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. 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. Stillman said long emails and 10-page business plans, on the other hand, were not welcome. My first time pitching was terrible.
Doubles Partner - Alumni - Harvard Business School It is important to us that the founder has a personal connection to the problem and is uniquely positioned to solve it. Review address history and property records. The pair had unforgettable intimate moments in a cold, chilly environment in the woods near a lake. For me success is when you dont have to have the quota, said Alison. page_type: 'article', tude.cmd.push(function() { WebAlison Rapaport Stillman, Serena Ventures. They are finding new sectors to focus on, such as the rise of online education. playerId: '783ef340-6832-4112-80cd-0e5f57b51915' tag: 'mandc,black-venture-capitalists,newsletter-lead,serena-ventures,serena-williams,vc', Previously, Alison worked at J.P. Morgan Asset Management in Multi- Asset Solutions and led the development of the firms Alternative Beta offering. }); EVENTS I felt that it was an opportunity to combine my skill set with a mission and make a difference. And that needs to happen across the board.. 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. 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 Its time we all play on the same court. 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. Each day is a learning experience, Im learning all the things that I would have had I taken venture classes at school. Alison graduated magna cum laude from the University of They had one problem: their brand didnt reflect who they were as a firm- or as people. Entrepreneurs Summit The FDA nears final approval on vaccines for young kids, women feel unprepared for menopause, and Zola adds a co-CEO. To raise a child it takes a village.
Zola founder Shan-Lyn Ma adds co-CEO Rachel Jarrett | Fortune div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', Pavan is an Associate at Serena Ventures where he researches market trends, dives into emerging sectors, and sources new investment opportunities. Suddenly, she found herself learning about trading cards, trying to understand the market and find opportunities.
SV Team | Serena Ventures It has been fun to watch creative people in that setting because Im not a creative person. 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. Partner @Serenaventures. She is a CFA charterholder and earned her MBA from Harvard Business School. Their most recent acquisition was on May 27, 2021, when Infinite Objects raised $6M.Serena Ventures has made 21 diversity investments. Looking at the VC industry more broadly, Alison doesnt see a diverse pipeline problem, but a networking issue. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { Thats just the way of the land. 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.
Alison Stillman Rapaport Partner @Serenaventures. Also, invest in a few good people and dont try to please everyone. As the famous story goes, I came over with tacos and a binder of pitches. Every company that we invest in isnt meant for Alison Rapaport Stillman and I know that, she said. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', They had one problem: their brand didnt reflect who they were as a firm- or as people. I hurriedly picked a dress, which luckily fit, and jumped on the call. My puppy Zoe. But she still finds that VCs ignore products and services made for audiences theyre not familiar with, even those representing massive markets with loyal customers. 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. The former Sports Illustrated writer denied any connection with Ian via a Reddit post in 2018. The scorecard helps the firm remain objective in its evaluation process. On that front, Alison advocates working with organizations like BLCK VC or All Raise. Asif Yahiya Sukri LLP provides unparalleled personalized financial services to a broad range of clients across different geographical locations. Serena Ventures doesnt require that its founders come from historically underrepresented backgrounds, though it says about three-quarters of its portfolio company founders do. Serena Ventures Serena Williams launched Serena Ventures in 2014 and has invested in over 60 companies. The latest Tweets from Alison Stillman (@alison_stillman). Investors claiming they cant find opportunities to invest in women and founders of color probably arent trying hard enough, said Alison.
It's not the only thing." Moreover, Dan has a younger sister Robyn Rapaport, founder of Shop Robynro. Insider chatted with Stillman about how to land a spot in the Serena Ventures portfolio. "You want to do something that's going to make it easy for us to understand your business," Stillman said. WebThe General partner is Alison Rapport Stillman. Alison Rapaport is a Partner at Serena Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund founded by tennis superstar Serena Williams in 2014. Alison Rapaport Stillman, General Partner, Serena Ventures (Image: Courtesy of Serena Ventures) For Williams, surrounding herself with other smart women was a no-brainer. Produces a new generation of meats and cheeses made entirely from plants. Alison Stillman has been with Serena Ventures for a few months and is in Owner What is Alison Stillman's role in Serena Ventures? Web2,862 Followers, 1,028 Following, 315 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Ali Jo Rapaport Stillman (@ali_jo_rap_stillman) 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. When I eventually presented the pitches to Serena, she asked the same questions that I had worked to prepare for. Alison's role is Manager: Serena Williams, founding and managing partner at Serena Ventures and Alison Rapaport Stillman, founding and managing partner at Serena Ventures. ]); We had great chemistry on that call. Serena Ventures, the venture capital fund backed and founded in 2017 by Serena Williams. That includes looking at digital learning as a supplement and a way to attack inequities in traditional education systems. At the start of February 2022, Emma and Dan travelled to Hualalai, Kona, in Hawaii. I dont jump off buildings. Required fields are marked *. We want to make sure that we dont necessarily neatly check a box. Prior to joining Serena Ventures, Ashel spent time on the programming team at Kauffman Fellows and was a startup founder. "The founder can't be doing everything," Stillman said.
SV Team | Serena Ventures That constant sense of regret for not having taken up golf at a younger age compelled him not to let his kids have the same mistake. . Furthermore, he is also one of the founding members of a top soccer league in the US, Major League Soccer (MLS). For fans of Williams, this year's US Open was likely a bittersweet moment. Many recommendations they now get come from current portfolio companies. INFORMATION WebAlison Rapaport Stillman is a Founding General Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. 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. B.E. In a December 2020 interview with the HBS Alumni Bulletin, Stillman describes the duos skill sets as different and super complementary. Im the most non-taking-a-chance kind of a person, but I felt like a seed was where we wanted to be.. That is exactly what we are going to talk about in this article. Serena believes in taking on and nurturing the firms early, which is reflected in the funds investments as three-fourths of the total investment belongs to the seed stage category. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/01/business/serena-williams-venture-fund.html. ABOUT cat: 'entrepreneurship', Amongst the portfolio of more than 50 companies, 60% of the founders are women or people of color. Having dabbled in almost everything from marketing to accounting, her intellectual athleticism makes her excited about exploring new sectors and industries. Even with her success and her privilege, she knows shes held to a different standard as a Black woman. 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. Dan and Emma strolled in the streets near Three Lakes, Wisconsin, in September 2020 with Bud. Serena Ventures Serena Williams launched Serena Ventures in 2014 and has invested in over 60 companies. 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. "It's hard. While both individuals may have similar last names, they are not bonded. 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. Review address history and property records.
Serena Williams co-investor shares what comes next for the Learn more about the 20+ companies we've invested in and what's next. Masthead. 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. 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 pos: 'right_rail_3', Nacho lover
SV Team | Serena Ventures My friends were asking questions that I didnt have the answers to, but I got better with time and more practice. They had one problem: their brand didnt reflect who they were as a firm- or as people. Sign up to stay up to date on global innovation. A week later, she asked me to come to her house and present some ideas to her. In her next chapter, Williams said she planned to focus on her venture-capital firm, Serena Ventures. Serena Ventures partner Alison Rapaport Stillman thinks VCs need to get out of their comfort zones. 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. With Sheri and Marc's established careers, the Full Swing star enjoyed a secure upbringing and affluent lifestyle during childhood. We think its important to look beyond where traditional venture is focusing because there are a ton of opportunities that theyre not funding products and services for, said Alison. Every quarter, the team brainstorms sectors it wants to dive deeper into.
Serena Williams co-investor shares what comes next for the 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. subcat: '', Venture is one of the most inequitable places to work. Besides, Marc stars in the new Netflix docu-series about the PGA golf tour, "Full Swing," which premiered on February 15, 2023. url: 'serena,williams,venture,capital,firm,raises,111,million', 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. Dan and Marc enjoying golf during dusk in Cabot Cliffs, July 2019 ( Source : instagram ).
Serena Ventures - The Financial Pandora Its been proven that the more diverse your team, the better you do, and companies are now starting to realize that, she says. 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. August 10, 2022, 5:31 AM PDT. I recently had to question a founder at a company because they were building a product for women and did not have any female or non-white representation at the executive level. She is a student at Princeton University in the School of Public and International Affairs with Minors in Entrepreneurship and Urban Studies. Alison Stillman has been with Serena Ventures for a few months and is in Owner What is Alison Stillman's role in Serena Ventures? Marc and Sheri Huttner Rapaport are the proud parents of Dan Rapaport who raised him in the serene setting of Los Angeles. Alison Stillman has been with Serena Ventures for a few months and is in Owner What is Alison Stillman's role in Serena Ventures? env: 'prod', Early Stage Venture Investors Female Founded Venture Capital Investors, Western US Venture Capital Female Founded Companies, San Francisco Bay Area Female Founded Companies, San Francisco Bay Area Female Founded Micro VCs, Female Founded Early Stage Venture Investors with Investments in San Francisco, California, Finance Companies With Fewer Than 10 Employees (Top 10K), United States Investors with Funds Raised in 2022, San Francisco Bay Area Female Founded Investors. }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; "A Serena Ventures company is gritty, mission-oriented, and pushing boundaries," she said. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { By: Julia Hanna, Demographics-Race-African American, Black, Alumna-Led Reproductive Health Startup Raises $4.7 Million.
Serena Williams raises $111 million for new venture fund. As an angel investor, you can only do so much, the world-class athlete, businesswoman, and philanthropist told BLACK ENTERPRISE exclusively. Founders should send a deck with their pitch even if it's just a "teaser deck." Dan Rapaport girlfriend Emma Light is engaged in October 2021. Serena Ventures has made investments in over 30 companies across multiple industries, including Coinbase, Daily Harvest, and Billie to name a few. We made our founders feel like we are partners who can help them grow, she said. 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.
Rapaport Stillman They are finding new sectors to focus on, such as the rise of online education. Ian Rapaport a television analyst and pundit for National Football League (NFL) ( Source : instagram ).
Alison Rapaport Stillman I feel like I go to sleep getting messages from her and wake up getting messages from her, Rapaport told Fortune. The couple had been to many beautiful locations throughout the globe, the nuances of which Emma has captured in photographs. Serena Ventures, the venture capital fund backed and founded in 2017 by Serena Williams. Partner @Serenaventures. cat: 'entrepreneurship', We invest in diverse teams because we stand by the belief that diverse leadership and diverse thoughts have the best returns, both financially and socially. Ultimately, Stillman believes that a Serena Ventures company is defined by three qualities.
View select TechCrunch Disrupt content online today Learn more about the 20+ companies we've invested in and what's next. ', 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.
Serena Ventures - The Serena Williams-backed VC Fund } window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; WebDiscover any aliases as well as possible relatives and associates of Alison Rapaport Stillman. cnx({ 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 Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. 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. 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. Dan Rapaport dad Marc works in real estate and serves as the head of Thorofare Capital, a mercantile real estate pawnbroker entity. 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.. Owners & Partners are responsible for the overall success of the business. 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. The founding partners of Serena Ventures are Ms. Williams and Alison Rapaport Stillman. The entire process from pitch to investment can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, Stillman said. Moreover, in May 2021, the two soulmates looked chic as they attended their friend's wedding in Wailea-Makena. When Serena Williams first launched the firm, she explicitly wanted to provide funding for more women.
Stillman August 10, 2022, 5:31 AM PDT.
This mindset allows us to have a broad and holistic approach to invest in FinTech, Wellness, and everything in between. "It's a helpful tool for us. Still, 76% of Serena Ventures portfolio founders come from historically underrepresented backgrounds.
Serena Williams co-investor shares what comes next for the pos: 'right_rail_1', } She works alongside the tennis superstar Serena Williams in overseeing the business and sourcing new investments. Serena Ventures was about to announce a historic $111 million raise that would change the world.
Alison J Rapaport Stillman Alison Rapaport Stillman Nacho lover 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. One recent investment they made is Fiveable, a woman-led Milwaukie edtech startup helping students prepare for AP exams by offering free online resources. She can get an amazing read on a person and see the big picture really quickly, whereas it takes me longer.
Rapaport The team also scores each prospective investment that makes it past the introductory rounds. To raise a child it takes a village.
Alison Rapaport Stillman Dana: Fill in the blank: I wouldnt get through quarantine without. Serena is such a smart and driven person. 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. Sculptwear is an alternative to traditional shapewear that gives a smooth and tucked-in look under clothing. 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. He supports all aspects of existing deals through analysis, market research, competitive landscapes, financial modeling, and deal structuring. 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. Black Men XCEL The latest Tweets from Alison Stillman (@alison_stillman). The move underscores 500 Globals multi-stage initiatives. About aid: '782078', The FDA nears final approval on vaccines for young kids, women feel unprepared for menopause, and Zola adds a co-CEO. Another important factor is making sure that a founder is coachable. 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 partner Alison Rapaport Stillman finds that VCs still ignore products and services made for audiences theyre not familiar with, even those representing massive markets. Since 2014, Serena Ventures has championed founders whose perspectives and innovations level the playing field for women and people of color. Privacy Policy 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." August 10, 2022, 5:31 AM PDT. Onstage at an event, Ms. Seidman-Becker said less than 2 percent of venture money went to women. }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; Marc works as a credit approval principal at Thorofare Capital. Serena Ventures Serena Williams launched Serena Ventures in 2014 and has invested in over 60 companies. ]);
And also, its very authentic. 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 Stillman is a Managing Partner at Serena Ventures based in Sugar Land, Texas. We also think about products that are creative, fun, and make life more enjoyable. }); !function(n){if(!window.cnx){window.cnx={},window.cnx.cmd=[];var t=n.createElement('iframe');t.display='none',t.onload=function(){var n=t.contentWindow.document,c=n.createElement('script');c.src='//cd.connatix.com/connatix.player.js',c.setAttribute('async','1'),c.setAttribute('type','text/javascript'),n.body.appendChild(c)},n.head.appendChild(t)}}(document); 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. Just to be clear, you dont have to be a person of color or a woman to be in our fund, Williams says. Serena Ventures investments include MasterClass, Andela, Mayvenn, Tonal and Noom, to name a few. Prospective investors considering an investment into any 500 Startups fund should not consider or construe this content as fund marketing material.
Alison Rapaport Stillman 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. 500 Startups makes no representations as to or guarantees of specific outcomes from relying on the contents of this post. Thats how we met. WebAllison Stillman is the director of Aroma Blue, bringing aromatherapy to people in recovery. Your Money, Your Life, LATEST LISTS Marc inspired him to pursue a career in golf at the age of 4 as Dan grew up with a sister. Serena Ventures' portfolio companies span a variety of industries, but Stillman said there were a few areas it had always been interested in. Serena Ventures partner Alison Rapaport Stillman thinks VCs need to get out of their comfort zones.
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