Alexis Ohanian Archives

Alexis Ohanian launches new Armenian brandy Shakmat (video)

November 13, 2018 By administrator

American entrepreneur of Armenian descent Alexis Ohanian on Monday, November 12 unveiled a new Armenian Brandy, Shakmat, which he had been teasing for quite some time.

Shakmat is a 23-year-old brandy, aged in barrels made of local Caucasian oak.

“There are only 2,400 bottles in the first run, so head over to shakmatbrandy.com to get them while you can,” the Reddit co-founder said in a Facebook post.

“This project couldn’t have happened without Flaviar (a whiskey club – Ed.) and [Ohanian’s chief of staff] Elisabeth Garvin who did all the work to bring this one-of-a-kind 23 year Armenian tradition to the world.”

Armenia has excellent conditions for the production of a brandy’s most important ingredient: grapes. The local brandy only utilizes indigenous grape varieties and there are over 200 grown there. For Shakmat, Alexis’ team used red grape varieties (Kangun, Kakhet, Garan Dmak and Rkatsiteli).

Shakmat is an homage to Armenia’s national game: check. (Shakmat=Checkmate.)

Alexis Ohanian teases “secret Armenian project”

November 12, 2018 By administrator

American entrepreneur of Armenian descent Alexis Ohanian has teased a new “secret” Armenian project which he is set to unveil on Monday, November 12.

“It’s almost time, my friends… Secret Armenian project unveiled tomorrow,” Ohanian captioned a photo on Instagram on Sunday.

While it’s unclear what exactly the Reddit co-founder will introduce this time, the photo he posted on social media depicts him seated in front of a table, with several bottles of of what appears to be some kind of alcoholic drink placed on it.

Ohanian is married to tennis star Serena Williams who has declared that she is an honorary Armenian.

“”My husband is Armenian, I am learning a lot about Armenians, I am an honorary Armenian,” the holder of 39 Grand Slam titles said on the sidelines of French Open.

“I love how proud they are, I am planning to go over there, do not know if this year or next year, it is going to be fun!”

In a recent interview, Ohanian recalled a trip he took to Armenia back in 2010, saying that he “spent a few months in the motherland” and got back to his roots.

Ohanian’s mother was born in Germany, while his father is the son of Armenian immigrants.

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Alexis Ohanian’s Instagram post

Alexis Ohanian enlightens Serena Williams on “Armenian Goodbye”

August 20, 2018 By administrator

American entrepreneur of Armenian descent Alexis Ohanian has proposed that the Armenian segment of Twitter educate wife Serena Williams on “the Armenian Goodbye.”

Responding to a tweet by the tennis legend, the Reddit co-founder jokes that the Armenian goodbye is “scientifically-proven” and offers a link to a page on Urban Dictionary, which defines the phenomenon as a process involving a group of Armenian friends or family, who are saying goodbye to each other, but it takes a very long time.

Ohanian’s comment came after Williams tweeted: “Maj Pet peeve when you say bye to someone on the phone and 10 mins later they are still talking and you are still trying to say bye. 2 people come to mind… can you guess?”

And social media users were quick to remind that goodbyes among Armenians can really take hours.

Ohanian, who famously co-founded social media site Reddit in 2005, and then sold it 16 months later to Conde Nast, making him a multi-millionaire at the age of 23, met Williams’ at a café in Italy in 2015. Two years later, the couple announced they were having a baby and were married shortly after the birth of their daughter.

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Alexis Ohanian’s tweet

Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian “got back to the roots” in Armenia

April 4, 2018 By administrator

Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian

Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian has recalled a trip he took to Armenia back in 2010, saying that he “spent a few months in the motherland” and got back to his roots.

Ohanian’s mother was born in Germany, while his father is the son of Armenian immigrants.

In a fresh interview with The New York Times, the entrepreneur was asked about the break he took to work on microfinance in Armenia as a fellow for Kiva, a non-profit organization that allows people to lend money via the Internet to low-income entrepreneurs and students in more than 80 countries.

“I needed to get away from tech, so I spent a few months in the motherland, just volunteering for Kiva,” he said.

“I was unplugged, got back to my roots, met a bunch of Armenian entrepreneurs making wine or selling clothes — just good old-fashioned businesses making a thing and selling it.”

Ohanian started dating tennis star Serena Williams after first meeting her at a lunch in 2015. In a Reddit post confirming her engagement in 2017, Williams traced their lunch back to Rome, where Ohanian ultimately proposed.

Alexis Ohanian thanks Armenians for their best wishes on his marriage proposal to Serena Williams

December 30, 2016 By administrator

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, especially for the tennis superstar Serena Williams. Her beloved boyfriend Alexis Ohanian, American-Armenian internet entrepreneur, Reddit social news website co-founder, Alexis Ohanian has made a marriage proposal, and she said “yes” to him.

“I came home, a little late. Someone had a bag packed for me. And a carriage awaited. Destination: Rome. To escort me to my very own “charming”, back to where our stars first collided. And now it was full circle. At the same table we first met by chance. This time he made it not by chance but by choice. Down on one knee he said 4 words and I said yes”,- Women’s Tennis Association world No. 2 and 22 Grand Slam singles titleholder Serena posted on Reddit.

After the proposal Twitter users has started to discuss and congratulate the happy couple. Alexis has thanked everyone, especially his Armenian sisters and brothers.

“Thank you for all the kind words, esp from all my Armenian brothers & sisters debating when they can claim Serena as Armenian,” – Alexis posted on Twitter.

NEWS.am STYLE congratulates Alexis and Serena and we are waiting for their Armenian wedding.