Jason Citron

Jason Citron is an American entrepreneur and technology executive best known as the co-founder and former CEO of the popular communication platform Discord. He previously founded the mobile gaming company OpenFeint, which was acquired by the Japanese social network GREE. Under his leadership, Discord grew from a voice over IP tool for gamers into a mainstream service used by hundreds of millions for diverse communities and real-time communication.

Early life and education

Born in San Diego, California, Citron developed an early interest in computer programming and video games. He pursued his passion formally by enrolling at Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in game design and development. His education provided a foundation in software engineering and the interactive entertainment industry, which directly informed his future entrepreneurial ventures in the technology sector.

Career

Citron's career began in the video game industry, where he worked as a programmer before launching his first major startup. In 2008, he founded Aurora Feint, which later pivoted to become OpenFeint, a pioneering social networking service and achievement system for mobile games on the iOS platform. The platform's success attracted the attention of GREE, a major Japanese mobile social networking service, which acquired OpenFeint in 2011 for a reported $104 million. Following the acquisition, Citron founded Hammer & Chisel, a game development studio initially focused on creating a multiplayer online battle arena title for tablet computers.

Discord

While developing a game at Hammer & Chisel, Citron and co-founder Stanislav Vishnevskiy identified a critical problem with existing voice over IP and text messaging services used by gamers, such as Skype and TeamSpeak. They found these tools were unreliable, resource-intensive, and lacked modern features. In response, they built a proprietary communication protocol focused on low-latency voice chat, which evolved into the core of Discord, publicly launched in 2015. The platform quickly gained traction within the esports and live streaming communities, notably on Twitch, for its high-quality voice, video, and text capabilities. As CEO, Citron oversaw Discord's rapid growth, its rejection of multiple acquisition offers, including from Microsoft and Tencent, and its evolution beyond gaming to serve a wide array of communities, educational institutions, and businesses. He stepped down as CEO in late 2023, transitioning to the role of Chairman of the board of directors to focus on long-term strategy.

Other ventures and investments

Beyond his work with Discord, Citron is an active angel investor and advisor in the technology startup ecosystem. He has invested in and supported numerous companies, often focusing on consumer software, social media, and the future of online interaction. His investment portfolio and advisory roles reflect his expertise in building scalable platforms and fostering digital communities. Citron also engages with various venture capital firms and entrepreneurial initiatives, contributing his experience from both OpenFeint and Discord to the next generation of founders.

Personal life

Citron maintains a relatively private personal life. He is married and resides in the San Francisco Bay Area, a hub for the technology industry and Silicon Valley innovation. An avid gamer himself, his personal interests have consistently aligned with his professional work in creating tools for digital connection and community. He occasionally participates in industry conferences and discussions regarding the future of online communication, platform governance, and internet safety.

Category:American technology chief executives Category:American video game developers Category:Internet entrepreneurs Category:1985 births Category:Living people Category:Discord (software)