Alexis Ohanian
Alexis Ohanian is an entrepreneur and investor best known for co-founding Reddit, one of the world’s most popular websites. He is also a best-selling author, having penned several books, including Without Their Permission, a memoir of his journey as an entrepreneur, and Making History, a historical nonfiction exploration of technology’s influence on our lives.
Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1983, Ohanian attended the University of Virginia, majoring in commerce and history. He launched Reddit in 2005 with two other university friends, Steve Huffman and Aaron Swartz. Reddit is an online discussion platform, giving users an easy way to ask questions, convey knowledge, and engage in general conversation.
In 2010, Ohanian left Reddit and went on to invest in numerous successful technology startups. He invested in such companies as Chubby Chipmunk, Hipmunk, Bleacher Report, Instacart, and Zenefits. He also founded Breadpig, an online merchandise store for geeks, and Seed, an early-stage venture fund that invests in emerging start-ups.
In 2013, Ohanian wrote his best-selling book, Without Their Permission. The book serves as a blueprint for aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners who wish to become successful. Through stories of his own experiences as an internet entrepreneur, he introduces the concept of the open internet and the ways in which it can be used to promote entrepreneurship.
He encourages readers to disregard fear, embrace failure, and make the most out of their new ideas. He also encourages readers to keep an open mind, think outside the box, and take advantage of the resources the world has to offer.
In 2016, Ohanian released his second book, Making History. This book builds upon the concepts from his first book. He spotlights tech founders from different eras, including Steve Jobs, Napster’s Shawn Fanning, Paul Graham of Y Combinator, and Twitter’s Jack Dorsey. He not only goes on to show how these tech pioneers made history but how their impact carries on to this day and reveals to the reader how technology can “change the game”.
Ohanian’s newest book, co-authored with Matthew Randazza, was released in 2019. This book, titled A Tale of Misbehavior: Morris vs. Randazza, chronicles an ongoing legal challenge between two lawyers, and shows how one man can affect the lives of countless people around the world.
Ohanian’s accomplishments as a tech entrepreneur, investor, and author have been celebrated by many. He was included in the Forbes 30 under 30 list of top young entrepreneurs in 2015 and received the 2015 Webby Award for his book, Without Their Permission. He is a passionate advocate for digital entrepreneurship, having founded the non-profit organization, Initialized Capital, which works to level the playing field for women and diverse entrepreneurs.
No matter what field Ohanian is in, his main goal is to make the internet more open, inspiring and accessible for everyone. From his memoir to his legal chronicle, Ohanian’s works highlight how technology can be a force for good. His inspiring writing encourages readers to continue pursuing their dreams, take risks, and create a more equitable society.
