Alexis Ohanian Is Rebuilding the Internet for His Daughter And the Rest of Us

In a candid conversation on Possible, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian didn’t start with venture capital or tech hype. He started with his daughter.

“Being a daddy caddy has been a delight,” Ohanian said, describing Sunday golf outings with Olympia, his elementary-aged daughter. “She’s got a great swing tour and obviously got all of her natural athleticism from me. Clearly.”

Humor aside, this role as a father — particularly to a Black daughter — became the emotional and strategic foundation for his latest venture: 776, a values-driven VC firm launched in 2020 after Ohanian resigned from Reddit’s board in protest of hate speech and systemic racism on the platform.

A Founder’s Reckoning: "What Would I Tell My Daughter?"

Ohanian’s journey is a rare example of professional introspection at the highest levels of tech. Reddit was his identity — a company he co-founded, returned to, and helped steer as chairman. But in the wake of national protests in 2020, he made a pivotal decision:

“It made me reflect on the future conversation I’d have with her — ‘What were the choices that I made that had big consequences?’ And how would I reconcile that with the responsibility of being her dad?”

That conversation became the catalyst for 776, named after the first Olympic Games in 776 BCE. He initially wanted to name it after his daughter, but his wife wisely pointed out: what if they had another child?

What Is 776 Really About?

At face value, 776 is a VC firm that funds early-stage startups. But Ohanian is clear — this is about building a different kind of future. It’s still private equity. The goal is still outsized returns. But it’s also about equity of another kind:

• Community-first platforms
• Women's sports and underrepresented markets
• Human-centered AI tools
• Web3 identity and infrastructure

“I do think there’s a different way to move in these spaces,” Ohanian said. “And hopefully just make my little girls proud of me one day.”

The Internet Used to Be Fun. Can It Be Again?

Ohanian doesn’t mince words about what social media has become.

“There was a certain mirth… a certain joy to the internet back then,” he reflects, contrasting early Reddit and Dig with today’s engagement-maximized, outrage-amplifying platforms. “The most extreme takes get all the air.”

He’s now teaming up with Dig.com co-founder Kevin Rose to reimagine what a joyful, community-led social platform might look like in 2025 — using AI not to manipulate users, but to improve digital spaces.

Their goal? A place where people can spend 20 minutes and feel better, not worse.

AI, Identity & Proof of Humanity

Ohanian is bullish on AI — but not naïve.

He believes we're entering an era where distinguishing real humans from bots will be table stakes. His new projects prioritize proof of humanity, and he envisions a new class of AI tools that empower community leaders, rather than exploit engagement metrics.

“Moderators today spend 90% of their time doing janitorial work,” he explained. “We want to flip that — let them focus on fun, human work, while agents handle the rest.”

Investing in Women’s Sports and the Future of Atoms

Another surprising arena for Ohanian? Women’s sports. As an early investor in Angel City FC and other women-led teams, he sees a massive opportunity for leapfrog innovation.

“So much of the reason there’s opportunity in women’s sports is because it’s a blank canvas,” he explained. “They haven’t been saddled with 50 years of ‘this is the way it’s always been done.’”

He ties this to his broader thesis: the digital world is evolving fast, but humans will always crave physical experiences — whether in sports, theater, or collectibles. Through startups like Monumental (AI + robotics for stone carving), he’s betting on the enduring value of “atoms” in an increasingly digital world.

Final Thoughts for Founders

Alexis Ohanian's story is one of identity reinvention and purposeful creation. He left a tech juggernaut to build a future aligned with his values, his family, and his evolving vision of what tech should be.

For wantrepreneurs, here are three takeaways:

1. You Can Redefine Yourself

Even if your identity is wrapped in a startup, you can walk away to build something new — and more aligned.

2. Build for People, Not Just Metrics

The best products in the next era will prioritize emotional well-being, community, and values — not just engagement.

3. Use Tech to Amplify Humanity

Whether it’s AI or Web3, the best use cases are human-centered. Build tools that empower users, not extract from them.

“If everything breaks humanity’s way,” Ohanian says, “in 15 years, even the wealthiest people will look back and think our current healthcare system was barbaric.”