Alison Rapaport Stillman is a Founding General Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. tag: 'mandc,black-venture-capitalists,newsletter-lead,serena-ventures,serena-williams,vc', It helps that Serena Ventures has a diverse team led by women. Serena Ventures was about to announce a historic $111 million raise that would change the world. 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. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', The two lovebirds had a great time ice skating in Snowmass Village, Colorado. 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? The couple had been to many beautiful locations throughout the globe, the nuances of which Emma has captured in photographs. Alison Stillman Goes By Allison Stillman Nashville, TN Age: 67 Full Name: Allison Stillman Current Home Address: 5329 Old Village Rd Nashville TN 37211 Emma posted their first picture online on Valentine's in 2020. Contact WebAlison Rapaport Stillman is a Founding General Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. Serena Ventures, the venture capital fund backed and founded in 2017 by Serena Williams. Ms. Williamss other business activities include fashion lines, entertainment deals and a seat on the board of Poshmark. If you have a cold inbound, you can find great opportunities, she says. Serena Ventures most notable exits include The Wing and OLLY. Serena is such a smart and driven person. Serena Ventures Serena Williams launched Serena Ventures in 2014 and has invested in over 60 companies. "I am one proud little brother!!" 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. We do VC differently through standout strategies, bold initiatives, and a global network of investors, business leaders, and influencers. Serena Williams in Hollywood in November. That is exactly what we are going to talk about in this article. So I spent the week practicing my pitch with friends. he wrote. WebThe General partner is Alison Rapport Stillman. They make strategic decisions, manage finances and develop business plans. After graduating from Brentwood school, Alison studied psychology for a while before enrolling at the Wharton School. Weve made some investments in the food and beverage space but are interested in the holistic wellness space as well. It also helps that a byproduct of working with diverse entrepreneurs is that it leads to a more diverse deal flow. url: 'serena,williams,venture,capital,firm,raises,111,million', 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. 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. 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. I was talking about investments. Ms. Williamss husband is the Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. Alison: I took my first call with Serena from a bridal store while trying on bridesmaid dresses for a friends wedding. targeting: { cat: 'entrepreneurship', My first time pitching was terrible. The funds limited partners include Norwest Venture Partners, Capital G (Alphabets growth fund) and LionTree. The same goes for actor Michael Rapaport. Alison Stillman's peers at other companies are Ariane Rocha, Margaret Ursua, Marine Casiez, Joseph Eazyway, Janice Patriarca, David Guthery, Karen Chapman, John Stafford. }).render('5eec50a0f683429ca3814da74bd486aa'); 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. The latest Tweets from Alison Stillman (@alison_stillman). When one thinks of the name Serena Williams, the majority of thoughts flow in the direction of her impeccable tennis career. 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. 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 founded Serena Ventures in 2014. This post was written in collaboration withAsif Yahiya Sukri LLP. 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. targeting: { 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. Business partners. The team also scores each prospective investment that makes it past the introductory rounds. And that needs to happen across the board.. About By: Julia Hanna, Demographics-Race-African American, Black, Alumna-Led Reproductive Health Startup Raises $4.7 Million. Not surprisingly, thats a big reason why women and entrepreneurs of color struggle to access venture funding. Alison Stillman is a Managing Partner at Serena Ventures based in Sugar Land, Texas. WebThe General partner is Alison Rapport Stillman. He worked for numerous organisations in various positions, including manager, director, and executive. 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. Alison graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania. Abena Anim-Somuah: Tell us how you met Serena and what drew you to work with her? aid: '782078', } It is not us versus them. Dan with Alison, Robyn, Marc and Sheri celebrates Marc's birthday in Hawaii, February 2022 ( Source : instagram ). One recent investment they made is Fiveable, a woman-led Milwaukie edtech startup helping students prepare for AP exams by offering free online resources. The pair had unforgettable intimate moments in a cold, chilly environment in the woods near a lake. 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. 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. Quoting its founder, Serena, I am by no means alone in my mission to build an inclusive venture capital landscape. 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. We want to make sure that we dont necessarily neatly check a box. Dan does not have a brother and Alison is his only sibling. cnx.cmd.push(function() { The golf guy at Barstool Sports currently lives a serene life with his fiance Emma in the radiant metropolis of Brooklyn, New York. Serena Ventures was about to announce a historic $111 million raise that would change the world. Like, look at what we have done.. SERENA VENTURES. For me success is when you dont have to have the quota, said Alison. About 10 to 20% of pitches receive a follow-up from the firm. 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. WebAlison J. Rapaport, CFA, is a Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. kw: 'mandc,black-venture-capitalists,newsletter-lead,serena-ventures,serena-williams,vc', WebAlison Rapaport Stillman, Serena Ventures. Serena Williams raises $111 million for new venture fund. 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 Stillman said it's especially important for founders to be self-aware enough to know when they need to hire employees. }); !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); Serena Ventures was about to announce a historic $111 million raise that would change the world. Serena Ventures partner Alison Rapaport Stillman thinks VCs need to get out of their comfort zones. 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. WebAllison Stillman is the director of Aroma Blue, bringing aromatherapy to people in recovery. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', WebDiscover any aliases as well as possible relatives and associates of Alison Rapaport Stillman. 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.. 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. She is a founding partner at Serena Ventures after joining the capital fund company in 2018. Moreover, Dan has a younger sister Robyn Rapaport, founder of Shop Robynro. Venture is one of the most inequitable places to work. The natural beauty of the world around the island struck them. However, 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. I dont jump off buildings. But it is important to have a founder who can be self-aware, handle feedback, and build a team to help them be successful. Marc and Sheri Huttner Rapaport are the proud parents of Dan Rapaport who raised him in the serene setting of Los Angeles. WebVisit Alison Rapaport Stillman and Stillman Stillmans Baby Registry on Babylist. The stats about the fund received by black women entrepreneurs in the recent years highlights the problem. In early August, the 23-time Grand Slam champion wrote in an essay for Vogue that she would be retiring from tennis. When Im serving, I dont serve at 98%. 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. ]); Many recommendations they now get come from current portfolio companies. Abena Anim-Somuah is a contributing writer at All Raise. Plenty of its portfolio companies come from Silicon Valley, but two of its most recent investments came from North Carolina and Wisconsin. She has brought so much joy to our family and is a living reminder that there is a world beyond my screen. tag: 'mandc,black-venture-capitalists,newsletter-lead,serena-ventures,serena-williams,vc', Its incredible working with founders to help them solve everyday problems as well as find new companies along the way. Her firm, Serena Ventures, is an active angel investor with a portfolio of 60 companies. Alison Rapaport is a Partner at Serena Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund founded by tennis superstar Serena Williams in 2014. The former Sports Illustrated writer denied any connection with Ian via a Reddit post in 2018. We have been trying to do this for a long time and Im excited to see the current momentum. Alison's role is Manager: The FDA nears final approval on vaccines for young kids, women feel unprepared for menopause, and Zola adds a co-CEO. } Allows traders to buy and sell bitcoin in the cryptocurrency and blockchain space. When Serena Williams first launched the firm, she explicitly wanted to provide funding for more women. On that front, Alison advocates working with organizations like BLCK VC or All Raise. Its time we all play on the same court. I dont gamble. Ultimately, Stillman believes that a Serena Ventures company is defined by three qualities. She is currently on a gap-year and works on the Public Policy and Business Development Team at Tesla. I felt that it was an opportunity to combine my skill set with a mission and make a difference. Abena: What advice would you give your younger self? The entire process from pitch to investment can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, Stillman said. Plenty of its portfolio companies come from Silicon Valley, but two of its most recent investments came from North Carolina and Wisconsin. Serena Ventures has made investments in over 30 companies across multiple industries, including Coinbase, Daily Harvest, and Billie to name a few. 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. Sep 10, 2022, 7:00 AM Serena Williams and Alison Rapaport Stillman. The firm is headquartered in San Francisco Bay Area, West Coast, and the Western US. On our Rise of the Next podcast, Honghao Deng and Jiani Zeng tell us how Butlr, which provides insights into commercial space usage, pivoted during the pandemic. The views expressed herein are as at the date of this summary and are subject to change without notice. Prior to joining Serena Ventures, Ashel spent time on the programming team at Kauffman Fellows and was a startup founder. Ive been on a bit of a skincare kick so I have been trying a lot of Kate Somervilles products. The same was kept secret until April 17, 2019, when the tennis star took to Instagram to post about it. WebAlison Rapaport Stillman, Serena Ventures. Their most recent diversity investment was on December 5, 2020, when Kiira Health raised. For example, the general contact email on the Serena Ventures website gets between 10 to 40 emails a daymany of these are autograph requests, but they also include pitches from entrepreneurs, which their team does actually consider. The General partner is Alison Rapport Stillman. You just naturally wake up and you say, like, wow, 70% of my founders are women.. "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. WebThe General partner is Alison Rapport Stillman. Abena: What traits stand out to you in a founding team? INFORMATION SistersInc. tag: 'mandc,black-venture-capitalists,newsletter-lead,serena-ventures,serena-williams,vc', Review address history and property records. They want to work with us because they know that we will come to them from a place of empathy, said Alison. The General partner is Alison Rapport Stillman. Stillman said long emails and 10-page business plans, on the other hand, were not welcome. When I eventually presented the pitches to Serena, she asked the same questions that I had worked to prepare for. Learn more about the 20+ companies we've invested in and what's next. Alison Stillman is a Managing Partner at Serena Ventures based in Sugar Land, Texas. Then to further intensify her business knowledge, she attended Harvard Buisness School in Boston, Massachusetts. They had one problem: their brand didnt reflect who they were as a firm- or as people. Serena Ventures investments include MasterClass, Andela, Mayvenn, Tonal and Noom, to name a few. cat: 'entrepreneurship', Serena Ventures also works with accelerators (including 500 Startups) and diversity-focused funds to source leads and looks at opportunities that originate outside significant startup hubs. } Alison's role is Manager: Williams was heavily involved in her firms decision-making process well before she announced her retirement. Insider chatted with Stillman about how to land a spot in the Serena Ventures portfolio. WebAllison Stillman is the director of Aroma Blue, bringing aromatherapy to people in recovery. She is a student at Princeton University in the School of Public and International Affairs with Minors in Entrepreneurship and Urban Studies. And also, its very authentic. Alison Rapaport Stillman, General Partner, Serena Ventures (Image: Courtesy of Serena Ventures) For Williams, surrounding herself with other smart women was a no-brainer. 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 founding partners of Serena Ventures are Ms. Williams and Alison Rapaport Stillman. Moreover, Rapaport is also a former golf writer at Sports Illustrated and a staff writer for Golf Digest. Alison married Alec Stillman in October 2020, and they welcomed a daughter named Lucy in February 2023. To raise a child it takes a village. 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. To be successful, though, you have to let go of the reins.". For aspiring founders, Williams' retirement opens a window of opportunity. Register for your account and get started with our industry leading people contacts search engine. Another way Alison recommends sourcing diverse deal flow is by not requiring a warm intro. As the famous story goes, I came over with tacos and a binder of pitches. Dan and Michael are unrelated and has never even talked to each other. She first worked as an advisory and sales analyst before getting promoted to investment specialist for the company. 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. Marc works as a credit approval principal at Thorofare Capital. Alisa Gumbs is the executive managing editor of BLACK ENTERPRISE, planning and creating content across the company's print, digital, events, and broadcast platforms. I was someone who lived my life to be on a conveyor belt. Its been proven that the more diverse your team, the better you do, and companies are now starting to realize that, she says. and this attitude has led to White men receiving an overwhelming majority of venture capital funds. BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. You can find her on Twitter. As a Senior Associate, Veronica sources, conducts diligence, and provides portfolio support at Serena Ventures. My fianc and I have had her for about two months. It's not the only thing." div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', Just to be clear, you dont have to be a person of color or a woman to be in our fund, Williams says. It has been fun to watch creative people in that setting because Im not a creative person. Alison: Skincare. Masthead. Review address history and property records. 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. Dana: What trends are you excited to see in the world of consumer? 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 Stillman, General Partner, Serena Ventures (Image: Courtesy of Serena Ventures) For Williams, surrounding herself with other smart women was a no-brainer. Alison Rapaport is a Partner at Serena Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund founded by tennis superstar Serena Williams in 2014. Dan Rapaport sister is named Alison Rapaport Stillman. Television. Managing partner Serena Williams and general partner Alison Rapaport Stillman have backed about 20 companies with Serena Ventures' first fund. She is also disarmingly authentic. Behavioral Aspects in Decision Making (Part 2), Emerging trends in Life Insurance and how to choose the right plan. The founder should find people with experience or a particular skill set to offer advice to prepare them for the ups and downs. Alison: Dont get bangs it is not worth it! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. Their most recent acquisition was on May 27, 2021, when Infinite Objects raised $6M.Serena Ventures has made 21 diversity investments. Serena Williams, founding and managing partner at Serena Ventures and Alison Rapaport Stillman, founding and managing partner at Serena Ventures. Owners & Partners are responsible for the overall success of the business. We dont fit the mold of venture.. As a world-class athlete, businesswoman, philanthropist and mother, Serena Williams knows what it takes to win. Williams launched Serena Ventures in 2014. Sep 10, 2022, 7:00 AM Serena Williams and Alison Rapaport Stillman. } Williams understands firsthand the plight of founders of color. August 10, 2022, 5:31 AM PDT. The founding partners of Serena Ventures are Ms. Williams and Alison Rapaport Stillman. "A Serena Ventures company is gritty, mission-oriented, and pushing boundaries," she said. With Sheri and Marc's established careers, the Full Swing star enjoyed a secure upbringing and affluent lifestyle during childhood. I legit thought she misspoke because 98% is a huge number, Williams says. They just share a same surname but have no family ties. env: 'prod', A week later, she asked me to come to her house and present some ideas to her. Another important factor is making sure that a founder is coachable. ]); WebAlison Rapaport Stillman is a Founding General Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. Subscribe to Newsletter Dan Rapaport sister is named Alison Rapaport Stillman. 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. This isnt new for me, she says. Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. 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. 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. 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.. Dan and Emma strolled in the streets near Three Lakes, Wisconsin, in September 2020 with Bud. You can also reach out to them oninfo@aysasia.com, Your email address will not be published. Business partners. The tennis stars firm, Serena Ventures, will invest in founders with diverse points of view. Her Instagram feed is overflowing with many images capturing the cherished moments of their romantic love life. playerId: '783ef340-6832-4112-80cd-0e5f57b51915' I feel like I go to sleep getting messages from her and wake up getting messages from her, Rapaport told Fortune. Entrepreneurs Summit Marc co-founded Jefferies and Co., where he toiled as director and executive vice chairperson from 1990 to 1995. Alison graduated magna cum laude from the University of 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. We also think about products that are creative, fun, and make life more enjoyable. According to the National Venture Capital Association data, only 4% of the people who work in venture capital are Black. Veronica is a proud Alumna of Howard University and holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management. Review address history and property records. She works alongside the tennis superstar Serena Williams in overseeing the business and sourcing new investments.
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