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Alexis Ohanian, technologist and entrepreneur, has long been known as the “Reddit guy.” Now, he’s breaking out into the investment world, particularly in women’s sports. And he appeared as a guest investor on Season 17 of Shark Tank.
While the October episode marked his TV debut, he seemed familiar with the experience. He spent 12 hours on set, and at the end of the day had invested in an airline for dogs, a women’s jujitsu brand, and a dating app by women and for women.
“The reason I will never stop doing what I do, it’s like you get an education every single time you take a pitch,” he told Inc. in a recent interview.
In 2020, Ohanian founded Seven Seven Six, a VC firm that unites “builders from diverse backgrounds,” according to its website. It now owns controlling stakes in the National Women’s Soccer League’s Angel City Football Club and Athlos, a women-only track and field league Ohanian created in 2024. While his wife, Serena Williams, initially discouraged him from the space, she admitted since that “he started a whole movement.”
What Did the Sharks Say About Working With Ohanian?
Although new to the panel, the more seasoned Sharks spoke highly of him. Daymond John, a regular investor on the show, said Ohanian goes beyond the numbers when closing a deal.
“When somebody like Alexis says, ‘I’m going to step onto this platform,’ what they’re saying is, ‘I’m not going to be only about the EBITDA and the dollar and conversion,’” John says. “‘I’m going to put a lot of work in on everyday entrepreneurs … and I’m going to publicly put myself out there.’ ”
Kendra Scott, founder of the eponymous jewelry brand that is a two-time Inc. 5000 honoree, was also a guest .
“Alexis doesn’t have to try to be Sharky or be different,” says Scott. “He needs to stay authentic to who he is, and that authenticity is going to come through,” she says.
Read the full story, “Swimming With the Sharks.”
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Ava Levinson
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