The author met the Reddits before starting Y Combinator, inspired by their energy and brains. Initially rejected by Y Combinator for their bad fast food ordering idea, the Reddits pivoted to create Reddit, originally a link-sharing site. The personality of Reddit closely matches that of the founders, especially Steve, who has a vacuum-cleaner curiosity and an anti-authority stance. Reddit’s popularity grew rapidly due to its user-driven content, in contrast to moderated sites like Slashdot. Despite management challenges, Reddit’s fundamental usefulness has made it nearly indestructible. Steve’s return in 2015 surprised many, leading to further growth and innovation for Reddit.
https://www.ycombinator.com/blog/the-reddits