5 ms·

Alexis Ohanian interviewed after talk at Waterloo

105 points by michaelrlitt 14y ago

thearsenal 14y ago
I was at the hub for this discussion. Alexis is an awesome, down to earth guy, and had a lot of valuable wisdom to share on starting a company.
xutopia 14y ago
Too bad the site is down. Alexis is really an insightful person. He really understands the web.
- deleted 14y ago
  [deleted]
buro9 14y ago
Cached version http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:https://www.communitech.ca/alexis-ohanian-praises-waterloo-startup-community-at-techtoberfest/&hl=en&safe=off&prmd=imvns&strip=1 http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:https:/...
- thearsenal 14y ago
  Another live version here (non-cached) http://hyperdrive.communitech.ca/blog/posts/alexis-ohanian-meets-his-waterloo-and-loves-it http://hyperdrive.communitech.ca/blog/posts/alexis-ohanian-m...
deleted 14y ago
[deleted]
noirman 14y ago
I've spent a couple of weeks at Communitech and the energy is absolutely amazing. Everybody was incredibly driven. If not mistaken, Communitech even claimed that "one new startup comes out from there every day".
- rdrimmie 14y ago
  For somewhere around a year now, we've had an average of one new startup registering with our Venture Services Group each day. I am struggling with the correct way to be pedantic about it, it's just the connotation of "comes out" that I want to highlight - the startups registering with us don't necessarily meet any minimum requirements, versus those who graduate from one of the incubation or accelerator programs we run or are associated with. (I work for Communitech, but not in VSG so my understanding is likely to be only slightly more refined than noirman's, and could have a hole or two) (edit to add: we're working on fixing the site!)
- rocky1138 14y ago
  Being part of Hyperdrive was an amazing experience! But, the work doesn't stop at the end of our three months :) In a way, it's just beginning.
psycho 14y ago
It's interesting how Alexis talks about the importance of the possibility to "stay home and do great things" for some people. Well, sounds right but isn't startup a thing that's all about change - including lifestyle? Isn't it possible to have some valuable insights when you leave your comfort zone and go some place you didn't know before? I'd rather advice Silicon Valley guys just try and leave their cozy warm place and go and try to make a startup on Alaska, for example - that's the kind of adventure for startup-guys, not for sissies.
- nchlswu 14y ago
  He's commenting more on the fact that SV seems to be the only place for startups to thrive. There's lots of opportunity at "home". in a way, it's in line with your desire to advise SV guys to leave their cozy warm place. You may feel "safe" going to the valley, but you can (potentially) achieve just as much breaking ground in a different locale.
  - psycho 14y ago
    I agree with the fact that there's lots of opportunity anywhere, although... there maybe more opportunity in US than in Russia, for example. Anyway you got to try and to do something - no matter where you live, that's true.
philip1209 14y ago
I organized a talk by Ohanian at my university last week. His talk focused on entrepreneurship, and key points included that innovation can happen outside the valley, and that midwest startups are starving for engineers, so we shouldn't feel like we must flock to the valley to join a startup.
- kn0thing 14y ago
  Woo! Full recap of Internet2012 Bus Tour here: http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/reddit-hits-road-144446 http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/reddit-hits-road-14444... And this: http://www.buzzfeed.com/jwherrman/why-is-this-man-running-for-president-of-the-inter http://www.buzzfeed.com/jwherrman/why-is-this-man-running-fo...
  - philip1209 14y ago
    Hey! I know you! Thanks for the email this morning. I forgot to mention that Innovation was misspelled on the poster you have been having everybody sign.
    - kn0thing 14y ago
      Whoa! Good catch. On the giant scroll?
      - philip1209 14y ago
        Yes, I saw that at T-REx while you were presenting. There was a missing "n," if I recall correctly.
yesimahuman 14y ago
I've heard SV investors agree it makes sense for companies to stay near a top notch university no matter where it is, in order to hire and retain the best. It's the same talent that SV companies get anyways. Coupled with a lower cost of living and less poaching, it's kind of a win-win.
- davidcrow 14y ago
  I think a lot of the "startup hubs" are missing the need for a "top notch university". The ~4 year talent turn over and resupply is key, it provides an ongoing top up as talent churns. Does it work in startup hubs that don't have a "top notch technical university"?
  - rdrimmie 14y ago
    Portland (OR) comes to mind as a place where there's some fantastic tech people and no university, but I'm not sure if it's considered a startup hub or not.
- prostoalex 14y ago
  Most people in Waterloo dream of getting out of Waterloo.
  - bradtgmurray 14y ago
    As a person living and working in Waterloo for a startup, I wouldn't be so quick to generalize. I quite like it here.
  - yesimahuman 14y ago
    I don't know anything about Waterloo, but many people in Madison, Wisconsin are passionate about staying here. Of course, there are many who want to leave, and I think recent grads are probably more likely to be in that group.
  - srlake 14y ago
    I don't
jesseguild 14y ago
Great to see Waterloo impressing such a talented dude
leoc 14y ago
No questions about the Reddit staff's relationship with violentacrez?
- xutopia 14y ago
  Pretty sure Alexis Ohanian had left Reddit by the time VA started messing around.
  - leoc 14y ago
    If nothing else one could ask him what he thinks of what the "early Reddit employees" did in his absence. And isn't he still on Reddit's board of directors, anyway?

105 points by michaelrlitt 14y ago

I was at the hub for this discussion. Alexis is an awesome, down to earth guy, and had a lot of valuable wisdom to share on starting a company.

xutopia 14y ago

Too bad the site is down. Alexis is really an insightful person. He really understands the web.

deleted 14y ago
[deleted]

buro9 14y ago

Cached version http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:https://www.communitech.ca/alexis-ohanian-praises-waterloo-startup-community-at-techtoberfest/&hl=en&safe=off&prmd=imvns&strip=1 http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:https:/...

thearsenal 14y ago
Another live version here (non-cached) http://hyperdrive.communitech.ca/blog/posts/alexis-ohanian-meets-his-waterloo-and-loves-it http://hyperdrive.communitech.ca/blog/posts/alexis-ohanian-m...

deleted 14y ago

[deleted]

noirman 14y ago

I've spent a couple of weeks at Communitech and the energy is absolutely amazing. Everybody was incredibly driven. If not mistaken, Communitech even claimed that "one new startup comes out from there every day".

rdrimmie 14y ago
For somewhere around a year now, we've had an average of one new startup registering with our Venture Services Group each day. I am struggling with the correct way to be pedantic about it, it's just the connotation of "comes out" that I want to highlight - the startups registering with us don't necessarily meet any minimum requirements, versus those who graduate from one of the incubation or accelerator programs we run or are associated with. (I work for Communitech, but not in VSG so my understanding is likely to be only slightly more refined than noirman's, and could have a hole or two) (edit to add: we're working on fixing the site!)
rocky1138 14y ago
Being part of Hyperdrive was an amazing experience! But, the work doesn't stop at the end of our three months :) In a way, it's just beginning.

psycho 14y ago

It's interesting how Alexis talks about the importance of the possibility to "stay home and do great things" for some people. Well, sounds right but isn't startup a thing that's all about change - including lifestyle? Isn't it possible to have some valuable insights when you leave your comfort zone and go some place you didn't know before? I'd rather advice Silicon Valley guys just try and leave their cozy warm place and go and try to make a startup on Alaska, for example - that's the kind of adventure for startup-guys, not for sissies.

nchlswu 14y ago
He's commenting more on the fact that SV seems to be the only place for startups to thrive. There's lots of opportunity at "home". in a way, it's in line with your desire to advise SV guys to leave their cozy warm place. You may feel "safe" going to the valley, but you can (potentially) achieve just as much breaking ground in a different locale.
- psycho 14y ago
  I agree with the fact that there's lots of opportunity anywhere, although... there maybe more opportunity in US than in Russia, for example. Anyway you got to try and to do something - no matter where you live, that's true.

philip1209 14y ago

I organized a talk by Ohanian at my university last week. His talk focused on entrepreneurship, and key points included that innovation can happen outside the valley, and that midwest startups are starving for engineers, so we shouldn't feel like we must flock to the valley to join a startup.

kn0thing 14y ago
Woo! Full recap of Internet2012 Bus Tour here: http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/reddit-hits-road-144446 http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/reddit-hits-road-14444... And this: http://www.buzzfeed.com/jwherrman/why-is-this-man-running-for-president-of-the-inter http://www.buzzfeed.com/jwherrman/why-is-this-man-running-fo...
- philip1209 14y ago
  Hey! I know you! Thanks for the email this morning. I forgot to mention that Innovation was misspelled on the poster you have been having everybody sign.
  - kn0thing 14y ago
    Whoa! Good catch. On the giant scroll?
    - philip1209 14y ago
      Yes, I saw that at T-REx while you were presenting. There was a missing "n," if I recall correctly.

yesimahuman 14y ago

I've heard SV investors agree it makes sense for companies to stay near a top notch university no matter where it is, in order to hire and retain the best. It's the same talent that SV companies get anyways. Coupled with a lower cost of living and less poaching, it's kind of a win-win.

davidcrow 14y ago
I think a lot of the "startup hubs" are missing the need for a "top notch university". The ~4 year talent turn over and resupply is key, it provides an ongoing top up as talent churns. Does it work in startup hubs that don't have a "top notch technical university"?
- rdrimmie 14y ago
  Portland (OR) comes to mind as a place where there's some fantastic tech people and no university, but I'm not sure if it's considered a startup hub or not.
prostoalex 14y ago
Most people in Waterloo dream of getting out of Waterloo.
- bradtgmurray 14y ago
  As a person living and working in Waterloo for a startup, I wouldn't be so quick to generalize. I quite like it here.
- yesimahuman 14y ago
  I don't know anything about Waterloo, but many people in Madison, Wisconsin are passionate about staying here. Of course, there are many who want to leave, and I think recent grads are probably more likely to be in that group.
- srlake 14y ago
  I don't

jesseguild 14y ago

Great to see Waterloo impressing such a talented dude

leoc 14y ago

No questions about the Reddit staff's relationship with violentacrez?

xutopia 14y ago
Pretty sure Alexis Ohanian had left Reddit by the time VA started messing around.
- leoc 14y ago
  If nothing else one could ask him what he thinks of what the "early Reddit employees" did in his absence. And isn't he still on Reddit's board of directors, anyway?