Serena Ventures Serena Williams launched Serena Ventures in 2014 and has invested in over 60 companies. For fans of Williams, this year's US Open was likely a bittersweet moment. 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. I think celebrities dont always experience pushback, but I give that, which she respects, and she does it with me., Two years later, that hasnt changed. The investment firm led by the tennis star is already an active angel investor with a portfolio of 60 companies that includes SendWave, MasterClass and Daily Harvest. page_type: 'article', SERENA VENTURES. 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. Nacho lover pos: 'right_rail_2', This mindset allows us to have a broad and holistic approach to invest in FinTech, Wellness, and everything in between. A sample of the funds investments includes the following: Offers body products and shaving supplies at a fair price, without the pink tax. However, just like in tennis, Serena does not believe in following the herd mentality while taking on investments. The General partner is Alison Rapport Stillman. Learn more about the 20+ companies we've invested in and what's next. She makes you feel comfortable, as if youre not talking to the greatest athlete of all time. B.E. Serena Williams, founding and managing partner at Serena Ventures and Alison Rapaport Stillman, founding and managing partner at Serena Ventures. Dana Iverson is a contributing writer at All Raise. Then to further intensify her business knowledge, she attended Harvard Buisness School in Boston, Massachusetts. We understand that what we see in the pitch deck is not what the product will look like later, and the product will go through a hundred iterations before it is out in the wild. WebAlison J. Rapaport, CFA, is a Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. Serena Ventures was about to announce a historic $111 million raise that would change the world. Last week, amid the bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium, Serena Williams played what were likely the final matches of her tennis career. WebAllison Stillman is the director of Aroma Blue, bringing aromatherapy to people in recovery. In March, Serena Ventures announced it had raised an inaugural fund of $111 million from outside investors including Alphabet, Norwest, LionTree, and Kapor Center. 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. Even though Marc frequently played golf with Dan, it wasn't until August 2020 that his father attended one of his games at Quaker Ridge Golf Club in New York and watched him as an audience. The team also scores each prospective investment that makes it past the introductory rounds. From an early age, Rapaport began swinging his golf club, and because of this, he has an in-depth knowledge of the ins and outs of the sport. Serena Williamss early-stage venture capital firm, Serena Ventures, has raised an inaugural fund of $111 million that will invest in founders with diverse points of view, she told the DealBook newsletter. As she learned more about the world of funding, Williams was shocked by the inequities. 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. tag: 'mandc,black-venture-capitalists,newsletter-lead,serena-ventures,serena-williams,vc', kw: 'mandc,black-venture-capitalists,newsletter-lead,serena-ventures,serena-williams,vc', This is something Ive been doing for a really, really, really long time and its something that I absolutely love and Im super passionate about., Despite her busy schedule, Williams spends six or seven hours a day on her investing work: I love looking at new companies, I love talking to founders, I absolutely love passing on the knowledge that Ive been able to get and being able to impact other people.. I am excited about companies that are focused on natural ways to get healthier, supporting the postpartum journey, and mental health services for younger women. Alison Stillman's peers at other companies are Ariane Rocha, Margaret Ursua, Marine Casiez, Joseph Eazyway, Janice Patriarca, David Guthery, Karen Chapman, John Stafford. Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. She is a CFA charterholder and earned her MBA from Harvard Business School. cat: 'entrepreneurship', The founding partners of Serena Ventures are Ms. Williams and Alison Rapaport Stillman. William states, Its fun to get in there. Abena: What traits stand out to you in a founding team? She is so much more than just the worlds best tennis player. WebThe General partner is Alison Rapport Stillman. 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. 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. Dan and Michael are unrelated and has never even talked to each other. Dan Rapaport sister is named Alison Rapaport Stillman. Serena Williams in Hollywood in November. Williams was heavily involved in her firms decision-making process well before she announced her retirement. Partner @Serenaventures. I was at a conference and Caryn Seidman-Becker, the founder of CLEAR, was on stage and she said less than 2% of all VC money goes to women. By highlighting this behaviour and offering support, we are drawing awareness to the systemic issues at hand and showing people in the industry how it can be done. Serena Ventures partner Alison Rapaport Stillman thinks VCs need to get out of their comfort zones. 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. So why cant a man learn about tampons? }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; Dan often goes golfing with Marc where as Sheri stays as home waiting for them ( Source : instagram ). SistersInc. Serena Ventures partner Alison Rapaport Stillman thinks VCs need to get out of their comfort zones. The food we eat, the space we live in, and the tools we use at home are all getting a second look. Alison graduated magna cum laude from the University of There is no surprise element that the primary reason why women and entrepreneurs of color struggle to access venture funding is the ignorant nature of VCs. Serena Ventures partner Alison Rapaport Stillman thinks VCs need to get out of their comfort zones. 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. and this attitude has led to White men receiving an overwhelming majority of venture capital funds. kw: 'mandc,black-venture-capitalists,newsletter-lead,serena-ventures,serena-williams,vc', subcat: '', divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', Ian Rapaport a television analyst and pundit for National Football League (NFL) ( Source : instagram ). When she is not working on the Business Development team at Ada Support, she is avidly baking and elevating Black culinary creatives on Instagram , listening to a podcast, or digging into a good book. Serena Williams, founding and managing partner at Serena Ventures and Alison Rapaport Stillman, founding and managing partner at Serena Ventures. One of my favorite parts about my job is the people I get to work with every day and how much I get to learn from Serena and from the team around us, Rapaport Stillman says. }).render('5eec50a0f683429ca3814da74bd486aa'); Quoting its founder, Serena, I am by no means alone in my mission to build an inclusive venture capital landscape. "You want to do something that's going to make it easy for us to understand your business," Stillman said. Veronica has dedicated her career to supporting founders who work to democratize access to a better life, and her unique perspective is informed by 10 years of experience as a strategy consultant, founder, and investor. To raise a child it takes a village. There has been a lot of innovation outside of the home, but now with consumers spending most of their days at home we have the opportunity to think through how to make home life better. Most notably, she helped launch the African Leadership University, named one of Africas most innovative companies in 2016 by Fast Company, and founded Black Women in Venture Capital, a community of over 200 Black women in venture capital who envision an equitable VC system. 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. Every quarter, the team brainstorms sectors it wants to dive deeper into. I dont gamble. Serena Williams raises $111 million for new venture fund. Accelerating the success of female founders and funders to build a more prosperous, equitable future. Serena Ventures Serena Williams launched Serena Ventures in 2014 and has invested in over 60 companies. As Analyst, Ashel assists with sourcing, diligence, and portfolio support initiatives at Serena Ventures. Dana: What trends are you excited to see in the world of consumer? Business partners. Moreover, Rapaport is also a former golf writer at Sports Illustrated and a staff writer for Golf Digest. window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; Sep 10, 2022, 7:00 AM Serena Williams and Alison Rapaport Stillman. She is a founding partner at Serena Ventures after joining the capital fund company in 2018. I go up to her afterward and asked, Tell me about this 2 percent I know maybe you misspoke, Ms. Williams recounted. } It is not us versus them. In hindsight, I did not need to worry about the other people who barely thought of me. 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 What is Alison Stillman's role in Serena Ventures? Register for your account and get started with our industry leading people contacts search engine. They have scheduled their marriage on June 10, 2023. Business partners. Thats just the way of the land. Alison Stillman has been with Serena Ventures for a few months and is in Owner What is Alison Stillman's role in Serena Ventures? . One meeting led to another and the next thing you know, Im working at Serena Ventures. So I spent the week practicing my pitch with friends. Alison Stillman Goes By Allison Stillman Nashville, TN Age: 67 Full Name: Allison Stillman Current Home Address: 5329 Old Village Rd Nashville TN 37211 Im still able to see the opportunity and help the company grow. Thats a great way to get people to pitch to you who otherwise might not try, said Alison. Venture is one of the most inequitable places to work. 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 Alison Stillman has been with Serena Ventures for a few months and is in Owner What is Alison Stillman's role in Serena Ventures? With my little experience in venture, I knew that I had to go in prepared and used all of my resources to get ready. ]); document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. I dont jump off buildings. Alison Stillman has 1+ years experience as Partner. Alison Rapaport: I never thought Id pursue a career in venture. Serena Ventures most notable exits include The Wing and OLLY. Emma also posted a picture on her Instagram as they shared a passionate kiss after he popped her the question. The funds limited partners include Norwest Venture Partners, Capital G (Alphabets growth fund) and LionTree. Marc started his job in 1983 as a banker at Drexel Burnham Lambert. Business partners. Stay up to date with what you want to know. All third party links in this post have not been independently verified by 500 Startups and the inclusion of such links should not be interpreted as an endorsement or confirmation of the content within. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { You can find her on Twitter. 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. Suddenly, she found herself learning about trading cards, trying to understand the market and find opportunities. To raise a child it takes a village. Ive always been fascinated with technology, and Ive always loved how it really shapes our lives, said Ms. Williams, who has been investing for nine years. BE 100s Dan and Marc enjoying golf during dusk in Cabot Cliffs, July 2019 ( Source : instagram ). Alison Stillman has been with Serena Ventures for a few months and is in Owner, Alison's role is Manager: Owner & Partner, Partner. 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. Weve made some investments in the food and beverage space but are interested in the holistic wellness space as well. url: 'serena,williams,venture,capital,firm,raises,111,million', Emma posted their first picture online on Valentine's in 2020. For me success is when you dont have to have the quota, said Alison. The same goes for actor Michael Rapaport. Impact can take many forms, she continues. Partner @Serenaventures. page_type: 'article', Previously, Alison worked at J.P. Morgan Asset Management in Multi- Asset Solutions and led the development of the firms Alternative Beta offering. For aspiring founders, Williams' retirement opens a window of opportunity. Alison: We invest early in a market and a founder. WebAlison J. Rapaport, CFA, is a Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. Dog mom . However, we need to acknowledge there is a problem and strive to fix it. kw: 'mandc,black-venture-capitalists,newsletter-lead,serena-ventures,serena-williams,vc', Those include "business opportunity, founder fit, business model, and mission alignment," she told Insider by email. Alison Rapaport Stillman, General Partner, Serena Ventures (Image: Courtesy of Serena Ventures) For Williams, surrounding herself with other smart women was a no-brainer. They just share a same surname but have no family ties. Sells personal care, food, and household goods products under the Brandless brand. Sign up to stay up to date on global innovation. The information is out there.. Alison Rapaport is a Partner at Serena Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund founded by tennis superstar Serena Williams in 2014. Thanks for being part of ours! 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. Alison Rapaport Stillman, General Partner, Serena Ventures (Image: Courtesy of Serena Ventures) For Williams, surrounding herself with other smart women was a no-brainer. It helps that Serena Ventures has a diverse team led by women. And she says, No, its true. And I literally couldnt wrap my mind around the fact that 98 percent of all of this money were talking about billions of dollars goes to one type of individual.. "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. "Maybe we're so enamored by the founder, but when we actually take the time to dig down into the economics, it might not be the right thing," Stillman said. The stats about the fund received by black women entrepreneurs in the recent years highlights the problem.
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