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. Moreover, Rapaport is also a former golf writer at Sports Illustrated and a staff writer for Golf Digest. Partner @Serenaventures. Abena Anim-Somuah: Tell us how you met Serena and what drew you to work with her? 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. 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. 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. She first worked as an advisory and sales analyst before getting promoted to investment specialist for the company. WebAlison Rapaport Stillman, Serena Ventures. 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. Below, Stillman explains how the firm evaluates prospective investments and what makes the winners stand out. 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? Ian Rapaport a television analyst and pundit for National Football League (NFL) ( Source : instagram ). Besides, the one thing the golf star has in common with his fiance is their hunger for adventure and travel. 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. kw: 'mandc,black-venture-capitalists,newsletter-lead,serena-ventures,serena-williams,vc', Sign up for notifications from Insider! SistersInc. Their most recent acquisition was on May 27, 2021, when Infinite Objects raised $6M.Serena Ventures has made 21 diversity investments. WebAlison J. Rapaport, CFA, is a Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. 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. Financial services for what Stillman called the "unbanked and underbanked" and women's health companies have always ranked high on its list. Williams launched Serena Ventures in 2014. } url: 'serena,williams,venture,capital,firm,raises,111,million', As a Senior Associate, Veronica sources, conducts diligence, and provides portfolio support at Serena Ventures. For Williams, surrounding herself with other smart women was a no-brainer. She is currently on a gap-year and works on the Public Policy and Business Development Team at Tesla. 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. 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. cnx.cmd.push(function() { Take trading cards, something Alison has never cared aboutthat is until alternative assets boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Managing partner Serena Williams and general partner Alison Rapaport Stillman have backed about 20 companies with Serena Ventures' first fund. Business partners. Ive been watching a lot of reruns of reality shows. Have a great Thursday. 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. They are innovators who understand what goes into building companies. The scorecard helps the firm remain objective in its evaluation process. 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. 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. We also think about products that are creative, fun, and make life more enjoyable. She is a CFA charterholder and earned her MBA from Harvard Business School. The latest Tweets from Alison Stillman (@alison_stillman). 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. August 10, 2022, 5:31 AM PDT. 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. To raise a child it takes a village. WebAllison Stillman is the director of Aroma Blue, bringing aromatherapy to people in recovery. 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. 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. 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. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', 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 Learn more about the 20+ companies we've invested in and what's next. So why cant a man learn about tampons? 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. 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. Moreover, Dan has a younger sister Robyn Rapaport, founder of Shop Robynro. He has been in the industry for four decades. It receives about 200 pitches there a week, and Stillman said they read each one. Alison J. Rapaport, CFA, is a Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. It also helps that a byproduct of working with diverse entrepreneurs is that it leads to a more diverse deal flow. The funds limited partners include Norwest Venture Partners, Capital G (Alphabets growth fund) and LionTree. Moreover, in May 2021, the two soulmates looked chic as they attended their friend's wedding in Wailea-Makena. It's not the only thing." Alison: Skincare. According to the National Venture Capital Association data, only 4% of the people who work in venture capital are Black. Serena Williams, founding and managing partner at Serena Ventures and Alison Rapaport Stillman, founding and managing partner at Serena Ventures. }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; 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. Asif Yahiya Sukri LLP provides unparalleled personalized financial services to a broad range of clients across different geographical locations. tag: 'mandc,black-venture-capitalists,newsletter-lead,serena-ventures,serena-williams,vc', Not surprisingly, thats a big reason why women and entrepreneurs of color struggle to access venture funding. "I am one proud little brother!!" he wrote. Insider chatted with Stillman about how to land a spot in the Serena Ventures portfolio. 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. On that front, Alison advocates working with organizations like BLCK VC or All Raise. targeting: { Abena Anim-Somuah is a contributing writer at All Raise. Alison Stillman's job functions are Entrepreneurship, Operations, Alison Stillman's LinkedIn profile can be found at, https://linkedin.com/in/aliso***illman-cfa***. Ive been on a bit of a skincare kick so I have been trying a lot of Kate Somervilles products. Abena: What traits stand out to you in a founding team? Serena Williams raises $111 million for new venture fund. Among its portfolio of more than 50 companies, 60% of founders are people of color. WebDiscover any aliases as well as possible relatives and associates of Alison Rapaport Stillman. Alison: We invest early in a market and a founder. 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. This post was written in collaboration withAsif Yahiya Sukri LLP. 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. "We know that what you're selling us at the pre-seed or seed probably isn't going to look like what the Series B investor sees at some level," she said. Serena Ventures Serena Williams launched Serena Ventures in 2014 and has invested in over 60 companies. According to her Linkedin profile, Alison is a financial expert and analyst whose job is to provide vast arrays of specualtions and predictions of the money market and help the company accordingly. The latest Tweets from Alison Stillman (@alison_stillman). Serena Ventures Serena Williams launched Serena Ventures in 2014 and has invested in over 60 companies. Nacho lover To be successful, though, you have to let go of the reins.". ', 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. ]); Dan does not have a brother and Alison is his only sibling. Register for your account and get started with our industry leading people contacts search engine. She is a founding partner at Serena Ventures after joining the capital fund company in 2018. 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. Zoe is the best decision that we have made in quarantine. The founding partners of Serena Ventures are Ms. Williams and Alison Rapaport Stillman. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. tude.cmd.push(function() { Allows traders to buy and sell bitcoin in the cryptocurrency and blockchain space. I knew that I wanted to do a fund, but I worked backward, by using my own capital and then creating a track record and getting to know everyone.. She eventually widened the criteria and today Serena Ventures will fund anyone with a good idea. Serena Ventures, the venture capital fund backed and founded in 2017 by Serena Williams. Still, 76% of Serena Ventures portfolio founders come from historically underrepresented backgrounds. 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. pos: 'right_rail_1', While interviewing for jobs, she was the only person who I felt would empower me to succeed. My fianc and I have had her for about two months. Previously, Alison worked at J.P. Morgan Asset Management in Multi- Asset Solutions and led the development of the firms Alternative Beta offering. Thats how we met. Alison's role is Manager: When I eventually presented the pitches to Serena, she asked the same questions that I had worked to prepare for. Thanks for being part of ours! }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; 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. pos: 'right_rail_2', Television. Women of Power Summit Impact can take many forms, she continues. WebAllison Stillman is the director of Aroma Blue, bringing aromatherapy to people in recovery. Just to be clear, you dont have to be a person of color or a woman to be in our fund, Williams says. Then in July 2011, she landed a job at JP Morgan Assest Management firm. One recent investment they made is Fiveable, a woman-led Milwaukie edtech startup helping students prepare for AP exams by offering free online resources. aid: '782078', The founder should find people with experience or a particular skill set to offer advice to prepare them for the ups and downs. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', Emma also posted a picture on her Instagram as they shared a passionate kiss after he popped her the question. She is so much more than just the worlds best tennis player. Dan posted a congratulations tweet in August 2022 as she represented the company in the New York Stock Exchange. SERENA VENTURES. Sign up to stay up to date on global innovation. WebVisit Alison Rapaport Stillman and Stillman Stillmans Baby Registry on Babylist. SERENA VENTURES. Investing in people who look like you eventually leads to systemic exclusion. The two cherished couple, beaming happy in the early morning, enjoyed an excellent breakfast as she held a Veuve Clicquot champagne bottle. Privacy Policy 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. Ms. Williamss other business activities include fashion lines, entertainment deals and a seat on the board of Poshmark. cat: 'entrepreneurship', Prospective investors considering an investment into any 500 Startups fund should not consider or construe this content as fund marketing material. 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.. Sales Partnership Solutions 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 Alison Stillman is a Managing Partner at Serena Ventures based in Sugar Land, Texas. Lets just be honest, you know I couldnt just say Oh Im going to do this and have fun with it. As a world-class athlete, businesswoman, philanthropist and mother, Serena Williams knows what it takes to win. ABOUT env: 'prod', As a result, they were able to provide for their children. Alison Rapaport is a Partner at Serena Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund founded by tennis superstar Serena Williams in 2014. WebAlison Rapaport Stillman, Serena Ventures. Stay up to date with what you want to know. 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 Im more on the analytical side, the portfolio-construction side. Subscribe to Newsletter Furthermore, he is also one of the founding members of a top soccer league in the US, Major League Soccer (MLS). kw: 'mandc,black-venture-capitalists,newsletter-lead,serena-ventures,serena-williams,vc', env: 'prod', 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. Dan Rapaport sister is named Alison Rapaport Stillman. This mindset allows us to have a broad and holistic approach to invest in FinTech, Wellness, and everything in between. Previously, Alison worked at J.P. Morgan Asset Management in Multi- Asset Solutions and led the development of the firms Alternative Beta offering. WebVisit Alison Rapaport Stillman and Stillman Stillmans Baby Registry on Babylist. BE 100s 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. 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. "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. 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 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. Nacho lover Every company that we invest in isnt meant for Alison Rapaport Stillman and I know that, she said. 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. Another important factor is making sure that a founder is coachable. Onstage at an event, Ms. Seidman-Becker said less than 2 percent of venture money went to women. 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. Serena Ventures Serena Williams launched Serena Ventures in 2014 and has invested in over 60 companies. 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. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { Dan with Alison, Robyn, Marc and Sheri celebrates Marc's birthday in Hawaii, February 2022 ( Source : instagram ). 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. 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 ). The food we eat, the space we live in, and the tools we use at home are all getting a second look. They make strategic decisions, manage finances and develop business plans. The latest Tweets from Alison Stillman (@alison_stillman). Fund Budgeting & Cash Flow Management What are the financial nuts and bolts of launching and managing a venture fund? 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.. 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. Stillman said it scored companies in due diligence across a number of metrics. Serena is such a smart and driven person. 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. 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. 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. Dana Iverson is a contributing writer at All Raise. There is no recent news or activity for this profile. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. }).render('5eec50a0f683429ca3814da74bd486aa'); Entrepreneurs Summit SERENA VENTURES. Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. We cant resort to a theater allyship, you have to do the work write the checks and make the hires. Europe, Menlo Park, China), Where the person is located (e.g. After graduating from Brentwood school, Alison studied psychology for a while before enrolling at the Wharton School. He worked for numerous organisations in various positions, including manager, director, and executive. 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. 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. The firm is headquartered in San Francisco Bay Area, West Coast, and the Western US. In her next chapter, Williams said she planned to focus on her venture-capital firm, Serena Ventures. By: Julia Hanna, Demographics-Race-African American, Black, Alumna-Led Reproductive Health Startup Raises $4.7 Million. That is exactly what we are going to talk about in this article. 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. Either Stillman, Williams, or another member of the firm's six-person team will schedule an introductory call with the founder. Alison Stillman has been with Serena Ventures for a few months and is in Owner What is Alison Stillman's role in Serena Ventures? Business partners. We do VC differently through standout strategies, bold initiatives, and a global network of investors, business leaders, and influencers. 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. Accelerating the success of female founders and funders to build a more prosperous, equitable future. Stillman said it's especially important for founders to be self-aware enough to know when they need to hire employees. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', WebVisit Alison Rapaport Stillman and Stillman Stillmans Baby Registry on Babylist. She is a founding partner at Serena Ventures after joining the capital fund company in 2018. Try not to control everything. The two lovebirds had a great time ice skating in Snowmass Village, Colorado. We had great chemistry on that call. The General partner is Alison Rapport Stillman. As Analyst, Ashel assists with sourcing, diligence, and portfolio support initiatives at Serena Ventures. And that needs to happen across the board.. Ultimately, Stillman believes that a Serena Ventures company is defined by three qualities. The move underscores 500 Globals multi-stage initiatives. The FDA nears final approval on vaccines for young kids, women feel unprepared for menopause, and Zola adds a co-CEO. That includes looking at digital learning as a supplement and a way to attack inequities in traditional education systems. We had the pleasure of hearing from Alison on advice she would give to her younger self, her path to VC, and how she has stayed motivated during this time. 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 Dan popped the question to Emma in Friday Harbor, Washington in October 2021 ( Source : instagram ). Review address history and property records. My friends were asking questions that I didnt have the answers to, but I got better with time and more practice. When one thinks of the name Serena Williams, the majority of thoughts flow in the direction of her impeccable tennis career. I just want people that believe in our mission and that want to be a part of something really amazing. Some of Alison Stillman's colleagues are Alison Rapaport, Amy Berliner, Kyra Mccarty, Alison Rapapaort, Olivia Griffian, Serena Williams, Jair Bobbitt, Veronica Reaves. subcat: '', 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. Review address history and property records. They had one problem: their brand didnt reflect who they were as a firm- or as people. } 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. Alison Stillman has 1+ years experience as Partner. tude.cmd.push(function() { 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 When Im serving, I dont serve at 98%. I felt that it was an opportunity to combine my skill set with a mission and make a difference. Serena Ventures investments include MasterClass, Andela, Mayvenn, Tonal and Noom, to name a few. 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. Web2,862 Followers, 1,028 Following, 315 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Ali Jo Rapaport Stillman (@ali_jo_rap_stillman) Since 2014, Serena Ventures has championed founders whose perspectives and innovations level the playing field for women and people of color. Partner @Serenaventures. WebDiscover any aliases as well as possible relatives and associates of Alison Rapaport Stillman. Its incredible working with founders to help them solve everyday problems as well as find new companies along the way. BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. She earned Bachelor of Science degree in Finance & Operations from the campus. My puppy Zoe. One meeting led to another and the next thing you know, Im working at Serena Ventures. 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. So I spent the week practicing my pitch with friends. Review address history and property records. WebAlison Rapaport Stillman is a Founding General Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. 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. The company is their baby! Suddenly, she found herself learning about trading cards, trying to understand the market and find opportunities. 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.

Panther Deville Coupe, Articles A