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. Serena Ventures doesnt require that its founders come from historically underrepresented backgrounds, though it says about three-quarters of its portfolio company founders do. Dan and Michael are unrelated and has never even talked to each other. Venture Capital Investing: What It Is and Where Its Headed Dog mom . env: 'prod', Serena Williams' Venture Capital Firm Raises $111 Million Alison: Dont get bangs it is not worth it! While writing for her CNN Business Perspective column, she mentions the challenges black women entrepreneurs face while raising funds for their startups in the white and male predominant venture capital industry. Ive watched all of Face Off, a show where people go head-to-head with special effects and makeup. Dan Rapaport dad Marc works in real estate and serves as the head of Thorofare Capital, a mercantile real estate pawnbroker entity. Serena Williams raises $111 million for new venture fund. subcat: '', Thats just the way of the land. View select TechCrunch Disrupt content online today 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. Even with her success and her privilege, she knows shes held to a different standard as a Black woman. WebThe General partner is Alison Rapport Stillman. 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.. Nothings going to replace what tennis was for her, but as shes thinking about whats nextits exciting to see her as passionate about this as you see her on the court., Matching investment wits with a tennis great, Re: Amal Enan (MBA2014); By: Julia Hanna; photographed by Abdelrahman Gabr Koree, Re: David Motley (MBA1988); Rosabeth M. Kanter (Ernest L. Arbuckle Professor of Business She is the first athlete ever to hit Forbes list of the Worlds Richest Self-Made Women. Managing partner Serena Williams and general partner Alison Rapaport Stillman have backed about 20 companies with Serena Ventures' first fund. tude.cmd.push(function() { }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; She works alongside the tennis superstar Serena Williams in overseeing the business and sourcing new investments. 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. Quoting its founder, Serena, I am by no means alone in my mission to build an inclusive venture capital landscape. Alison Stillman baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', Venture capitalists tend to believe in founders who feel familiar and thereby move forward to fund them. But as Serena Ventures is proving, it doesnt have to be this way. url: 'serena,williams,venture,capital,firm,raises,111,million', 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. My friends were asking questions that I didnt have the answers to, but I got better with time and more practice. cnx({ She works alongside the tennis superstar Serena Williams in overseeing the business and sourcing new investments. } 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.. pos: 'right_rail_3', Alisa Gumbs is the executive managing editor of BLACK ENTERPRISE, planning and creating content across the company's print, digital, events, and broadcast platforms. } 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. Serena Ventures - The Financial Pandora aid: '782078', Alison graduated magna cum laude from the University of They are finding new sectors to focus on, such as the rise of online education. Alison's role is Manager: She is a student at Princeton University in the School of Public and International Affairs with Minors in Entrepreneurship and Urban Studies. Serena Ventures was about to announce a historic $111 million raise that would change the world. Below, Stillman explains how the firm evaluates prospective investments and what makes the winners stand out. Rapaport Stillman Alison Rapaport: I never thought Id pursue a career in venture. Serena Ventures partner Alison Rapaport Stillman thinks VCs need to get out of their comfort zones. Like thats not even possible, thats near perfect., I couldnt wrap my mind around basically almost 100% of money is going to the men., And thats when Williams investing mission was formed: I wanted to really bring diversity to VC in the way that I could. In March, Serena Ventures announced it had raised an inaugural fund of $111 million from outside investors including Alphabet, Norwest, LionTree, and Kapor Center. We want to make sure that we dont necessarily neatly check a box. The ability to write bigger checks and the ability to lead seed rounds really enables us to deliver on our mission and to unlock value for our investors and open doors for founders, Williams says. My first time pitching was terrible. Ms. Williamss other business activities include fashion lines, entertainment deals and a seat on the board of Poshmark. We dont fit the mold of venture.. BE 100s There is no recent news or activity for this profile. env: 'prod', 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. 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. The FDA nears final approval on vaccines for young kids, women feel unprepared for menopause, and Zola adds a co-CEO. Just to be clear, you dont have to be a person of color or a woman to be in our fund, Williams says. Serena Williams co-investor shares what comes next for the To conclude, Serena Ventures will continue to invest in companies that embrace diverse leadership, individual empowerment, creativity, and opportunity and achieve its goal of making a difference. Alison graduated magna cum laude from the University of What motivates me is our mission to make lives better and ensure that others in the venture industry and ecosystem see the value in innovation for all by all. Business partners. Thanks for being part of ours! "The founder can't be doing everything," Stillman said. Dan popped the question to Emma in Friday Harbor, Washington in October 2021 ( Source : instagram ). WebThe General partner is Alison Rapport Stillman. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', When I met my husband, that was our first conversation. Alison Stillman Goodwin Women Guide Serena Williams Venture Fund in $111 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. Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. Serena Ventures was about to announce a historic $111 million raise that would change the world. Your Money, Your Life, LATEST LISTS Abena Anim-Somuah: Tell us how you met Serena and what drew you to work with her? He worked for numerous organisations in various positions, including manager, director, and executive. Business partners. tag: 'mandc,black-venture-capitalists,newsletter-lead,serena-ventures,serena-williams,vc', 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. Veronica is a proud Alumna of Howard University and holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management. Besides, Marc stars in the new Netflix docu-series about the PGA golf tour, "Full Swing," which premiered on February 15, 2023. The champions for Black female founders are here to stay. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', B.E. But a number of news outlets also noted her involvement in early-stage investing and the key role played by Serena Ventures General Partner Alison Rapaport Stillman (MBA 2018), who joined forces with Williams in 2018. Serena is such a smart and driven person. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { Previously, Alison worked at J.P. Morgan Asset Management in Multi- Asset Solutions and led the development of the firms Alternative Beta offering. Marc works as a credit approval principal at Thorofare Capital. Serena Williams raises $111 million for new venture fund. Entrepreneurs Summit August 10, 2022, 5:31 AM PDT. 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. My path to Serena Ventures started with another sports superstar, ten-time NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony. url: 'serena,williams,venture,capital,firm,raises,111,million', 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. SERENA VENTURES. Besides, they have a pet dog named Bud, who has also been featured in most of her uploads. As she learned more about the world of funding, Williams was shocked by the inequities. Serena Ventures most notable exits include The Wing and OLLY. 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? Alison Stillman's peers at other companies are Ariane Rocha, Margaret Ursua, Marine Casiez, Joseph Eazyway, Janice Patriarca, David Guthery, Karen Chapman, John Stafford. subcat: '', Learn more about the 20+ companies we've invested in and what's next. With Sheri and Marc's established careers, the Full Swing star enjoyed a secure upbringing and affluent lifestyle during childhood. 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. Zola founder Shan-Lyn Ma adds co-CEO Rachel Jarrett | Fortune Rapaport Stillman Serena Ventures invests in early-stage companies, but Stillman said the firm understood that companies wouldn't always adhere to their original pitches as they grew. They have scheduled their marriage on June 10, 2023. After graduating from Brentwood school, Alison studied psychology for a while before enrolling at the Wharton School. Serena Williams, founding and managing partner at Serena Ventures and Alison Rapaport Stillman, founding and managing partner at Serena Ventures. WebDiscover any aliases as well as possible relatives and associates of Alison Rapaport Stillman. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', I felt that it was an opportunity to combine my skill set with a mission and make a difference. Sign up to stay up to date on global innovation. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/01/business/serena-williams-venture-fund.html. Dana Iverson is a contributing writer at All Raise. Stillman said it's especially important for founders to be self-aware enough to know when they need to hire employees. Founders should send a deck with their pitch even if it's just a "teaser deck." According to Zola, Dan and his future wife Emma have set their wedding date for June 10, 2023, in the scenic landscape of Chicago. 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. and its affiliates (collectively 500 Startups) makes no representation as to the accuracy or information in this post and while reasonable steps have been taken to ensure that the information herein is accurate and up-to-date, no liability can be accepted for any error or omissions. Alison Rapaport is a Partner at Serena Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund founded by tennis superstar Serena Williams in 2014. I go up to her afterward and asked, Tell me about this 2 percent I know maybe you misspoke, Ms. Williams recounted. That includes looking at digital learning as a supplement and a way to attack inequities in traditional education systems. It is not us versus them. Dan often goes golfing with Marc where as Sheri stays as home waiting for them ( Source : instagram ). The scorecard helps the firm remain objective in its evaluation process. Alison Rapaport Stillman is a Founding General Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. 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. How to Land an Investment From Serena Williams' VC Firm Another way Alison recommends sourcing diverse deal flow is by not requiring a warm intro. 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.. WebAllison Stillman is the director of Aroma Blue, bringing aromatherapy to people in recovery. cat: 'entrepreneurship', Dan Rapaport father Marc Rapaport is a real estate agent from Los Angeles. WebVisit Alison Rapaport Stillman and Stillman Stillmans Baby Registry on Babylist. I want to highlight that we do not invest in women and people of color to simply check a box. Alison Rapaport is a Partner at Serena Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund founded by tennis superstar Serena Williams in 2014. WebAlison J. Rapaport, CFA, is a Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. As Analyst, Ashel assists with sourcing, diligence, and portfolio support initiatives at Serena Ventures. targeting: { You can also reach out to them oninfo@aysasia.com, Your email address will not be published. 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. Dan does not have a brother and Alison is his only sibling. ]); Im a firm believer that success comes from focusing on the skills you want to develop and the people you want to work for rather than fixating on job titles. Alison graduated magna cum laude from the University of Serena Ventures - The Serena Williams-backed VC Fund The founder should find people with experience or a particular skill set to offer advice to prepare them for the ups and downs. 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 env: 'prod', General Partner Alison Rapaport Stillman, who majored in finance and operations at Wharton as an undergrad, has said people have finally realized that inequity exists in all aspects of life. 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. ', Just like on the court, Williams is all about performance: I really wanted to spend time in creating something for that very reason, so when questions are asked its like, not only do we have answers, but we have exits and we have unicorns. 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. Dog mom . She earned Bachelor of Science degree in Finance & Operations from the campus. Allows traders to buy and sell bitcoin in the cryptocurrency and blockchain space. One recent investment they made is Fiveable, a woman-led Milwaukie edtech startup helping students prepare for AP exams by offering free online resources. We also think about products that are creative, fun, and make life more enjoyable. 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. 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. Business partners. Europe, Menlo Park, China), Where the person is located (e.g. Each day is a learning experience, Im learning all the things that I would have had I taken venture classes at school. August 10, 2022, 5:31 AM PDT. Alison: We invest early in a market and a founder. She works alongside the tennis superstar Serena Williams in overseeing the business and sourcing new investments. aid: '782078', Serena Williams co-investor shares what comes next for the Take trading cards, something Alison has never cared aboutthat is until alternative assets boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic. 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. That makes pitching less intimidating, because it can be difficult to find an introduction on Sand Hill Road, especially if youre not in Silicon Valley. William states, Its fun to get in there. Economic Equity & Racial Justice Townhall Series, Elevate Black Podcast sponsored by Fifth Third Bank, 100 Founders of Change by American Express, Chasing Success Podcast by JP Morgan Chase, Black Business Month Sponsored by Nationwide, 2022 Registry Of Corporate Directors Listing, 2021 BE Registry Of Corporate Directors Listing, finding companies that solve bigger consumer problems. The firm is headquartered in San Francisco Bay Area, West Coast, and the Western US. In early August, the 23-time Grand Slam champion wrote in an essay for Vogue that she would be retiring from tennis. While both individuals may have similar last names, they are not bonded. Alison Rapaport Stillman, General Partner, Serena Ventures (Image: Courtesy of Serena Ventures) For Williams, surrounding herself with other smart women was a no-brainer. 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. kw: 'mandc,black-venture-capitalists,newsletter-lead,serena-ventures,serena-williams,vc', Rapaport Stillman I feel like I go to sleep getting messages from her and wake up getting messages from her, Rapaport told Fortune. Alison Stillman WebAlison Rapaport Stillman, Serena Ventures. When Serena Williams announced her retirement earlier this month, there was plenty of talk of the tennis superstars 23 Grand Slam titles. The General partner is Alison Rapport Stillman. Serena Ventures Built a Portfolio With Rapaport Then to further intensify her business knowledge, she attended Harvard Buisness School in Boston, Massachusetts. I dont gamble. Review address history and property records. 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. The two cherished couple, beaming happy in the early morning, enjoyed an excellent breakfast as she held a Veuve Clicquot champagne bottle. Alison: Im excited about the refocus on the home. They had one problem: their brand didnt reflect who they were as a firm- or as people. Have a great Thursday. }); EVENTS It's your child. The General partner is Alison Rapport Stillman. It receives about 200 pitches there a week, and Stillman said they read each one. Plenty of its portfolio companies come from Silicon Valley, but two of its most recent investments came from North Carolina and Wisconsin. WebAllison Stillman is the director of Aroma Blue, bringing aromatherapy to people in recovery. They are innovators who understand what goes into building companies. Another important factor is making sure that a founder is coachable. I was someone who lived my life to be on a conveyor belt. Their most recent diversity investment was on December 5, 2020, when Kiira Health raised. Doubles Partner - Alumni - Harvard Business School WebAlison J. Rapaport, CFA, is a Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. In hindsight, I did not need to worry about the other people who barely thought of me. Serena Ventures was about to announce a historic $111 million raise that would change the world. WebDiscover any aliases as well as possible relatives and associates of Alison Rapaport Stillman. Alison Rapaport Prospective investors considering an investment into any 500 Startups fund should not consider or construe this content as fund marketing material. For Williams, surrounding herself with other smart women was a no-brainer. Impact can take many forms, she continues. 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. Stillman told Insider a core part of the mission of Serena Ventures was to back founders with "incredible potential" who might have been overlooked by other investors. Television. Masthead. Williams launched Serena Ventures in 2014. General Partner Alison Rapaport Stillman, who majored in finance and operations at Wharton as an undergrad, has said people have finally realized that inequity exists in all aspects of life. pos: 'right_rail_2', Furthermore, he is also one of the founding members of a top soccer league in the US, Major League Soccer (MLS). To raise a child it takes a village. Pavan is an Associate at Serena Ventures where he researches market trends, dives into emerging sectors, and sources new investment opportunities. Im still able to see the opportunity and help the company grow. Abena Anim-Somuah is a contributing writer at All Raise. Thanks for being part of ours! NFL insider Ian has a brother named Jake Rapaport. Ms. Rapaport Stillman previously worked at JPMorgan, Wasserman and Melo7 Tech. Alison: There are a lot of different ways to think about making everyday lives better. The best way to submit a pitch to Serena Ventures is through the contact form on the firm's website. She has brought so much joy to our family and is a living reminder that there is a world beyond my screen. Alison J Rapaport Stillman It is dominated by men who try to solve problems and fund innovation for a nation that is rich in socioeconomic diversity yet neither funders nor founders adequately represent our nation. 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.