Wired Loses Reddit Founders, Just Like We Warned [Exits]

The founders of Reddit.com confirmed the rumors first aired here two weeks ago: they are leaving Wired Digital, which acquired their site in 2006. Bad news, but not unexpected. Here's Reddit's growth after spoiled Conde Nast execs took it over:

Quantcast (Reddit is the lower line; news ranking competitor Digg the upper):



ComScore, via TechCrunch (Reddit is the lower, red line):



The departures of Ohanian and Huffman were anticipated. The co-founders are believed to have completed the "earn out" provisions of their acquisition deal with Conde Nast; the end of October marks the three-year anniversary of the acquisition. What's troubling is that Wired, socked by layoffs and ad declines, seems determined to do to promising Wired.com what it did to Reddit: hinder some real potential.

No matter, for Reddit's co-founders: Alexis Ohanian (top pic, left) is off to a fellowship in Armenia, while co-founder Steve Huffman (top pic, right) will "flee back to Virginia to spend time with my lovely new wife." Sounds like a plan. They'll say goodbye at a Reddit Halloween party in San Francisco. Free drinks are involved — per Reddit tradition — so.... see you there!

(Top pics: Irina Slutsky and saikofish on Flickr)