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. 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. Zola founder Shan-Lyn Ma adds co-CEO Rachel Jarrett | Fortune Alison Stillman has been with Serena Ventures for a few months and is in Owner, Alison's role is Manager: Owner & Partner, Partner. I want to highlight that we do not invest in women and people of color to simply check a box. Serena Ventures partner Alison Rapaport Stillman thinks VCs need to get out of their comfort zones. subcat: '', 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 My friends were asking questions that I didnt have the answers to, but I got better with time and more practice. Investors claiming they cant find opportunities to invest in women and founders of color probably arent trying hard enough, said Alison. playerId: '783ef340-6832-4112-80cd-0e5f57b51915' Dana Iverson: What got you into venture, and what is keeping you here? Founders should send a deck with their pitch even if it's just a "teaser deck." he wrote. 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. 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. 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. We understand that what we see in the pitch deck is not what the product will look like later, and the product will go through a hundred iterations before it is out in the wild. Alison Rapaport Stillman Alison Stillman WebAllison Stillman is the director of Aroma Blue, bringing aromatherapy to people in recovery. 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. That includes companies that focus on issues from mobility to menopause to deathtech, Stillman said. window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; The FDA nears final approval on vaccines for young kids, women feel unprepared for menopause, and Zola adds a co-CEO. The entire process from pitch to investment can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, Stillman said. WebAlison Rapaport Stillman, Serena Ventures. And also, its very authentic. 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. Moreover, in May 2021, the two soulmates looked chic as they attended their friend's wedding in Wailea-Makena. Partner @Serenaventures. There is no recent news or activity for this profile. 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. Sculptwear is an alternative to traditional shapewear that gives a smooth and tucked-in look under clothing. The best way to submit a pitch to Serena Ventures is through the contact form on the firm's website. She is so much more than just the worlds best tennis player. As a Senior Associate, Veronica sources, conducts diligence, and provides portfolio support at Serena Ventures. Williams was heavily involved in her firms decision-making process well before she announced her retirement. Serena Ventures - The Financial Pandora Besides, they have a pet dog named Bud, who has also been featured in most of her uploads. Serena Ventures. 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 The golf guy at Barstool Sports currently lives a serene life with his fiance Emma in the radiant metropolis of Brooklyn, New York. Looking at the VC industry more broadly, Alison doesnt see a diverse pipeline problem, but a networking issue. My path to Serena Ventures started with another sports superstar, ten-time NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony. WebThe General partner is Alison Rapport Stillman. Serena Ventures Built a Portfolio With They had one problem: their brand didnt reflect who they were as a firm- or as people. Dog mom . We made our founders feel like we are partners who can help them grow, she said. Sales Partnership Solutions INFORMATION }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; Thanks for being part of ours! She first worked as an advisory and sales analyst before getting promoted to investment specialist for the company. Each day is a learning experience, Im learning all the things that I would have had I taken venture classes at school. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { Lets just be honest, you know I couldnt just say Oh Im going to do this and have fun with it. Serena Williams founded Serena Ventures in 2014. Black Men XCEL It also helps that a byproduct of working with diverse entrepreneurs is that it leads to a more diverse deal flow. 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. Ian Rapaport a television analyst and pundit for National Football League (NFL) ( Source : instagram ). Financial services for what Stillman called the "unbanked and underbanked" and women's health companies have always ranked high on its list. With my little experience in venture, I knew that I had to go in prepared and used all of my resources to get ready. Abena: What traits stand out to you in a founding team? Algorithmic rank assigned to the top 100,000 most active Investors, The organization associated to the person's primary job, Where the person is located (e.g. 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. Goodwin Women Guide Serena Williams Venture Fund in $111 Have a great Thursday. Serena Williams raises $111 million for new venture fund. SERENA VENTURES. During this time, I got along really well with Carmelos business manager, Stuart Goldfarb, who saw that I understood how to work with sports talent and also had a deep understanding of the investment world, a rare combination of two very different skills sets. Dan took to Instagram to post a picture of the two as they flaunt the ring from a resort rooftop in Friday Harbor, Washington. Also, invest in a few good people and dont try to please everyone. tude.cmd.push(function() { 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. Alison graduated magna cum laude from the University of targeting: { This post includes the views and opinions of independent third parties that are not related to or controlled by 500 Startups. 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. Emma also posted a picture on her Instagram as they shared a passionate kiss after he popped her the question. She works alongside the tennis superstar Serena Williams in overseeing the business and sourcing new investments. Alison Stillman has been with Serena Ventures for a few months and is in Owner What is Alison Stillman's role in Serena Ventures? subcat: '', Alison Stillman has been with Serena Ventures for a few months and is in Owner What is Alison Stillman's role in Serena Ventures? They are finding new sectors to focus on, such as the rise of online education. Thats just the way of the land. 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. }); EVENTS We cant resort to a theater allyship, you have to do the work write the checks and make the hires. She has persevered to become one of the top tennis players in history with 23 Grand Slam titles. Contact Fund Budgeting & Cash Flow Management What are the financial nuts and bolts of launching and managing a venture fund? Alison Rapaport is a Partner at Serena Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund founded by tennis superstar Serena Williams in 2014. aid: '782078', Impact can take many forms, she continues. Anyone can read what you share. Serena Ventures - The Financial Pandora Her firm, Serena Ventures, is an active angel investor with a portfolio of 60 companies. Goodwin Women Guide Serena Williams Venture Fund in $111 Serena Williams' Venture Capital Firm Raises $111 Million "It's hard. Im still able to see the opportunity and help the company grow. 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. Dan and Marc enjoying golf during dusk in Cabot Cliffs, July 2019 ( Source : instagram ). Marc inspired him to pursue a career in golf at the age of 4 as Dan grew up with a sister. The latest Tweets from Alison Stillman (@alison_stillman). Serena believes in taking on and nurturing the firms early, which is reflected in the funds investments as three-fourths of the total investment belongs to the seed stage category. Serena Williams, founding and managing partner at Serena Ventures and Alison Rapaport Stillman, founding and managing partner at Serena Ventures. Alison Rapaport Stillman Managing partner Serena Williams and general partner Alison Rapaport Stillman have backed about 20 companies with Serena Ventures' first fund. Sign up to stay up to date on global innovation. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', "The founder can't be doing everything," Stillman said. Registry of Corporate Directors. Zola founder Shan-Lyn Ma adds co-CEO Rachel Jarrett | Fortune Still, 76% of Serena Ventures portfolio founders come from historically underrepresented backgrounds. Sign up for notifications from Insider! How to Land an Investment From Serena Williams' VC Firm Alison Rapaport Stillman So why cant a man learn about tampons? It's not the only thing." The latest Tweets from Alison Stillman (@alison_stillman). 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. Abena Anim-Somuah: Tell us how you met Serena and what drew you to work with her? Serena Ventures was about to announce a historic $111 million raise that would change the world. Alison Rapaport Stillman is a Founding General Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/01/business/serena-williams-venture-fund.html. Dan Rapaport dad Marc works in real estate and serves as the head of Thorofare Capital, a mercantile real estate pawnbroker entity. Dan Rapaport girlfriend Emma Light is engaged in October 2021. SistersInc. WebAlison J. Rapaport, CFA, is a Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. 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. The scorecard helps the firm remain objective in its evaluation process. 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. As a result, they were able to provide for their children. I hurriedly picked a dress, which luckily fit, and jumped on the call. Having dabbled in almost everything from marketing to accounting, her intellectual athleticism makes her excited about exploring new sectors and industries. Plenty of its portfolio companies come from Silicon Valley, but two of its most recent investments came from North Carolina and Wisconsin. targeting: { Serena Ventures, the venture capital fund backed and founded in 2017 by Serena Williams. Its time we all play on the same court. 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. Serena Williams, founding and managing partner at Serena Ventures and Alison Rapaport Stillman, founding and managing partner at Serena Ventures. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', Alison Stillman is a Managing Partner at Serena Ventures based in Sugar Land, Texas. She is currently on a gap-year and works on the Public Policy and Business Development Team at Tesla. 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. cnx({ 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 thinks VCs need to get out of their comfort zones. She is a CFA charterholder and earned her MBA from Harvard Business School. The founding partners of Serena Ventures are Ms. Williams and Alison Rapaport Stillman. Marc started his job in 1983 as a banker at Drexel Burnham Lambert. Each day is a learning experience, Im learning all the things that I would have had I taken venture classes at school. 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. Alison: Dont get bangs it is not worth it! aid: '782078', Serena Ventures invests in founders who solve everyday problems through unconventional thinking and diverse points of view. For the past nine years, it has managed a portfolio of more than 60 angel investments, using Williams own money. The views expressed herein are as at the date of this summary and are subject to change without notice. Dan Rapaport is not related to Ian Rapaport. Managing partner Serena Williams and general partner Alison Rapaport Stillman have backed about 20 companies with Serena Ventures' first fund. 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. As Analyst, Ashel assists with sourcing, diligence, and portfolio support initiatives at Serena Ventures. url: 'serena,williams,venture,capital,firm,raises,111,million', It's your child. Alison J Rapaport Stillman Alison's role is Manager: Partner @Serenaventures. Alison Stillman Goes By Allison Stillman Nashville, TN Age: 67 Full Name: Allison Stillman Current Home Address: 5329 Old Village Rd Nashville TN 37211 They just share a same surname but have no family ties. She is the first athlete ever to hit Forbes list of the Worlds Richest Self-Made Women. 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. Alison: Skincare. Veronica has dedicated her career to supporting founders who work to democratize access to a better life, and her unique perspective is informed by 10 years of experience as a strategy consultant, founder, and investor. Serena Ventures Serena Williams launched Serena Ventures in 2014 and has invested in over 60 companies. When I eventually presented the pitches to Serena, she asked the same questions that I had worked to prepare for. One recent investment they made is Fiveable, a woman-led Milwaukie edtech startup helping students prepare for AP exams by offering free online resources. According to Zola, Dan and his future wife Emma have set their wedding date for June 10, 2023, in the scenic landscape of Chicago. Ive been on a bit of a skincare kick so I have been trying a lot of Kate Somervilles products. Ms. Rapaport Stillman previously worked at JPMorgan, Wasserman and Melo7 Tech. WebAlison Rapaport Stillman is a Founding General Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. When Im serving, I dont serve at 98%. For Williams, surrounding herself with other smart women was a no-brainer. Take trading cards, something Alison has never cared aboutthat is until alternative assets boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Serena Ventures has made investments in over 30 companies across multiple industries, including Coinbase, Daily Harvest, and Billie to name a few. and its affiliates (collectively 500 Startups) makes no representation as to the accuracy or information in this post and while reasonable steps have been taken to ensure that the information herein is accurate and up-to-date, no liability can be accepted for any error or omissions. Another way Alison recommends sourcing diverse deal flow is by not requiring a warm intro. Many recommendations they now get come from current portfolio companies. Prospective investors considering an investment into any 500 Startups fund should not consider or construe this content as fund marketing material. When he posted an Ask Me Anything during Q&A sessions, one user commented whether he is related to Ian or Michael, to which he replied, "Negative." 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. Marc co-founded Jefferies and Co., where he toiled as director and executive vice chairperson from 1990 to 1995. Rapaport div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', All third party links in this post have not been independently verified by 500 Startups and the inclusion of such links should not be interpreted as an endorsement or confirmation of the content within. Alison Rapaport Stillman Amongst the portfolio of more than 50 companies, 60% of the founders are women or people of color. I feel like I go to sleep getting messages from her and wake up getting messages from her, Rapaport told Fortune. In hindsight, I did not need to worry about the other people who barely thought of me.
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