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Steve Huffman, co-founder of Reddit, shared an intriguing story about how Reddit came to life. "I think I wrote my first line of code on June 3rd or 4th, 2005," Huffman recalls. Remarkably, Reddit launched on June 22nd, not by Huffman's choice, but because Paul Graham, a notable figure in the startup world, linked to the site from his blog without any prior notice to Huffman. This unexpected launch turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
The early days of Reddit were a period of intense learning and adaptation. Huffman admits, "We didn't actually have a vision for Reddit, for better or for worse." This lack of a clear direction could have been detrimental, but instead, it became a foundation for innovation and user-driven development. "As soon as we launched, that's when we started to find a path," Huffman says. He and his co-founder, Alexis Ohanian, focused on what they thought was best for their users, continually evolving Reddit based on user feedback and needs.
This approach built significant loyalty among Reddit users. Huffman emphasizes the importance of launching early and iterating quickly. For the first six months, they continuously added new features, even though "only about probably 25% of which actually lasted more than a day or two." This trial-and-error method was crucial in shaping Reddit into the platform it is today. One particular experiment stands out in Huffman's memory. In July, Huffman had Ohanian categorize every link submitted to Reddit, a task that took all night. The next morning, they launched the feature, only to realize it wasn't working as intended.
Huffman reflects, "But we could have probably, if we hadn't launched, we could have had that feature until November, and then launched, and then wondered why it didn't work."
This experience aligns with the advice from other successful entrepreneurs. Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn, famously said,
"If you are not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you've launched too late."
This underscores the importance of getting your product out into the world quickly, learning from real users, and iterating based on their feedback.
Similarly, Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg has often emphasized the value of starting without a fully-formed idea.
"Ideas don't come out fully formed. They only become clear as you work on them. You just have to get started."
This iterative process of learning and improving is a common theme among successful startups.
Steve Huffman's story of Reddit's early days serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of launching early, iterating quickly, and listening to your users. It highlights that even without a clear vision, a startup can find its path through continuous experimentation and adaptation. By embracing uncertainty and being willing to pivot based on user feedback, entrepreneurs can build products that resonate deeply with their audience and stand the test of time.
Listen to what Steve Huffman said: