The funds limited partners include Norwest Venture Partners, Capital G (Alphabets growth fund) and LionTree. 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. Insider chatted with Stillman about how to land a spot in the Serena Ventures portfolio. The founding partners of Serena Ventures are Ms. Williams and Alison Rapaport Stillman. We dont fit the mold of venture.. Abena: What advice would you give your younger self? 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. Looking at the VC industry more broadly, Alison doesnt see a diverse pipeline problem, but a networking issue. In March, Serena Ventures announced it had raised an inaugural fund of $111 million from outside investors including Alphabet, Norwest, LionTree, and Kapor Center. Dan with Alison, Robyn, Marc and Sheri celebrates Marc's birthday in Hawaii, February 2022 ( Source : instagram ). A team thats all women and from very different backgrounds, we see the world differently. BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. Alison: There are a lot of different ways to think about making everyday lives better. WebAlison 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. He supports all aspects of existing deals through analysis, market research, competitive landscapes, financial modeling, and deal structuring. 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. SERENA VENTURES. So why cant a man learn about tampons? When I met my husband, that was our first conversation. kw: 'mandc,black-venture-capitalists,newsletter-lead,serena-ventures,serena-williams,vc', 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. They had one problem: their brand didnt reflect who they were as a firm- or as people. Emma posted their first picture online on Valentine's in 2020. Rapaport Stillman targeting: { url: 'serena,williams,venture,capital,firm,raises,111,million', 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. Since 2014, Serena Ventures has championed founders whose perspectives and innovations level the playing field for women and people of color. Serena Ventures Serena Williams launched Serena Ventures in 2014 and has invested in over 60 companies. Alison graduated from Harvard Business School in March 2018 ( Source : instagram ). They just share a same surname but have no family ties. As a Senior Associate, Veronica sources, conducts diligence, and provides portfolio support at Serena Ventures. 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. Alison Rapaport is a Partner at Serena Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund founded by tennis superstar Serena Williams in 2014. Venture capitalists tend to believe in founders who feel familiar and thereby move forward to fund them. B.E. Investing in people who look like you eventually leads to systemic exclusion. Partner @Serenaventures. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { Alison Stillman has been with Serena Ventures for a few months and is in Owner What is Alison Stillman's role in Serena Ventures? But as Serena Ventures is proving, it doesnt have to be this way. Stillman said long emails and 10-page business plans, on the other hand, were not welcome. Her firm, Serena Ventures, is an active angel investor with a portfolio of 60 companies. 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. 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. WebAlison Rapaport Stillman, Serena Ventures. "It's hard. She is a founding partner at Serena Ventures after joining the capital fund company in 2018. Asif Yahiya Sukri LLP provides unparalleled personalized financial services to a broad range of clients across different geographical locations. } kw: 'mandc,black-venture-capitalists,newsletter-lead,serena-ventures,serena-williams,vc', Williams understands firsthand the plight of founders of color. Required fields are marked *. It's not the only thing." 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. Dan and Emma strolled in the streets near Three Lakes, Wisconsin, in September 2020 with Bud. I was talking about investments. Ms. Williamss husband is the Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', They had one problem: their brand didnt reflect who they were as a firm- or as people. window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; Thanks for being part of ours! 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. WebAlison Rapaport Stillman is a Founding General Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. 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. Then in July 2011, she landed a job at JP Morgan Assest Management firm. 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. Stillman We are in a moment when people have finally realized that inequity exists in all aspects of life what many of us have known for a long time. } WebAlison J. Rapaport, CFA, is a Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. They are finding new sectors to focus on, such as the rise of online education. Alison Rapaport Stillman, General Partner, Serena Ventures (Image: Courtesy of Serena Ventures) For Williams, surrounding herself with other smart women was a no-brainer. Marc started his job in 1983 as a banker at Drexel Burnham Lambert. 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. 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. Alison graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania. 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. Dan does not have a brother and Alison is his only sibling. Learn more about the 20+ companies we've invested in and what's next. My fianc and I have had her for about two months. He has been in the industry for four decades. Their most recent diversity investment was on December 5, 2020, when Kiira Health raised. Serena Ventures. SistersInc. Serena Ventures has made investments in over 30 companies across multiple industries, including Coinbase, Daily Harvest, and Billie to name a few. Alison Stillman William states, Its fun to get in there. Alison Rapaport Stillman Williams was heavily involved in her firms decision-making process well before she announced her retirement. The couple had been to many beautiful locations throughout the globe, the nuances of which Emma has captured in photographs. The information is out there.. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', Serena Ventures, the venture capital fund backed and founded in 2017 by Serena Williams. I was someone who lived my life to be on a conveyor belt. Managing partner Serena Williams and general partner Alison Rapaport Stillman have backed about 20 companies with Serena Ventures' first fund. Doubles Partner - Alumni - Harvard Business School Registry of Corporate Directors. Doubles Partner - Alumni - Harvard Business School Sales Partnership Solutions WebDiscover any aliases as well as possible relatives and associates of Alison Rapaport Stillman. Owners & Partners are responsible for the overall success of the business. Stay up to date with what you want to know. Alison graduated magna cum laude from the University of Every quarter, the team brainstorms sectors it wants to dive deeper into. Each day is a learning experience, Im learning all the things that I would have had I taken venture classes at school. According to Zola, Dan and his future wife Emma have set their wedding date for June 10, 2023, in the scenic landscape of Chicago. 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. The two cherished couple, beaming happy in the early morning, enjoyed an excellent breakfast as she held a Veuve Clicquot champagne bottle. She works alongside the tennis superstar Serena Williams in overseeing the business and sourcing new investments. Alison Rapaport Stillman 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. The pair hiked along rugged coastlines, through thick forests admiring all the beauty they witnessed. pos: 'right_rail_3', 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 Stillman Goes By Allison Stillman Nashville, TN Age: 67 Full Name: Allison Stillman Current Home Address: 5329 Old Village Rd Nashville TN 37211 Dan Rapaport dad Marc works in real estate and serves as the head of Thorofare Capital, a mercantile real estate pawnbroker entity. WebDiscover any aliases as well as possible relatives and associates of Alison Rapaport Stillman. Besides, they have a pet dog named Bud, who has also been featured in most of her uploads. 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. Alison Stillman Williams first started investing a little over nine years ago because of what she calls a natural draw to technology and a desire to be involved with all of the startups she was seeing pop up in the space. Alison Stillman's job functions are Entrepreneurship, Operations, Alison Stillman's LinkedIn profile can be found at, https://linkedin.com/in/aliso***illman-cfa***. Dan and Emma enjoying photogenic landscape in Snowmass Village, Colorado, July 2021 ( Source : instagram ). This post includes the views and opinions of independent third parties that are not related to or controlled by 500 Startups. Alison Stillman Goes By Allison Stillman Nashville, TN Age: 67 Full Name: Allison Stillman Current Home Address: 5329 Old Village Rd Nashville TN 37211 url: 'serena,williams,venture,capital,firm,raises,111,million', She is a student at Princeton University in the School of Public and International Affairs with Minors in Entrepreneurship and Urban Studies. Rapaport Stillman he wrote. She works alongside the tennis superstar Serena Williams in overseeing the business and sourcing new investments. Zola founder Shan-Lyn Ma adds co-CEO Rachel Jarrett | Fortune You can also reach out to them oninfo@aysasia.com, Your email address will not be published. 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. One meeting led to another and the next thing you know, Im working at Serena Ventures. WebVisit Alison Rapaport Stillman and Stillman Stillmans Baby Registry on Babylist. At the end of the day, Alison says VCs have a responsibility to change the way they do things and see new ideas and perspectives on markets. pos: 'right_rail_2', page_type: 'article', With Sheri and Marc's established careers, the Full Swing star enjoyed a secure upbringing and affluent lifestyle during childhood. Alison Rapaport Alison Rapaport 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. }).render('5eec50a0f683429ca3814da74bd486aa'); 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. It can be hard for founders to delegate. I dont gamble. Serena Ventures has a market cap of $14 billion and 29 active investments. Previous to Serena Ventures, Alison worked in investment banking at Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan Chase, as well as in talent management for several athletes. Alison J Rapaport Stillman Venture is one of the most inequitable places to work. Dan Rapaport sister is named Alison Rapaport Stillman. subcat: '', With a presence in the USA, India and the MENA region, they ensure that all of your financial decisions are made carefully and with your best interests in mind. Alison Rapaport Alison Rapaport Stillman tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { Take trading cards, something Alison has never cared aboutthat is until alternative assets boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic. When Serena Williams announced her retirement earlier this month, there was plenty of talk of the tennis superstars 23 Grand Slam titles. Web2,862 Followers, 1,028 Following, 315 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Ali Jo Rapaport Stillman (@ali_jo_rap_stillman) NFL insider Ian has a brother named Jake Rapaport. Previously, Alison was a Vice President at JPMorgan Chase and Read More Contact Alison Stillman's Phone Number and Email Last Update 11/24/2022 9:52 AM Email a***@serenaventures.com Engage via Email Contact Number (***) ***-**** Engage via Sign up for notifications from Insider! They had one problem: their brand didnt reflect who they were as a firm- or as people. env: 'prod', Business partners. The team also scores each prospective investment that makes it past the introductory rounds. Besides, the one thing the golf star has in common with his fiance is their hunger for adventure and travel. Their most recent acquisition was on May 27, 2021, when Infinite Objects raised $6M.Serena Ventures has made 21 diversity investments. Alison Rapaport is a Partner at Serena Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund founded by tennis superstar Serena Williams in 2014. Quoting its founder, Serena, I am by no means alone in my mission to build an inclusive venture capital landscape. targeting: { Work | OWG Angel, Fund of Funds, Venture Capital), Number of Investments the Individual has partnered in, Announced Date: Date when the Investment is announced, Organization Name: Name of the organization that received the investment, Investor Name: Name of the investor who participated in the Investment, Lead Investor: This field indicates whether an investor led/organized the investment, Funding Round: Name of the funding round where the Investment is made, Money Raised: Amount of money raised in Funding Round, Total number of current Jobs the person has, Organization Name: This is the name of the organization, Title At Company: Title of a Person's Job, Start Date: Start date of the Person's Job, CB Rank (Hub): Algorithmic rank assigned to the top 100,000 most active Hubs, Total number of events the individual appeared in, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Finance and Operations & Information Management. Serena Ventures was about to announce a historic $111 million raise that would change the world. 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. Marc attend Dan's game for the first time as an audience in August 2020 at Quaker Ridge Golf Club, Scarsdale, New York ( Source : instagram ). 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. INFORMATION 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 ABOUT Moreover, Rapaport is also a former golf writer at Sports Illustrated and a staff writer for Golf Digest. Serena Ventures - The Serena Williams-backed VC Fund 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. However, just like in tennis, Serena does not believe in following the herd mentality while taking on investments. Alison Rapaport Stillman WebAlison Rapaport Stillman, Serena Ventures. Allows traders to buy and sell bitcoin in the cryptocurrency and blockchain space. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { 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? Venture Capital Investing: What It Is and Where Its Headed 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. Managing partner Serena Williams and general partner Alison Rapaport Stillman have backed about 20 companies with Serena Ventures' first fund. Serena Ventures Serena Williams launched Serena Ventures in 2014 and has invested in over 60 companies. I felt that it was an opportunity to combine my skill set with a mission and make a difference. cnx.cmd.push(function() { I want to highlight that we do not invest in women and people of color to simply check a box. When Im serving, I dont serve at 98%. WebAlison Rapaport Stillman, Serena Ventures. 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.. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', Suddenly, she found herself learning about trading cards, trying to understand the market and find opportunities. Learn more about the 20+ companies we've invested in and what's next. Plenty of its portfolio companies come from Silicon Valley, but two of its most recent investments came from North Carolina and Wisconsin. So I spent the week practicing my pitch with friends. She comes to Serena Ventures from Equitable Advisors, where she worked as an Investment Operations Specialist. 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. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', }); !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); Anyone can read what you share. When one thinks of the name Serena Williams, the majority of thoughts flow in the direction of her impeccable tennis career. Alison Rapaport is a Partner at Serena Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund founded by tennis superstar Serena Williams in 2014. 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. Im still able to see the opportunity and help the company grow. Alison Rapaport Stillman, General Partner, Serena Ventures (Image: Courtesy of Serena Ventures) For Williams, surrounding herself with other smart women was a no-brainer. Women of Power Summit "The founder can't be doing everything," Stillman said. 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. Serena Williams' Venture Capital Firm Raises $111 Million 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. Alison Rapaport Stillman Dan popped the question to Emma in Friday Harbor, Washington in October 2021 ( Source : instagram ). Alison's role is Manager: Its time we all play on the same court. Zoe is the best decision that we have made in quarantine. Stillman Serena Williams raises $111 million for new venture fund. 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 - The Serena Williams-backed VC Fund 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.