Reddit transformed from a community social science project into a sustainable business, recognizing that revenue is essential for its operation.

At that time, there wasn't a clear monetization route for Reddit; we didn't have advertising or any real way to generate revenue, so we operated as a lean startup to survive with scarce resources.

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.

When I returned, I emphasized that if we don't change, we're dead; we had to implement a content policy to ensure Reddit's survival.

We chose to pursue advertising as a business model to keep Reddit free and open, aligning with our values and community expectations.

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.

Reddit's growth from $15 million to $456 million in revenue by 2021 demonstrates the success of our business model and community engagement.

In 2008, with the market collapse, we realized we needed to start making money, so we focused on monetizing our site and cutting costs.

After the acquisition, Reddit struggled to attract the right talent and resources, leading to my departure to start Hipmunk, while Alexis pursued a career in investing.