Episode
Steve Huffman, Co-Founder & CEO of Reddit
55:37
Published: Fri Apr 21 2023
Description
In this episode we walk down memory lane with Steve Huffman, co-founder and CEO of Reddit, who was in Y Combinator's very first batch of startups in 2005. In those days Steve was a programmer fresh out of UVA. He had no idea that the site he was creating would become the forum of forums, still active and growing 18 years later. Hear about Reddit's eventful early years and how they affected what it eventually became.
Chapters
Steve Huffman talks about the early days of Reddit, how he and his co-founder sold the company to Condé Nast, his other startup, Hipmunk, and his return to Reddit after 10 years.
00:00 - 01:41 (01:41)
Summary
Steve Huffman talks about the early days of Reddit, how he and his co-founder sold the company to Condé Nast, his other startup, Hipmunk, and his return to Reddit after 10 years.
EpisodeSteve Huffman, Co-Founder & CEO of Reddit
PodcastThe Social Radars
Reddit's initial team lacked experience in big companies, which made recruiting difficult.
01:41 - 06:14 (04:33)
Summary
Reddit's initial team lacked experience in big companies, which made recruiting difficult. The shape of the startup gave the team a sense of independence and ownership that helped on the recruiting front and beyond.
EpisodeSteve Huffman, Co-Founder & CEO of Reddit
PodcastThe Social Radars
The founders of Y Combinator recall the interview process for their first batch of startups, including the story of how they met one of their initial applicants, Trevor Blackwell.
06:14 - 09:15 (03:00)
Summary
The founders of Y Combinator recall the interview process for their first batch of startups, including the story of how they met one of their initial applicants, Trevor Blackwell.
EpisodeSteve Huffman, Co-Founder & CEO of Reddit
PodcastThe Social Radars
During the launch of the Y Combinator (YC) site on a personal blog, there was confusion over the term "kiosk" when they were actually referring to a newsstand.
09:15 - 14:39 (05:24)
Summary
During the launch of the Y Combinator (YC) site on a personal blog, there was confusion over the term "kiosk" when they were actually referring to a newsstand. They also discussed the potential for partnering with fast food companies for the food ordering aspect of the newsstand.
EpisodeSteve Huffman, Co-Founder & CEO of Reddit
PodcastThe Social Radars
The founders of Delicious, a bookmarking website, discuss the early days of the company and the inspiration behind it while contemplating who would lead it as the CEO.
14:39 - 21:09 (06:30)
Summary
The founders of Delicious, a bookmarking website, discuss the early days of the company and the inspiration behind it while contemplating who would lead it as the CEO.
EpisodeSteve Huffman, Co-Founder & CEO of Reddit
PodcastThe Social Radars
Despite feeling incredibly stressed, the speaker and their team worked tirelessly to build a successful company and took inspiration from the greats like Steve Jobs.
21:09 - 24:44 (03:34)
Summary
Despite feeling incredibly stressed, the speaker and their team worked tirelessly to build a successful company and took inspiration from the greats like Steve Jobs.
EpisodeSteve Huffman, Co-Founder & CEO of Reddit
PodcastThe Social Radars
The speaker reflects on a conversation with Paul about the importance of starting early with technology and how it led to a series of debates.
24:44 - 28:26 (03:41)
Summary
The speaker reflects on a conversation with Paul about the importance of starting early with technology and how it led to a series of debates.
EpisodeSteve Huffman, Co-Founder & CEO of Reddit
PodcastThe Social Radars
The co-founder of Reddit reflects on the importance of learning lessons the hard way and the value of having someone to take the heat in the early days of a startup.
28:26 - 32:17 (03:51)
Summary
The co-founder of Reddit reflects on the importance of learning lessons the hard way and the value of having someone to take the heat in the early days of a startup.
EpisodeSteve Huffman, Co-Founder & CEO of Reddit
PodcastThe Social Radars
Reddit is both a list of things and a web of things, as it provides a platform for blogs, news, and other information sources.
32:17 - 37:54 (05:37)
Summary
Reddit is both a list of things and a web of things, as it provides a platform for blogs, news, and other information sources. While Reddit is good for lists, there is also potential for creating a web of interconnected information.
EpisodeSteve Huffman, Co-Founder & CEO of Reddit
PodcastThe Social Radars
The speaker reflects on his decision to leave Condé Nast for Read It with the help of Sam Altman and how it changed his life for the better.
37:55 - 43:23 (05:28)
Summary
The speaker reflects on his decision to leave Condé Nast for Read It with the help of Sam Altman and how it changed his life for the better.
EpisodeSteve Huffman, Co-Founder & CEO of Reddit
PodcastThe Social Radars
A conversation about the importance of having a strong team and committing to a process for success.
43:23 - 46:07 (02:44)
Summary
A conversation about the importance of having a strong team and committing to a process for success.
EpisodeSteve Huffman, Co-Founder & CEO of Reddit
PodcastThe Social Radars
Steve talks about the concept of doing something for many years when at a young age the idea of doing something for just one year seems like an eternity.
46:07 - 50:27 (04:20)
Summary
Steve talks about the concept of doing something for many years when at a young age the idea of doing something for just one year seems like an eternity. He compares it to running into a burning building and discovering there are even more dangers lurking inside, like sharks.
EpisodeSteve Huffman, Co-Founder & CEO of Reddit
PodcastThe Social Radars
In business relationships, it's important to trust your gut and pay attention to red flags, instead of thinking you can work it out.
50:27 - 54:21 (03:53)
Summary
In business relationships, it's important to trust your gut and pay attention to red flags, instead of thinking you can work it out. Putting two people together randomly doesn't always result in success.
EpisodeSteve Huffman, Co-Founder & CEO of Reddit
PodcastThe Social Radars
In this episode, the host interviews a special guest about heartwarming stories on Reddit and the sense of community on the platform.
54:21 - 55:26 (01:05)
Summary
In this episode, the host interviews a special guest about heartwarming stories on Reddit and the sense of community on the platform.