I legit thought she misspoke because 98% is a huge number, Williams says. Even though Marc frequently played golf with Dan, it wasn't until August 2020 that his father attended one of his games at Quaker Ridge Golf Club in New York and watched him as an audience. One meeting led to another and the next thing you know, Im working at Serena Ventures. Fund Budgeting & Cash Flow Management What are the financial nuts and bolts of launching and managing a venture fund? When I met my husband, that was our first conversation. I was someone who lived my life to be on a conveyor belt. INFORMATION window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; Anyone can read what you share. Entrepreneurs Summit WebVisit Alison Rapaport Stillman and Stillman Stillmans Baby Registry on Babylist. So I spent the week practicing my pitch with friends. Learn more about the 20+ companies we've invested in and what's next. Economic Equity & Racial Justice Townhall Series, Elevate Black Podcast sponsored by Fifth Third Bank, 100 Founders of Change by American Express, Chasing Success Podcast by JP Morgan Chase, Black Business Month Sponsored by Nationwide, 2022 Registry Of Corporate Directors Listing, 2021 BE Registry Of Corporate Directors Listing, finding companies that solve bigger consumer problems. 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. BE 100s Still, 76% of Serena Ventures portfolio founders come from historically underrepresented backgrounds. "You want to do something that's going to make it easy for us to understand your business," Stillman said. As a result, they were able to provide for their children. Always ready for a new challenge, she started out by asking a lot of questions, then investing in a fund, and then becoming an angel investor. 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.. Its been proven that the more diverse your team, the better you do, and companies are now starting to realize that, she says. Alison Stillman's peers at other companies are Ariane Rocha, Margaret Ursua, Marine Casiez, Joseph Eazyway, Janice Patriarca, David Guthery, Karen Chapman, John Stafford. Im the most non-taking-a-chance kind of a person, but I felt like a seed was where we wanted to be.. The company is their baby! 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 does not have a brother and Alison is his only sibling. Ive watched all of Face Off, a show where people go head-to-head with special effects and makeup. 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. Emma posted their first picture online on Valentine's in 2020. Those include "business opportunity, founder fit, business model, and mission alignment," she told Insider by email. aid: '782078', The same was kept secret until April 17, 2019, when the tennis star took to Instagram to post about it. Partner @Serenaventures. Sep 10, 2022, 7:00 AM Serena Williams and Alison Rapaport Stillman. Each day is a learning experience, Im learning all the things that I would have had I taken venture classes at school. Business partners. Thats my job, to make the unfamiliar familiar she said. Serena Ventures was about to announce a historic $111 million raise that would change the world. Yet, because of the areas they want to serve, Alison says they still naturally fund women, Black and Latinx founders. Previously, Alison worked at J.P. Morgan Asset Management in Multi- Asset Solutions and led the development of the firms Alternative Beta offering. Alison Rapaport Stillman, General Partner, Serena Ventures (Image: Courtesy of Serena Ventures) For Williams, surrounding herself with other smart women was a no-brainer. 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. I want to highlight that we do not invest in women and people of color to simply check a box. 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 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. The latest Tweets from Alison Stillman (@alison_stillman). tag: 'mandc,black-venture-capitalists,newsletter-lead,serena-ventures,serena-williams,vc', She is also disarmingly authentic. Onstage at an event, Ms. Seidman-Becker said less than 2 percent of venture money went to women. Partner @Serenaventures. Dan Rapaport sister is named Alison Rapaport Stillman. When one thinks of the name Serena Williams, the majority of thoughts flow in the direction of her impeccable tennis career. Dan Rapaport father Marc Rapaport is a real estate agent from Los Angeles. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', Previously, Alison worked at J.P. Morgan Asset Management in Multi- Asset Solutions and led the development of the firms Alternative Beta offering. We also want to see a founder who is self-aware. 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. Prior to joining Serena Ventures, Ashel spent time on the programming team at Kauffman Fellows and was a startup founder. Alison Stillman has been with Serena Ventures for a few months and is in Owner, Alison's role is Manager: Owner & Partner, Partner. 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. Allows traders to buy and sell bitcoin in the cryptocurrency and blockchain space. My first time pitching was terrible. My friends were asking questions that I didnt have the answers to, but I got better with time and more practice. 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 Abena: What traits stand out to you in a founding team? The latest Tweets from Alison Stillman (@alison_stillman). The couple had been to many beautiful locations throughout the globe, the nuances of which Emma has captured in photographs. In her next chapter, Williams said she planned to focus on her venture-capital firm, Serena Ventures. But it is important to have a founder who can be self-aware, handle feedback, and build a team to help them be successful. Serena Ventures' portfolio companies span a variety of industries, but Stillman said there were a few areas it had always been interested in. Serena Ventures partner Alison Rapaport Stillman thinks VCs need to get out of their comfort zones. Dan took to Instagram to post a picture of the two as they flaunt the ring from a resort rooftop in Friday Harbor, Washington. B.E. Veronica is a proud Alumna of Howard University and holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management. Learn more about the 20+ companies we've invested in and what's next. Among its portfolio of more than 50 companies, 60% of founders are people of color. 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. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { You can find her on Twitter. We dont fit the mold of venture.. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', Emma also posted a picture on her Instagram as they shared a passionate kiss after he popped her the question. targeting: { Review address history and property records. It also helps that a byproduct of working with diverse entrepreneurs is that it leads to a more diverse deal flow. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/01/business/serena-williams-venture-fund.html. 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. aid: '782078', After graduating from Brentwood school, Alison studied psychology for a while before enrolling at the Wharton School. Dan posted a congratulations tweet in August 2022 as she represented the company in the New York Stock Exchange. } Dana Iverson: What got you into venture, and what is keeping you here? 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. 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. Just to be clear, you dont have to be a person of color or a woman to be in our fund, Williams says. She has brought so much joy to our family and is a living reminder that there is a world beyond my screen. 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. Founders should send a deck with their pitch even if it's just a "teaser deck." 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. Dan with Alison, Robyn, Marc and Sheri celebrates Marc's birthday in Hawaii, February 2022 ( Source : instagram ). 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. I just want people that believe in our mission and that want to be a part of something really amazing. She is a student at Princeton University in the School of Public and International Affairs with Minors in Entrepreneurship and Urban Studies. 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 Amongst the portfolio of more than 50 companies, 60% of the founders are women or people of color. Marc works as a credit approval principal at Thorofare Capital. aid: '782078', Required fields are marked *. In early August, the 23-time Grand Slam champion wrote in an essay for Vogue that she would be retiring from tennis. }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; Dan popped the question to Emma in Friday Harbor, Washington in October 2021 ( Source : instagram ). This post is intended solely for general informational or educational purposes only. Serena Ventures doesnt require that its founders come from historically underrepresented backgrounds, though it says about three-quarters of its portfolio company founders do. SERENA VENTURES. }); EVENTS ]); Her firm, Serena Ventures, is an active angel investor with a portfolio of 60 companies. The same goes for actor Michael Rapaport. It has been fun to watch creative people in that setting because Im not a creative person. The natural beauty of the world around the island struck them. To be successful, though, you have to let go of the reins.". Dog mom . Abena Anim-Somuah is a contributing writer at All Raise. She is a CFA charterholder and earned her MBA from Harvard Business School. Serena Ventures partner Alison Rapaport Stillman thinks VCs need to get out of their comfort zones. The champions for Black female founders are here to stay. Dog mom . Alison: I took my first call with Serena from a bridal store while trying on bridesmaid dresses for a friends wedding. targeting: { I dont gamble. She works alongside the tennis superstar Serena Williams in overseeing the business and sourcing new investments. You can find her on Twitter. Dan and Marc enjoying golf during dusk in Cabot Cliffs, July 2019 ( Source : instagram ). Stillman told Insider a core part of the mission of Serena Ventures was to back founders with "incredible potential" who might have been overlooked by other investors. 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. 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.. Learn more about the 20+ companies we've invested in and what's next. Venture capitalists tend to believe in founders who feel familiar and thereby move forward to fund them. Europe, Menlo Park, China), Where the person is located (e.g. Previously, Alison worked at J.P. Morgan Asset Management in Multi- Asset Solutions and led the development of the firms Alternative Beta offering. 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. Alison's role is Manager: 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. 500 Startups Management Company, L.L.C. Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. We are focusing not just on the people, but on the market. Serena Ventures has a market cap of $14 billion and 29 active investments. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Were working on a mission that is bigger than any one of us and that makes me feel excited to do my job. The golf guy at Barstool Sports currently lives a serene life with his fiance Emma in the radiant metropolis of Brooklyn, New York. With my little experience in venture, I knew that I had to go in prepared and used all of my resources to get ready. As a Senior Associate, Veronica sources, conducts diligence, and provides portfolio support at Serena Ventures. Alison Stillman has been with Serena Ventures for a few months and is in Owner What is Alison Stillman's role in Serena Ventures? Thus, Marc bought Dan a golf set on his fourth birthday. Either Stillman, Williams, or another member of the firm's six-person team will schedule an introductory call with the founder. 500 Startups makes no representations as to or guarantees of specific outcomes from relying on the contents of this post. It is not us versus them. If you have a cold inbound, you can find great opportunities, she says. 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. Alison Rapaport is a Partner at Serena Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund founded by tennis superstar Serena Williams in 2014. 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. url: 'serena,williams,venture,capital,firm,raises,111,million', And also, its very authentic. However, we need to acknowledge there is a problem and strive to fix it. Women of Power Summit 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. Plenty of its portfolio companies come from Silicon Valley, but two of its most recent investments came from North Carolina and Wisconsin. You can also reach out to them oninfo@aysasia.com, Your email address will not be published. WebAlison J. Rapaport, CFA, is a Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. Have a great Thursday. She makes you feel comfortable, as if youre not talking to the greatest athlete of all time. 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. I was talking about investments. Ms. Williamss husband is the Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. Alison: Im excited about the refocus on the home. Their most recent diversity investment was on December 5, 2020, when Kiira Health raised. Serena Ventures. WebThe General partner is Alison Rapport Stillman. Weve made some investments in the food and beverage space but are interested in the holistic wellness space as well. Try not to control everything. August 10, 2022, 5:31 AM PDT. 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. 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. 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. Accelerating the success of female founders and funders to build a more prosperous, equitable future. He has been in the industry for four decades. Television. } To raise a child it takes a village. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; So why cant a man learn about tampons? Serena Ventures most notable exits include The Wing and OLLY. Alison Stillman has 1+ years experience as Partner. Dog mom . 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. This post was written in collaboration withAsif Yahiya Sukri LLP. It receives about 200 pitches there a week, and Stillman said they read each one. Moreover, Rapaport is also a former golf writer at Sports Illustrated and a staff writer for Golf Digest. They are innovators who understand what goes into building companies. WebAlison J. Rapaport, CFA, is a Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. Nacho lover kw: 'mandc,black-venture-capitalists,newsletter-lead,serena-ventures,serena-williams,vc', divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', It's not the only thing." Thanks for being part of ours! Abena Anim-Somuah: Tell us how you met Serena and what drew you to work with her? According to Zola, Dan and his future wife Emma have set their wedding date for June 10, 2023, in the scenic landscape of Chicago. She is so much more than just the worlds best tennis player. WebAlison Rapaport Stillman, Serena Ventures. "It's a helpful tool for us. The FDA nears final approval on vaccines for young kids, women feel unprepared for menopause, and Zola adds a co-CEO. Nacho lover 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. She comes to Serena Ventures from Equitable Advisors, where she worked as an Investment Operations Specialist. Have a great Thursday. Serena Ventures, the venture capital fund backed and founded in 2017 by Serena Williams. Learn more about the 20+ companies we've invested in and what's next. By: Julia Hanna, Demographics-Race-African American, Black, Alumna-Led Reproductive Health Startup Raises $4.7 Million. And the only way to change those numbers was to be the person writing the big checks.. After graduating from Harvard, Alison joined the Jefferies & Company as an banking analyst in June 2009. 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. Register for your account and get started with our industry leading people contacts search engine. } cat: 'entrepreneurship', Williams understands firsthand the plight of founders of color. The founding partners of Serena Ventures are Ms. Williams and Alison Rapaport Stillman. The best way to submit a pitch to Serena Ventures is through the contact form on the firm's website. Alisa Gumbs is the executive managing editor of BLACK ENTERPRISE, planning and creating content across the company's print, digital, events, and broadcast platforms. She first worked as an advisory and sales analyst before getting promoted to investment specialist for the company. When Serena Williams first launched the firm, she explicitly wanted to provide funding for more women. Women of Power TECH, PODCASTS 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? 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); It's your child. Alison Stillman is a Managing Partner at Serena Ventures based in Sugar Land, Texas. This isnt new for me, she says. 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. WebAlison Rapaport Stillman, Serena Ventures. Dan Rapaport girlfriend Emma Light is engaged in October 2021. About 10 to 20% of pitches receive a follow-up from the firm. Stillman said it scored companies in due diligence across a number of metrics. 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. tag: 'mandc,black-venture-capitalists,newsletter-lead,serena-ventures,serena-williams,vc', Serena Williams in Hollywood in November. She works alongside the tennis superstar Serena Williams in overseeing the business and sourcing new investments. Their most recent acquisition was on May 27, 2021, when Infinite Objects raised $6M.Serena Ventures has made 21 diversity investments. Alison graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania. Alison: Dont get bangs it is not worth it! playerId: '783ef340-6832-4112-80cd-0e5f57b51915' In October 2020, the duo enjoyed a family lunch with their parents at a cosy restaurant in LA, California. Im still able to see the opportunity and help the company grow. 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. That includes companies that focus on issues from mobility to menopause to deathtech, Stillman said. 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. I feel like I go to sleep getting messages from her and wake up getting messages from her, Rapaport told Fortune. Her Instagram feed is overflowing with many images capturing the cherished moments of their romantic love life. 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. Managing partner Serena Williams and general partner Alison Rapaport Stillman have backed about 20 companies with Serena Ventures' first fund. August 10, 2022, 5:31 AM PDT. Ultimately, Stillman believes that a Serena Ventures company is defined by three qualities. Serena Ventures is led by world-class athlete, businesswoman, and philanthropist Serena Williams, and Alison Rapaport Stillman, who has previously worked at J.P. Morgan, Wasserman, and Melo7Tech Partners. Alison Stillman is a Managing Partner at Serena Ventures based in Sugar Land, Texas. Right now, the firm is excited about companies that address aging. Alison Rapaport Stillman is a Founding General Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. Serena Ventures investments include MasterClass, Andela, Mayvenn, Tonal and Noom, to name a few.