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Alexis Ohanian: Reddit Was Born From a 1-Hour Brainstorm That Changed Everything

By Alexis Ohanian · Startup Growth · 1 min read

Ohanian walked into Y Combinator with one idea. It got rejected. He brainstormed a new one in an hour. That became Reddit.

Key Points

Ohanian's original YC application was rejected
Paul Graham invited him back and they brainstormed for one hour
Reddit was conceived in that single brainstorm session
Sometimes the best ideas come from constraints and time pressure

We walked in with a rejected idea. Walked out with Reddit. One hour.

The Rejection

Alexis Ohanian applied to Y Combinator with a mobile food ordering app.

It got rejected. He thought it was over.

Then Paul Graham called: come back. Let us brainstorm.

One Hour

Ohanian sat with Paul Graham for one hour. They talked about what the internet needed.

A front page of the internet. A place where anyone could share anything and the best stuff rises.

That was Reddit. Conceived in 60 minutes from a rejected application.

We walked in with a rejected idea. Walked out with Reddit.

The Lesson

Your first idea will probably get rejected. That is fine.

The best ideas often come from constraints. Time pressure. Rejection. A blank whiteboard.

Do not fall in love with your first idea. Fall in love with the process of finding the right one.