alexis Ohanian’s journey from co-founding Reddit in a dorm room to becoming a successful venture capitalist is a testament to his entrepreneurial spirit and vision.”

Initialized Capital: Ohanian’s Early-Stage Investment Firm

Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit, has made a mark in venture capital with Initialized Capital. Started in 2011⁴, it’s now a top name in early-stage investing. The firm has raised over $3.2 billion by 2021⁴.

It focuses on startups with big ideas and strong leaders. This approach has led to hits like Coinbase, Instacart, and Opendoor⁴.

Investment Philosophy and Success Stories

Ohanian teamed up with Garry Tan, a co-founder with tech smarts. Together, they’ve backed startups across many fields⁵. Their portfolio boasts over 200 companies⁵.

They’ve also backed several billion-dollar companies⁴. Ohanian’s business know-how and Tan’s tech skills make a winning team⁵.

Initialized Capital has grown from $7 million in 2011⁵ to $700 million in 2021⁴. Their knack for spotting and supporting startups has made them a respected name in venture capital.

“Garry Tan has been listed on the Forbes Midas List from 2018 to 2022, a testament to his and Initialized Capital’s success in identifying and supporting promising startups.”⁵

Initialized Capital’s focus on early-stage investing has made it a big player in venture capital. Ohanian and Tan’s way of backing bold, capable founders has made them a top choice for entrepreneurs.

The Rise of alexis ohanian as a Crypto Enthusiast

Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit, has become a key player in crypto and decentralized tech. His interest in crypto started in 2014 when he met the Bitcoin subreddit. They introduced him to Bitcoin⁶.

Ohanian saw the power of blockchain tech. He believed it could create digital assets like NFTs. In 2014, he spent $15,000 on Ether, now worth about $84 million⁷.

His family’s history, especially the Armenian genocide, drew him to blockchain. It offered a way to protect assets from governments⁷.

Ohanian supports crypto startups with his knowledge and resources. In 2021, he started Seven Seven Six. It focuses on blockchain and decentralized tech⁷.

He made smart investments, like backing Coinbase early. It became a huge success, valued at $86 billion in 2021⁶.

Seven Seven Six also invested in QuickNode, a blockchain company. They put $60 million into it⁶.

Alexis Ohanian’s work in crypto has made him a leader in finance and tech⁷.

Investing in Blockchain and NFT Startups

Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit, is a big name in blockchain and NFT investing. His firm, Seven Seven Six, has put over $750 million into 29 startups in the crypto and NFT fields⁸. These startups include Coinbase, Curated, and Opendoor, among others.

Ohanian believes blockchain and NFTs can change how we own and share digital assets. He’s always looking for new ways these decentralized technologies can be used. He sees the crypto ecosystem as full of potential⁸.

Exploring the Potential of Decentralized Technologies

Ohanian’s firm, 776 Management, has raised $500 million for two new funds. One is for early-stage startups, and the other for Series A and B rounds⁸. Now, about 40% of their portfolio is in blockchain startups and nft investments⁸.

They’ve teamed up with Polygon for a $200 million fund to back social media and Web 3 projects. This move shows their big role in the crypto ecosystem⁸. Big VC firms like Paradigm and Sequoia are also pouring billions into Web 3⁸.

“Blockchain and NFT startups such as Axie Infinity, Lolli, and CoinTracker are among the investments made by 776 Management in the crypto space.”⁸

Ohanian’s early bet on Coinbase paid off when it went public last year. Its value soared over $85 billion, showing his knack for spotting trends in decentralized technologies⁸.

Seven Seven Six: A Venture for Social Impact

In 2021, Alexis Ohanian started a new venture capital firm called Seven Seven Six. It focuses on crypto investments and social impact initiatives⁹. The firm has $150 million to invest and has helped 29 startups in the crypto and NFT space⁹.

The 776 Foundation, a part of Seven Seven Six, launched a $20 million scholarship program. It supports young developers working on climate solutions for 10 years. Ohanian wants Seven Seven Six to invest in tech and make a positive social impact. He aims to tackle climate change and economic inequality.

Ohanian views Seven Seven Six as a new kind of VC firm. It focuses on being real and building a community for entrepreneurs.⁹ The firm uses Reddit, Notion, and Roam Research to create Cerebro. This tool helps its companies work together and be open⁹.

Ohanian’s Advocacy for Net Neutrality and Internet Freedom

Alexis Ohanian has always stood up for net neutrality and internet freedom. In the early 2010s, he fought against bills that could harm the open internet. Forbes called him the “mayor of the Internet” in 2013¹⁰.

Ohanian thinks the internet should be free from government and corporate control. He uses his platform to support those fighting for digital rights and online privacy. He believes this is key to keeping the internet a place for innovation and free ideas¹⁰.

Campaigning for an Independent Internet

Ohanian’s work to protect the independent internet is crucial. He used the Internet 2012 bus tour to highlight the internet’s economic value and the dangers of restrictive laws¹⁰.

“The internet is the most powerful tool we have for fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and the free exchange of ideas. We must do everything in our power to protect it from corporate and government control.”

Ohanian’s dedication to net neutrality and internet freedom has made him a key figure. His work inspires others to fight for an independent internet¹⁰.

Personal Life and Other Ventures

Alexis Ohanian is known for his work in tech and investments. He is married to tennis star Serena Williams. They have two daughters, Olympia and Adira¹¹.

Ohanian believes in work-life balance. He took 16 weeks off after their first child was born in 2017¹¹.

He has written a bestselling book called “Without Their Permission: How the 21st Century Will Be Made, Not Managed”¹¹. Ohanian supports social causes and invests in women’s sports. He also explores digital comics and the metaverse¹¹.

He started a podcast called “Business Dad.” It features interviews with celebrity fathers to promote paternity leave¹².

Ohanian’s commitment to family is clear. He left Reddit’s board in 2020 to push for racial justice. He wanted a Black board member, and Reddit named Michael Seibel¹².

Ohanian’s approach to life and work is inspiring. He shows the value of balancing career and family¹³.

Source Links

1. https://observer.com/2018/11/alexis-ohanian-reddit-cofounder-interview/ – Reddit Co-Founder Alexis Ohanian Reveals How to Build a Tech Company Without an Engineering Degree
2. https://money.com/changemakers/alexis-ohanian/ – Alexis Ohanian: Changemakers 2023 | Money
3. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/alexisohanian_its-summer-2005-yc-took-a-chance-on-a-couple-activity-7155929663465222144-C42B – Alexis Ohanian Sr. on LinkedIn: It's Summer 2005. YC took a chance on a couple dudes from University of… | 76 comments
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Initialized_Capital – Initialized Capital
5. https://techcrunch.com/2020/06/26/alexis-ohanian-reddit-co-founder-is-leaving-initialized-capital/ – Alexis Ohanian is leaving Initialized Capital | TechCrunch
6. https://www.originprotocol.com/inside-origin-alexis-ohanian – Inside Origin #1: Alexis Ohanian
7. https://www.forbes.com.au/news/investing/reddits-alexis-ohanian-bold-prediction-for-crypto-and-bitcoin/ – ‘Here to stay’: Reddit co-founder’s bold prediction
8. https://www.coindesk.com/business/2022/02/01/alexis-ohanians-vc-firm-to-focus-on-crypto-with-500m-capital-raise-report/ – Alexis Ohanian’s VC Firm to Focus on Crypto With $500M Capital Raise
9. https://www.plot.so/blogs/plot-seed-round – Plot announces $3M round led by Alexis Ohanian at Seven Seven Six
10. https://www.theverge.com/2012/10/5/3460154/reddit-geek-day – Beta-testing democracy: Reddit’s plan to drop an open internet ‘geek bomb’ on lawmakers
11. https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/sporting/a40881542/alexis-ohanian-serena-williams-husband/ – Serena Williams’s Husband Alexis Ohanian Is Her Biggest Fan
12. https://www.businessinsider.com/alexis-ohanian-reddit-cofounder-life-career-education – Inside the rise of Alexis Ohanian, the cofounder of Reddit and husband to Serena Williams
13. https://collinmathilde.medium.com/invest-in-yourself-other-lessons-on-leadership-from-alexis-ohanian-44a2963d7e8a – Invest in yourself, & other lessons on leadership from Alexis Ohanian