Alexis Ohanian facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alexis Ohanian
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Ohanian in 2019
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Alexis Kerry Ohanian
April 24, 1983 New York City, U.S.
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| Alma mater | University of Virginia |
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Notable work
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| Children | 2 |
Alexis Kerry Ohanian (Armenian: Ալեքսիս Քերի Օհանյան; born April 24, 1983) is an American internet entrepreneur and investor. He is famous for co-founding the social media website Reddit. He also helped start Initialized Capital, a company that invests in new businesses.
Alexis Ohanian lives in Florida with his wife, the famous tennis player Serena Williams. They have two daughters, Alexis Olympia Ohanian and Adira River Ohanian. As of 2024, his net worth is estimated to be around $150 million.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Alexis Ohanian's family has roots in different countries. His grandparents on his father's side came to the United States as refugees from the Armenian Genocide. His mother, Anke, was an immigrant from Germany, and Alexis spoke German at home when he was little. His father, Chris, worked as a travel agent. Alexis is their only child.
He was born in Brooklyn, New York City. Later, his family moved to Maryland. To help him stay connected to his Armenian culture, his parents sent him to an AGBU summer camp. Alexis went to Howard High School in Ellicott City, Maryland. He even gave a speech at his graduation in 2001.
Alexis thought about becoming a computer programmer in high school. However, he changed his mind when he started at the University of Virginia. He ended up studying history and business. He also took German classes. Looking back, he has said he wishes he had stuck with computer science because of his later work in technology.
Career Journey
Starting Reddit (2005-2020)
Alexis Ohanian's interest in technology began in middle school. He got a dial-up modem and started learning about computers. With his parents' help, he took computer programming classes. He spent time on online message boards, learning how to code and build websites. His parents bought him his first computer, which he enjoyed taking apart and putting back together. He even started making websites for nonprofit organizations for free.
At one point, Alexis thought about becoming a lawyer. But he famously left a test prep course and went to a Waffle House. There, he realized he wanted to start his own company instead. After graduating from the University of Virginia in 2005, he and his college roommate, Steve Huffman, had an idea. They pitched a food ordering app to a company called Y Combinator. Y Combinator didn't fund that idea, but they encouraged Alexis and Steve to come up with another.
This led to the creation of reddit.com, an online bulletin board. Their goal was for it to become the "front page of the Internet." Reddit was part of Y Combinator's first group of startups in 2005. It was later bought by Condé Nast in 2006. Alexis continued to work with Reddit on its board of directors. He returned to Reddit full-time in 2015 with Steve Huffman. He stepped back again in 2018 to focus on investing. In June 2020, Alexis resigned from Reddit's board. He asked for a Black candidate to replace him, in support of diversity. Soon after, Michael Seibel, an African-American entrepreneur, joined Reddit's board.
Other Ventures (2007-Present)
In 2007, Alexis launched Breadpig. This company sells "geeky" merchandise and gives the money earned to charity. He later stepped away from its daily operations.
After leaving Reddit in 2010, Alexis worked in microfinance in Armenia for three months. That same year, he helped launch Hipmunk, a travel search website, and now advises it. In June 2010, he started Das Kapital Capital, which focuses on investing in and advising startups.
Alexis also worked at Y Combinator, helping new companies. He left in 2016 to help start the third fund for Initialized Capital with Garry Tan.
In July 2020, Alexis was a main investor in a group that started a new team in the National Women's Soccer League. This team, later named Angel City FC, began playing in 2022. The ownership group includes many women, such as Natalie Portman and Alexis's wife, Serena Williams.
In June 2020, Alexis left his role as Managing Partner at Initialized. In June 2021, he announced a new venture capital firm called "776".
Investing in New Technology Companies
Alexis co-founded Initialized Capital in 2010. This company invests early in startups like Instacart, Zenefits, and Opendoor. It has managed over $500 million in investments. In 2014, a study ranked Alexis as the top investor for his wide network of connections in the tech world.
Through Initialized Capital, Alexis invested $3 million in a childcare startup called Kinside in 2019. In 2020, he also invested $4 million in Dispo. In April 2021, Alexis invested $10 million in a social startup called pearpop.
Creative Work
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Alexis Ohanian has created mascots for the companies he started. These include the Reddit alien "Snoo," the Breadpig pig with bread wings, the Hipmunk chipmunk "Chip," and the Initialized Capital honey badger.
In 2009, he gave a speech at TED about a whale named Mister Splashy Pants.
Activism in Tech
Open Internet Advocacy
In 2010 and 2011, Alexis spoke out against proposed laws in Congress, the Stop Online Piracy Act and the PROTECT IP Act. He helped lead an online campaign that eventually stopped these bills. Alexis talked to members of Congress and helped organize protests against these laws. He spoke at a rally in New York in January 2012.
In October 2012, Alexis and Reddit General Manager Erik Martin went on a "Internet 2012 Bus Tour." They traveled across the country to promote the idea of an open Internet. Because of his work for an Open Internet, The Daily Dot named Alexis the number one most influential activist of 2012. Forbes Magazine called him "Mayor of the Internet."
In May 2014, Alexis began asking the FCC (a government agency) to support net neutrality. This means that internet providers should treat all data on the internet equally. He even organized a day-long phone-a-thon with the FCC and Congress in January 2015.
Hijab Emoji Project
In early 2017, Alexis worked with a teenager named Rayouf Alhumedhi. They campaigned to create a hijab emoji. Alexis helped Rayouf share her idea online and responded to people who had questions. On July 17, 2017, Apple released its version of the hijab emoji.
Crowdfunding Campaigns
In December 2012, Alexis teamed up with Lester Chambers, a musician, to start a Kickstarter project. They wanted to raise money for a new album for Lester. This project raised over $61,000 for Chambers.
Two years later, Alexis raised $12,244 for the non-profit Black Girls Code using Tilt.com. In May 2014, he used Tilt.com again to protest against changes to net neutrality. He started a campaign to put a billboard near the FCC's office.
In April 2015, Alexis visited Armenia for the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. He toured villages supported by the Children of Armenia Fund (COAF).
Personal Life
In 2008, Alexis Ohanian's mother, Anke, passed away from brain cancer.
On December 29, 2016, Alexis got engaged to the famous tennis player Serena Williams. Their first daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian, was born on September 1, 2017. Alexis and Serena got married on November 16, 2017, in New Orleans. Alexis has said that watching Serena compete has changed how he thinks about success in business. They gave their daughter a doll named Qai Qai, which has become popular on social media. In May 2023, Serena announced she was pregnant with their second child. In August 2023, they welcomed their second daughter, Adira River.
Advocacy for Paternity Leave
After his daughter was born, Alexis became a strong supporter of paternity leave. This is when fathers take time off work after a child's birth. He wrote an article in the New York Times about his experience. He shared that he spent months at home caring for his family after his wife had a difficult birth. In June 2019, Alexis announced he would talk to lawmakers in Washington, D.C. He wants to help pass a law for paid family leave across the country. He hopes to meet with many parents in Congress who support this idea.
In November 2024, he had surgery to remove thyroid nodules to prevent possible cancer.
Philanthropy
Since 2022, Alexis Ohanian has been funding projects related to climate change. He supports young founders through a grant program. This program offers students aged 23 or younger $100,000 over two years. It also provides guidance and resources. The goal is to encourage them to leave school and work on solutions for climate change. This could involve scientific research, starting a company, or working on a social movement. About 20 fellows are chosen each year through a competitive process.
Awards and Honors
To remember Alexis Ohanian's important realization about his career, a plaque was put up at Booth 19 of the Waffle House. It includes a quote from Alexis about his "Waffle House Epiphany."
In 2011 and 2012, Forbes magazine included Alexis on their "30 Under 30" list. This list recognizes important people in the technology industry. In 2013, Wired magazine featured Alexis and Erik Martin as "champions of innovation." In 2015, Crain's named Alexis to their "40 Under 40" list for business. In 2016, Fast Company named him one of their "Most Creative People in Business."
On May 21, 2020, Alexis gave the graduation speech at Johns Hopkins University. The next year, he spoke at his own alma mater, the University of Virginia. In December 2022, Money magazine named him a 2023 Money Changemaker.
Images for kids
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Ohanian in 2015
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See Also
In Spanish: Alexis Ohanian para niños
- Lester Chambers
- Children of Armenia Fund
- Breadpig
- Howard High School
- University of Virginia
