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. 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 baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', Alison J Rapaport Stillman Alison Rapaport is a Partner at Serena Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund founded by tennis superstar Serena Williams in 2014. The podcaster at Barstool Sports dedicated a tweet in April 2020 to appreciate Marc for everything he had done for Dan and a special gratification for introducing him to this beautiful game. To be successful, though, you have to let go of the reins.". You just naturally wake up and you say, like, wow, 70% of my founders are women.. Onstage at an event, Ms. Seidman-Becker said less than 2 percent of venture money went to women. Previously, Alison worked at J.P. Morgan Asset Management in Multi- Asset Solutions and led the development of the firms Alternative Beta offering. Serena Williams, founding and managing partner at Serena Ventures and Alison Rapaport Stillman, founding and managing partner at Serena Ventures. 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. Learn more about the 20+ companies we've invested in and what's next. Ultimately, any founder who wins an investment from Serena Ventures will also have gone through a couple of rounds of interviews with Williams and Stillman. Serena Ventures' portfolio companies span a variety of industries, but Stillman said there were a few areas it had always been interested in. Zola founder Shan-Lyn Ma adds co-CEO Rachel Jarrett | Fortune pos: 'right_rail_3', 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. Im more on the analytical side, the portfolio-construction side. She is a founding partner at Serena Ventures after joining the capital fund company in 2018. 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. Alison graduated magna cum laude from the University of She works alongside the tennis superstar Serena Williams in overseeing the business and sourcing new investments. Each day is a learning experience, Im learning all the things that I would have had I taken venture classes at school. Women of Power Summit SERENA VENTURES. To raise a child it takes a village. Managing partner Serena Williams and general partner Alison Rapaport Stillman have backed about 20 companies with Serena Ventures' first fund. 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. tag: 'mandc,black-venture-capitalists,newsletter-lead,serena-ventures,serena-williams,vc', He has been in the industry for four decades. As a result, they were able to provide for their children. It receives about 200 pitches there a week, and Stillman said they read each one. . As she learned more about the world of funding, Williams was shocked by the inequities. Goodwin Women Guide Serena Williams Venture Fund in $111 Dan with Alison, Robyn, Marc and Sheri celebrates Marc's birthday in Hawaii, February 2022 ( Source : instagram ). About The General partner is Alison Rapport Stillman. Take trading cards, something Alison has never cared aboutthat is until alternative assets boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic. 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. Rapaport Stillman 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 Noom and Impossible Foods, among others. Work | OWG Ultimately, Stillman believes that a Serena Ventures company is defined by three qualities. Serena Ventures - The Financial Pandora env: 'prod', Alison Stillman Alison graduated magna cum laude from the University of Her Instagram feed is overflowing with many images capturing the cherished moments of their romantic love life. tag: 'mandc,black-venture-capitalists,newsletter-lead,serena-ventures,serena-williams,vc', Alison Stillman WebThe General partner is Alison Rapport Stillman. We had great chemistry on that call. Serena Ventures, the venture capital fund backed and founded in 2017 by Serena Williams. Alison Rapaport By: Julia Hanna, Demographics-Race-African American, Black, Alumna-Led Reproductive Health Startup Raises $4.7 Million. Management 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. The two cherished couple, beaming happy in the early morning, enjoyed an excellent breakfast as she held a Veuve Clicquot champagne bottle. ]); Alison Rapaport is a Partner at Serena Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund founded by tennis superstar Serena Williams in 2014. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', Goodwin Women Guide Serena Williams Venture Fund in $111 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. The FDA nears final approval on vaccines for young kids, women feel unprepared for menopause, and Zola adds a co-CEO. 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. Entrepreneurs Summit That includes looking at digital learning as a supplement and a way to attack inequities in traditional education systems. Stillman Like, look at what we have done.. 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. The firm is headquartered in San Francisco Bay Area, West Coast, and the Western US. 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. When I eventually presented the pitches to Serena, she asked the same questions that I had worked to prepare for. Besides, the one thing the golf star has in common with his fiance is their hunger for adventure and travel. Kyra is the Operations Manager for Serena Ventures where she oversees the day-to-day operations for the team and helps manage LPs, Portfolio Founders, and prospective investment companies. Sign up for notifications from Insider! It can be hard for founders to delegate. WebAllison Stillman is the director of Aroma Blue, bringing aromatherapy to people in recovery. Doubles Partner - Alumni - Harvard Business School Each day is a learning experience, Im learning all the things that I would have had I taken venture classes at school. Dan does not have a brother and Alison is his only sibling. 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. More than half of the firm's portfolio companies were founded by women, and more than three-fourths were founded by people from historically underrepresented backgrounds, according to the firm's website. ]); Stay up to date with what you want to know. He supports all aspects of existing deals through analysis, market research, competitive landscapes, financial modeling, and deal structuring. Below, Stillman explains how the firm evaluates prospective investments and what makes the winners stand out. For fans of Williams, this year's US Open was likely a bittersweet moment. Right now, the firm is excited about companies that address aging. Required fields are marked *. Have a great Thursday. 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. Dan Rapaport sister is named Alison Rapaport Stillman. Serena Ventures partner Alison Rapaport Stillman thinks VCs need to get out of their comfort zones. Alison: Skincare. Web2,862 Followers, 1,028 Following, 315 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Ali Jo Rapaport Stillman (@ali_jo_rap_stillman) Serena Williams' Venture Capital Firm Raises $111 Million 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. The company is their baby! Since 2014, Serena Ventures has championed founders whose perspectives and innovations level the playing field for women and people of color. The latest Tweets from Alison Stillman (@alison_stillman). In hindsight, I did not need to worry about the other people who barely thought of me. Marc works as a credit approval principal at Thorofare Capital. pos: 'right_rail_2', Ms. Williamss other business activities include fashion lines, entertainment deals and a seat on the board of Poshmark. env: 'prod', 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. Emma posted their first picture online on Valentine's in 2020. Sep 10, 2022, 7:00 AM Serena Williams and Alison Rapaport Stillman. Privacy Policy We are focusing not just on the people, but on the market. 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. 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. A team thats all women and from very different backgrounds, we see the world differently. } Alison Stillman 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 WebAllison Stillman is the director of Aroma Blue, bringing aromatherapy to people in recovery. It also helps that a byproduct of working with diverse entrepreneurs is that it leads to a more diverse deal flow. Serena Ventures doesnt require that its founders come from historically underrepresented backgrounds, though it says about three-quarters of its portfolio company founders do. 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 interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Emma also posted a picture on her Instagram as they shared a passionate kiss after he popped her the question. Prior to joining Serena Ventures, Olivia launched her first startup, SevenSkin Beauty, a skincare company that combines science with technology and education. Alison: We invest early in a market and a founder. That includes companies that focus on issues from mobility to menopause to deathtech, Stillman said. 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. Dana Iverson is a contributing writer at All Raise. The latest Tweets from Alison Stillman (@alison_stillman). Rapaport Stillman Prospective investors considering an investment into any 500 Startups fund should not consider or construe this content as fund marketing material. Alison Stillman has been with Serena Ventures for a few months and is in Owner, Alison's role is Manager: Owner & Partner, Partner. Wharton School, with a Bachelor of Science in Economics with concentrations in Finance and Operations & Information Management and a minor in Psychology. 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. After graduating from Brentwood school, Alison studied psychology for a while before enrolling at the Wharton School. I spent my teenage and college years trying to be liked and now I talk to three people from my high school. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', Learn more about the 20+ companies we've invested in and what's next. As Analyst, Ashel assists with sourcing, diligence, and portfolio support initiatives at Serena Ventures. Thanks for being part of ours! Serena Ventures Built a Portfolio With Suddenly, she found herself learning about trading cards, trying to understand the market and find opportunities. The golf guy at Barstool Sports currently lives a serene life with his fiance Emma in the radiant metropolis of Brooklyn, New York. WebDiscover any aliases as well as possible relatives and associates of Alison Rapaport Stillman. She works alongside the tennis superstar Serena Williams in overseeing the business and sourcing new investments. Alison Rapaport Stillman Also, invest in a few good people and dont try to please everyone. Dan Rapaport sister is named Alison Rapaport Stillman. Those include "business opportunity, founder fit, business model, and mission alignment," she told Insider by email. Alison Stillman is a Managing Partner at Serena Ventures based in Sugar Land, Texas. 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. Women of Power TECH, PODCASTS If you have a cold inbound, you can find great opportunities, she says. Serena agrees that there is a social purpose to that decision. Administration); By: April White, Re: Sherrese Clarke Soares (MBA2004); By: Jen McFarland Flint, Re: Ali Stillman (MBA2018); Anita Elberse (Lincoln Filene Professor of Business Administration); Serena Ventures was about to announce a historic $111 million raise that would change the world. Produces a new generation of meats and cheeses made entirely from plants. Managing partner Serena Williams and general partner Alison Rapaport Stillman have backed about 20 companies with Serena Ventures' first fund. "I am one proud little brother!!" Nacho lover Alison Rapaport Stillman is a Founding General Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. Zoe is the best decision that we have made in quarantine. Nacho lover Sculptwear is an alternative to traditional shapewear that gives a smooth and tucked-in look under clothing. View select TechCrunch Disrupt content online today divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', My path to Serena Ventures started with another sports superstar, ten-time NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony. Alison Stillman Goes By Allison Stillman Nashville, TN Age: 67 Full Name: Allison Stillman Current Home Address: 5329 Old Village Rd Nashville TN 37211 } Anyone can read what you share. tude.cmd.push(function() { subcat: '', 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. 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. Its been proven that the more diverse your team, the better you do, and companies are now starting to realize that, she says. 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. Learn more about the 20+ companies we've invested in and what's next.