Successful entrepreneurs often tell us “Being an entrepreneur is not always easy,” but how can a young entrepreneur become a successful entrepreneur? Let’s hear it out from a man whose current net worth is around $150 million and he’s none other than the Reddit co-founder, Alexis Ohanian. Together with his wife, Serena Williams, he has been heavily investing in early startups. Both of them are successful entrepreneurs, but you’d be surprised to know that they still face several rejections and losses on their journeys. What’d be their advice to all the young entrepreneurs?

Serena Williams’ husband, Alexis Ohanian, recently put up a post on his Instagram account, where he revealed how entrepreneurs should get used to rejections. Ohanian revealed, “We got rejected for My Mobile Menu from YC and then built Reddit. If you’re an entrepreneur, get used to rejections. I still hear ‘no’ more often than I hear ‘yes’. You got to lock in on the people who really matter. And, that’s not investors, it’s your users.”

The 41-year-old American internet entrepreneur and investor further added, “Understanding why they are saying ‘No’, you’ll find more ‘yesses’ will come from investors. As long as you’ve been building the right way and keeping your burn low, focusing on talking to the users and shipping products, you’ll be able to extend your runway to keep trying until something clicks.” According to Alexis Ohanian, the companies that fail in the right ways are the ones who just haven’t found product market fit yet but are doing the right stuff.

However, this isn’t the first time, even during his previous interactions he stressed the fact that the sooner one gets comfortable speaking up and advocating for things that are in their vision, the better they get at their businesses. According to his vision and observations over the years, small gains daily start to compound massively over years and years. So, his advice to young entrepreneurs is that they shouldn’t be unhappy with these rejections and current situations if they’re on the right track.

In 2011, in an interview with Forbes, Alexis Ohanian was asked about the biggest challenge he has faced as a young entrepreneur. His answer was, “Ignorance is bliss. Starting a company right out of college meant I didn’t know what I was missing (vacation days, a salary…)” However, he had nothing much to lose at that time and this is what helped him to take this massive step in his life. So, now he always tells the students to just start building something people want. Even his wife Serena Williams has now become a successful entrepreneur! What are the lessons she learned in her journey and what lessons would she love to give to all the young entrepreneurs?

“My best growth has come from a loss” – Serena Williams shares her valuable lessons as a successful entrepreneur

Serena Williams has taken a new path after her retirement from the racquet sport. While following the path of her passion, she has now become one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the sports world. Williams is the founder and CEO of Serena Ventures, a firm that aims to help startups. In February 2024, she put up a post on her Instagram account stating, “Being an entrepreneur is not always easy. My days often begin at the break of dawn and extend well into the night. But in the end, I love reinventing myself in different and authentic ways.”

She further added, “Transitioning from a tennis player to a venture capitalist has allowed me to pursue my passion for investing in women. It’s important to invest in us and not be afraid to showcase our stories and businesses.” How challenging this journey has been for the tennis star, though? Well, the thing which sports have helped her to learn is that, although she indeed despises the word ‘losing’, at times it’s totally “OK” to lose a few battles. Reason?

“As much as I hate it, some of my best growth has come from a loss,” said Williams. Can you find a similarity between Serena Williams’ lessons from her “losses” with Alexis Ohanian’s take from his “rejections“? Williams has now also values this ethos in her businesses. She feels it’s very important to have these “bumps in the road” in order to know how to maneuver the next obstacles or challenges that may come their way. Share your thoughts on the tips given by two successful couples in the entrepreneurs’ world.