Reddit's name comes from the phrase 'I read it on Reddit,' and it was designed as a user-friendly platform for sharing and discussing topics in one centralized place, which was a novelty in 2005.

On day one, Reddit had no users, so founders Steve and Alexis created fake accounts to make it appear active, which helped attract real users later.

In 2006, major tech companies like Google and Yahoo began expressing interest in acquiring Reddit, highlighting its growing presence in the online space.

The first Startup School took place in Boston, and I was fortunate to participate in it with my co-founder, Steve Huffman, when we started Reddit.

Reddit combined elements of social bookmarking from Delicious and community engagement from Slashdot, creating a unique platform that had never been seen before.

After being rejected by Y Combinator with their initial idea, we were invited to join the program under the condition that we work on something else, which led to the creation of Reddit.

The acquisition by Condé Nast in 2006 was a crucible moment for Reddit, providing liquidity but also revealing the differing priorities of team members after the acquisition.

In 2011, Condé Nast spun Reddit out into an independent company again, which is rare in my experience, allowing us to fundraise and bring in new talent like CEO Yishan Wong.

Returning to Reddit in 2015 was the hardest decision I've ever made, as I had to leave Hipmunk, but I felt a strong responsibility to help the company I co-founded. Reddit is more important to the world than many realize, and it would be a shame if it didn't live up to its potential.