Serena Ventures is led by world-class athlete, businesswoman, and philanthropist Serena Williams, and Alison Rapaport Stillman, who has previously worked at J.P. Morgan, Wasserman, and Melo7Tech Partners. She is a founding partner at Serena Ventures after joining the capital fund company in 2018. Dan Rapaport girlfriend Emma Light is engaged in October 2021. Abena: What advice would you give your younger self? WebAlison Rapaport Stillman is a Founding General Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. Yet, because of the areas they want to serve, Alison says they still naturally fund women, Black and Latinx founders. I legit thought she misspoke because 98% is a huge number, Williams says. It is not us versus them. The stats about the fund received by black women entrepreneurs in the recent years highlights the problem. A sample of the funds investments includes the following: Offers body products and shaving supplies at a fair price, without the pink tax. aid: '782078', Each day is a learning experience, Im learning all the things that I would have had I taken venture classes at school. The two cherished couple, beaming happy in the early morning, enjoyed an excellent breakfast as she held a Veuve Clicquot champagne bottle. He worked for numerous organisations in various positions, including manager, director, and executive. Veronica is a proud Alumna of Howard University and holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management. Thus, Marc bought Dan a golf set on his fourth birthday. Still, one key factor the firm looks for in an investment opportunity is whether the company is tapping into a sizable market that it's excited about. At the start of February 2022, Emma and Dan travelled to Hualalai, Kona, in Hawaii. All views and opinions presented herein by such third party participants do not represent those of 500 Startups or any of its affiliates or representatives. In addition to growing the reach and impact of the SV portfolio, Alison is the person founders turn to when they need pointed advice, detailed feedback, and tough love. Serena Ventures was about to announce a historic $111 million raise that would change the world. Serena Ventures partner Alison Rapaport Stillman finds that VCs still ignore products and services made for audiences theyre not familiar with, even those representing massive markets. This makes a lot of sense invest in what you know! and this attitude has led to White men receiving an overwhelming majority of venture capital funds. 500 Startups Management Company, L.L.C. My puppy Zoe. As Analyst, Ashel assists with sourcing, diligence, and portfolio support initiatives at Serena Ventures. Sitting in a room for six months brainstorming to find a white space with a huge market opportunity is not the way to build a company. The firm, which announced an $111 million fund in March, already included a portfolio of 60 firms from Williams earliest investment activity; she wrote one of the first checks for Masterclass, and was also an early backer of Noom and Impossible Foods, among others. Prior to joining Serena Ventures, Olivia launched her first startup, SevenSkin Beauty, a skincare company that combines science with technology and education. Dan often goes golfing with Marc where as Sheri stays as home waiting for them ( Source : instagram ). WebAlison Rapaport Stillman is a Founding General Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. San Francisco Bay Area, Silicon Valley), This describes the type of investor the person is (e.g. and this attitude has led to White men receiving an overwhelming majority of venture capital funds. He has been in the industry for four decades. Abena Anim-Somuah: Tell us how you met Serena and what drew you to work with her? Having dabbled in almost everything from marketing to accounting, her intellectual athleticism makes her excited about exploring new sectors and industries. targeting: { Alison: Dont get bangs it is not worth it! Dan took to Instagram to post a picture of the two as they flaunt the ring from a resort rooftop in Friday Harbor, Washington. Their most recent acquisition was on May 27, 2021, when Infinite Objects raised $6M.Serena Ventures has made 21 diversity investments. Algorithmic rank assigned to the top 100,000 most active Investors, The organization associated to the person's primary job, Where the person is located (e.g. Have a great Thursday. Dana Iverson: What got you into venture, and what is keeping you here? Ms. Williams, who holds 23 Grand Slam tennis titles, was inspired by a talk between Caryn Seidman-Becker, the chief executive of the security company Clear, and Jamie Dimon, the head of JPMorgan Chase. In a December 2020 interview with the HBS Alumni Bulletin, Stillman describes the duos skill sets as different and super complementary. He then introduced me to Chris Lyons at Andreessen Horowitzs Cultural Leadership Fund, who encouraged me to lean into my skill set to support world-class athletes who would like to get into venture but dont have the investment background. Serena Ventures has made investments in over 30 companies across multiple industries, including Coinbase, Daily Harvest, and Billie to name a few. }).render('5eec50a0f683429ca3814da74bd486aa'); She first worked as an advisory and sales analyst before getting promoted to investment specialist for the company. For Williams, surrounding herself with other smart women was a no-brainer. Dana: The goal of Serena Ventures is to make everyday lives better. How does this manifest in the companies that you choose to invest in? You can also reach out to them oninfo@aysasia.com, Your email address will not be published. Alison Rapaport is a Partner at Serena Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund founded by tennis superstar Serena Williams in 2014. Serena Williams raises $111 million for new venture fund. I want to highlight that we do not invest in women and people of color to simply check a box, Rapaport Stillman told the online publication All Raise. Her partner Alison Rapaport Stillman backs Serena while stating that VCs ignore products and services made for audiences theyre unfamiliar with, even those representing massive markets with loyal customers. Pavan is an Associate at Serena Ventures where he researches market trends, dives into emerging sectors, and sources new investment opportunities. Inclusivity is a key factor for us, we analyze all aspects of a business with that lens, including who is on the team, who the target customers are, and what the price points look like. Under no circumstances should any content in this post be construed as investment, legal, tax or accounting advice by 500 Startups, or an offer to sell or solicitation of interest to purchase any securities advised by 500 Startups. A founder should hire a team around themselves and hire for what they are not. Quoting its founder, Serena, I am by no means alone in my mission to build an inclusive venture capital landscape. WebAlison Rapaport Stillman, Serena Ventures. targeting: { Your Money, Your Life, LATEST LISTS We really believe that we can make the most by finding companies that solve bigger consumer problems, especially for people who have been ignored by the traditional players in the game.. You can find her on Twitter. Dan does not have a brother and Alison is his only sibling. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', They have scheduled their marriage on June 10, 2023. Tennis superstar Serena Williams has just announced that her venture capital firm,Serena Ventures, has raised $111 million dollars in an inaugural fund. Managing partner Serena Williams and general partner Alison Rapaport Stillman have backed about 20 companies with Serena Ventures' first fund. Always ready for a new challenge, she started out by asking a lot of questions, then investing in a fund, and then becoming an angel investor. Review address history and property records. Business partners. The former world no one tennis player and winner of 23 grand slam singles titles, Serena Williams, has her name written in golden words in the history of world tennis. Try not to control everything. Williams launched Serena Ventures in 2014. When Serena Williams announced her retirement earlier this month, there was plenty of talk of the tennis superstars 23 Grand Slam titles. The podcaster at Barstool Sports dedicated a tweet in April 2020 to appreciate Marc for everything he had done for Dan and a special gratification for introducing him to this beautiful game. Serena Ventures Serena Williams launched Serena Ventures in 2014 and has invested in over 60 companies. However, we need to acknowledge there is a problem and strive to fix it. pos: 'right_rail_2', He supports all aspects of existing deals through analysis, market research, competitive landscapes, financial modeling, and deal structuring. Im still able to see the opportunity and help the company grow. WebAllison Stillman is the director of Aroma Blue, bringing aromatherapy to people in recovery. Serena Ventures invests in founders who solve everyday problems through unconventional thinking and diverse points of view. For the past nine years, it has managed a portfolio of more than 60 angel investments, using Williams own money. Her partner Alison Rapaport Stillman backs Serena while stating that VCs ignore products and services made for audiences theyre unfamiliar with, even those representing massive markets with loyal customers. Dana Iverson is a contributing writer at All Raise. tag: 'mandc,black-venture-capitalists,newsletter-lead,serena-ventures,serena-williams,vc', Serena Ventures partner Alison Rapaport Stillman finds that VCs still ignore products and services made for audiences theyre not familiar with, even those representing massive markets. One recent investment they made is Fiveable, a woman-led Milwaukie ed-tech startup helping students prepare for AP exams by offering free online resources. To be successful, though, you have to let go of the reins.". They may not be networked to them, and thats something that you can fix. An obvious solution is building a diverse team and creating internal opportunities for people with non-traditional VC backgrounds, which creates access to those wider networks. August 10, 2022, 5:31 AM PDT. Serena Williams, founding and managing partner at Serena Ventures and Alison Rapaport Stillman, founding and managing partner at Serena Ventures. Contact Many recommendations they now get come from current portfolio companies. The funds limited partners include Norwest Venture Partners, Capital G (Alphabets growth fund) and LionTree. As a world-class athlete, businesswoman, philanthropist and mother, Serena Williams knows what it takes to win. Alison Rapaport is a Partner at Serena Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund founded by tennis superstar Serena Williams in 2014. The natural beauty of the world around the island struck them. Just to be clear, you dont have to be a person of color or a woman to be in our fund, Williams says. It also helps that a byproduct of working with diverse entrepreneurs is that it leads to a more diverse deal flow. They make strategic decisions, manage finances and develop business plans. Founders should send a deck with their pitch even if it's just a "teaser deck." env: 'prod', Serena Ventures partner Alison Rapaport Stillman thinks VCs need to get out of their comfort zones. Delivers pre-prepped, frozen, healthy cuisine to your door. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/01/business/serena-williams-venture-fund.html. It's your baby. It is important to us that the founder has a personal connection to the problem and is uniquely positioned to solve it. While both individuals may have similar last names, they are not bonded. Before starting her stint at Serena Ventures, Stillman worked as a board member at Wasserman for three months and The SpringHill Company for almost three years. The latest Tweets from Alison Stillman (@alison_stillman). They had one problem: their brand didnt reflect who they were as a firm- or as people. Administration); By: April White, Re: Sherrese Clarke Soares (MBA2004); By: Jen McFarland Flint, Re: Ali Stillman (MBA2018); Anita Elberse (Lincoln Filene Professor of Business Administration); pos: 'right_rail_3', The tennis stars firm, Serena Ventures, will invest in founders with diverse points of view. Since then, she and her partner, Alison Rapaport Stillman, have made angel investments in over 60 companies, including the edtech unicorns like MasterClass and consumer-product startups like Billie and Daily Harvest. tude.cmd.push(function() { She is the first athlete ever to hit Forbes list of the Worlds Richest Self-Made Women. }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; Dan Rapaport is not related to Ian Rapaport. To take a closer look at how Serena Ventures developed its diverse portfolio and pipeline, Alison recently joined 500 Startups CEO Christine Tsai for a fireside chat at the 2021 Unity and Inclusion Summit. She is a founding partner at Serena Ventures after joining the capital fund company in 2018. When I eventually presented the pitches to Serena, she asked the same questions that I had worked to prepare for. Alison: Skincare. Business partners. That was about four years ago, when Williams hired Alison Rapaport Stillman as general partner and they began building a teamwhich just happens to be all women. pos: 'right_rail_1', Alison Stillman is a Managing Partner at Serena Ventures based in Sugar Land, Texas. She makes you feel comfortable, as if youre not talking to the greatest athlete of all time. page_type: 'article', Subscribe to Newsletter Investors claiming they cant find opportunities to invest in women and founders of color probably arent trying hard enough, said Alison. She earned Bachelor of Science degree in Finance & Operations from the campus. Marc works as a credit approval principal at Thorofare Capital. Serena Williams, founding and managing partner at Serena Ventures and Alison Rapaport Stillman, founding and managing partner at Serena Ventures. Learn more about the 20+ companies we've invested in and what's next. Accelerating the success of female founders and funders to build a more prosperous, equitable future. cat: 'entrepreneurship', Alison married Alec Stillman in October 2020, and they welcomed a daughter named Lucy in February 2023. Dog mom . Alison Rapaport Stillman, General Partner, Serena Ventures (Image: Courtesy of Serena Ventures) For Williams, surrounding herself with other smart women was a no-brainer. Upon learning that just two percent of funding goes to female founders, Williams made a strategic commitment to diversity and inclusion; today, 78 percent of founders backed by Serena Ventures are women or people of color. Thats just the way of the land. The golf guy at Barstool Sports currently lives a serene life with his fiance Emma in the radiant metropolis of Brooklyn, New York. During my time at Harvard Business School, I had the opportunity to work with Melo7 Tech Partners, where I was exposed to the world of VC. "We know that what you're selling us at the pre-seed or seed probably isn't going to look like what the Series B investor sees at some level," she said. Its been proven that the more diverse your team, the better you do, and companies are now starting to realize that, she says. Alisa Gumbs is the executive managing editor of BLACK ENTERPRISE, planning and creating content across the company's print, digital, events, and broadcast platforms. Previously, Alison worked at J.P. Morgan Asset Management in Multi- Asset Solutions and led the development of the firms Alternative Beta offering. Ive watched all of Face Off, a show where people go head-to-head with special effects and makeup. Alison Stillman Goes By Allison Stillman Nashville, TN Age: 67 Full Name: Allison Stillman Current Home Address: 5329 Old Village Rd Nashville TN 37211 Privacy Policy Women of Power Summit The pair had unforgettable intimate moments in a cold, chilly environment in the woods near a lake. Dog mom . I was talking about investments. Ms. Williamss husband is the Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', We dont fit the mold of venture.. That is exactly what we are going to talk about in this article. And the only way to change those numbers was to be the person writing the big checks.. The firm, which announced an $111 million fund in March, already included a portfolio of 60 firms from Williams earliest investment activity; she wrote one of the first checks for Masterclass, and was also an early backer of ]); Serena Ventures is led by world-class athlete, businesswoman, and philanthropist Serena Williams, and Alison Rapaport Stillman, who has previously worked at J.P. Morgan, Wasserman, and Melo7Tech Partners. Alison graduated magna cum laude from the University of Marc started his job in 1983 as a banker at Drexel Burnham Lambert. } Now, with funding from limited partners including Norwest, CapitalG, Kapor Foundation, and LionTree, among others, Serena Ventures will be able to take its investments to the next level. One recent investment they made is Fiveable, a woman-led Milwaukie edtech startup helping students prepare for AP exams by offering free online resources. When he posted an Ask Me Anything during Q&A sessions, one user commented whether he is related to Ian or Michael, to which he replied, "Negative." Serena is such a smart and driven person. } Serena Ventures Serena Williams launched Serena Ventures in 2014 and has invested in over 60 companies. She comes to Serena Ventures from Equitable Advisors, where she worked as an Investment Operations Specialist. Alison Rapaport Stillman, General Partner, Serena Ventures (Image: Courtesy of Serena Ventures) For Williams, surrounding herself with other smart women was a no-brainer. She is currently on a gap-year and works on the Public Policy and Business Development Team at Tesla. Alison Stillman has been with Serena Ventures for a few months and is in Owner, Alison's role is Manager: Owner & Partner, Partner. Thanks for being part of ours! Have a great Thursday. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', Review address history and property records. Below, Stillman explains how the firm evaluates prospective investments and what makes the winners stand out. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. WebAllison Stillman is the director of Aroma Blue, bringing aromatherapy to people in recovery. To raise a child it takes a village. More generally, Serena Ventures also works with accelerators (including 500 Startups) and diversity-focused funds to source leads, and looks at opportunities that originate outside major startup hubs. I thought Id work in banking, then work as an associate and go to business school, but my best work has happened when I have hopped off the conveyor belt and took a risk. NFL insider Ian has a brother named Jake Rapaport. Alison Stillman has been with Serena Ventures for a few months and is in Owner What is Alison Stillman's role in Serena Ventures? WebThe General partner is Alison Rapport Stillman. Sign up for notifications from Insider! Thats how we met. Alison J. Rapaport, CFA, is a Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. The FDA nears final approval on vaccines for young kids, women feel unprepared for menopause, and Zola adds a co-CEO. In hindsight, I did not need to worry about the other people who barely thought of me. Serena Ventures partner Alison Rapaport Stillman finds that VCs still ignore products and services made for audiences theyre not familiar with, even those representing massive markets. The move underscores 500 Globals multi-stage initiatives. Moreover, Rapaport is also a former golf writer at Sports Illustrated and a staff writer for Golf Digest. Some of Alison Stillman's colleagues are Alison Rapaport, Amy Berliner, Kyra Mccarty, Alison Rapapaort, Olivia Griffian, Serena Williams, Jair Bobbitt, Veronica Reaves. Alison Stillman has been with Serena Ventures for a few months and is in Owner What is Alison Stillman's role in Serena Ventures? Produces a new generation of meats and cheeses made entirely from plants. According to the National Venture Capital Association data, only 4% of the people who work in venture capital are Black. Nacho lover Not surprisingly, thats a big reason why women and entrepreneurs of color struggle to access venture funding. Sep 10, 2022, 7:00 AM Serena Williams and Alison Rapaport Stillman. Looking at the VC industry more broadly, Alison doesnt see a diverse pipeline problem, but a networking issue. Ian Rapaport a television analyst and pundit for National Football League (NFL) ( Source : instagram ). The FDA nears final approval on vaccines for young kids, women feel unprepared for menopause, and Zola adds a co-CEO. BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. } Entrepreneurs Summit Dana: What trends are you excited to see in the world of consumer? That fact naturally attracts diverse deal flow, because founders identify with the investment team and see Serena Ventures as a safe place to share their vision. Ive been on a bit of a skincare kick so I have been trying a lot of Kate Somervilles products. Sadly this is why I wanted to build a track record, because, quite frankly I knew that above other people I needed to have something that could speak for itself, she says. During this time, I got along really well with Carmelos business manager, Stuart Goldfarb, who saw that I understood how to work with sports talent and also had a deep understanding of the investment world, a rare combination of two very different skills sets. url: 'serena,williams,venture,capital,firm,raises,111,million', Alison's role is Manager: Founded in 2014 by tennis legend Serena Williams, Serena Ventures is an early-stage fund that embraces diverse founders and the ideas theyre serving up. Furthermore, he is also one of the founding members of a top soccer league in the US, Major League Soccer (MLS). Serena Ventures has a market cap of $14 billion and 29 active investments. And also, its very authentic. Sign up to stay up to date on global innovation. WebThe General partner is Alison Rapport Stillman. subcat: '', She has persevered to become one of the top tennis players in history with 23 Grand Slam titles. Dan and Michael are unrelated and has never even talked to each other. We cant resort to a theater allyship, you have to do the work write the checks and make the hires.
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