You just naturally wake up and you say, like, wow, 70% of my founders are women.. 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. 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. Television. Serena Ventures partner Alison Rapaport Stillman thinks VCs need to get out of their comfort zones. 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. We made our founders feel like we are partners who can help them grow, she said. 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. 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. The founding partners of Serena Ventures are Ms. Williams and Alison Rapaport Stillman. 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. They just share a same surname but have no family ties. tag: 'mandc,black-venture-capitalists,newsletter-lead,serena-ventures,serena-williams,vc', Alison graduated from Harvard Business School in March 2018 ( Source : instagram ). 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.. Alison Stillman has been with Serena Ventures for a few months and is in Owner, Alison's role is Manager: Owner & Partner, Partner. 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. 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. Partner @Serenaventures. Partner @Serenaventures. I was talking about investments. Ms. Williamss husband is the Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. env: 'prod', As a result, they were able to provide for their children. She is also disarmingly authentic. Contact We want to make sure that we dont necessarily neatly check a box. "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. Accelerating the success of female founders and funders to build a more prosperous, equitable future. Some of Alison Stillman's colleagues are Alison Rapaport, Amy Berliner, Kyra Mccarty, Alison Rapapaort, Olivia Griffian, Serena Williams, Jair Bobbitt, Veronica Reaves. Amongst the portfolio of more than 50 companies, 60% of the founders are women or people of color. WebThe General partner is Alison Rapport Stillman. pos: 'right_rail_3', Im still able to see the opportunity and help the company grow. Dog mom . Its time we all play on the same court. WebVisit Alison Rapaport Stillman and Stillman Stillmans Baby Registry on Babylist. "It's hard. Moreover, in May 2021, the two soulmates looked chic as they attended their friend's wedding in Wailea-Makena. It is not us versus them. 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. Dan took to Instagram to post a picture of the two as they flaunt the ring from a resort rooftop in Friday Harbor, Washington. Take trading cards, something Alison has never cared aboutthat is until alternative assets boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can find her on Twitter. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Anyone can read what you share. Venture is one of the most inequitable places to work. }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; Dan with Alison, Robyn, Marc and Sheri celebrates Marc's birthday in Hawaii, February 2022 ( Source : instagram ). WebAlison Rapaport Stillman is a Founding General Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. WebAlison J. Rapaport, CFA, is a Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. Learn more about the 20+ companies we've invested in and what's next. Alison: Dont get bangs it is not worth it! Abena Anim-Somuah: Tell us how you met Serena and what drew you to work with her? 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. Now, with funding from limited partners including Norwest, CapitalG, Kapor Foundation, and LionTree, among others, Serena Ventures will be able to take its investments to the next level. Having dabbled in almost everything from marketing to accounting, her intellectual athleticism makes her excited about exploring new sectors and industries. Registry of Corporate Directors. Investing in people who look like you eventually leads to systemic exclusion. SistersInc. 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. Dana: Fill in the blank: I wouldnt get through quarantine without. It has been fun to watch creative people in that setting because Im not a creative person. For fans of Williams, this year's US Open was likely a bittersweet moment. The stats about the fund received by black women entrepreneurs in the recent years highlights the problem. This post is intended solely for general informational or educational purposes only. They are finding new sectors to focus on, such as the rise of online education. Dan Rapaport sister is named Alison Rapaport Stillman. This post includes the views and opinions of independent third parties that are not related to or controlled by 500 Startups. 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. Thats how we met. Thanks for being part of ours! She works alongside the tennis superstar Serena Williams in overseeing the business and sourcing new investments. WebThe General partner is Alison Rapport Stillman. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', Nacho lover Alison Stillman has 1+ years experience as Partner. They make strategic decisions, manage finances and develop business plans. He supports all aspects of existing deals through analysis, market research, competitive landscapes, financial modeling, and deal structuring. She works alongside the tennis superstar Serena Williams in overseeing the business and sourcing new investments. The latest Tweets from Alison Stillman (@alison_stillman). subcat: '', Alison Rapaport is a Partner at Serena Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund founded by tennis superstar Serena Williams in 2014. And also, its very authentic. 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. So why cant a man learn about tampons? Dan Rapaport father Marc Rapaport is a real estate agent from Los Angeles. } page_type: 'article', Marc inspired him to pursue a career in golf at the age of 4 as Dan grew up with a sister. The firm is headquartered in San Francisco Bay Area, West Coast, and the Western US. They had one problem: their brand didnt reflect who they were as a firm- or as people. It helps that Serena Ventures has a diverse team led by women. Behavioral Aspects in Decision Making (Part 2), Emerging trends in Life Insurance and how to choose the right plan. Another important factor is making sure that a founder is coachable. 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. That includes looking at digital learning as a supplement and a way to attack inequities in traditional education systems. kw: 'mandc,black-venture-capitalists,newsletter-lead,serena-ventures,serena-williams,vc', Serena Ventures Serena Williams launched Serena Ventures in 2014 and has invested in over 60 companies. 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.. Alison: Im excited about the refocus on the home. 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 Dan does not have a brother and Alison is his only sibling. Learn more about the 20+ companies we've invested in and what's next. 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. However, just like in tennis, Serena does not believe in following the herd mentality while taking on investments. Just to be clear, you dont have to be a person of color or a woman to be in our fund, Williams says. Alison's role is Manager: env: 'prod', 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. She earned Bachelor of Science degree in Finance & Operations from the campus. Her firm, Serena Ventures, is an active angel investor with a portfolio of 60 companies. }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; The founding partners of Serena Ventures are Ms. Williams and Alison Rapaport Stillman. 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. 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. That is exactly what we are going to talk about in this article. Moreover, Dan has a younger sister Robyn Rapaport, founder of Shop Robynro. The natural beauty of the world around the island struck them. Asif Yahiya Sukri LLP provides unparalleled personalized financial services to a broad range of clients across different geographical locations. He has been in the industry for four decades. Managing partner Serena Williams and general partner Alison Rapaport Stillman have backed about 20 companies with Serena Ventures' first fund. Furthermore, he is also one of the founding members of a top soccer league in the US, Major League Soccer (MLS). There is no recent news or activity for this profile. WebAlison Rapaport Stillman, Serena Ventures. She is a founding partner at Serena Ventures after joining the capital fund company in 2018. Alison Stillman has been with Serena Ventures for a few months and is in Owner What is Alison Stillman's role in Serena Ventures? Learn more about the 20+ companies we've invested in and what's next. Serena Ventures. My fianc and I have had her for about two months. }); EVENTS Sign up for notifications from Insider! 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. Allows traders to buy and sell bitcoin in the cryptocurrency and blockchain space. Alison graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania. In a December 2020 interview with the HBS Alumni Bulletin, Stillman describes the duos skill sets as different and super complementary. The company is their baby! Weve made some investments in the food and beverage space but are interested in the holistic wellness space as well. We also want to see a founder who is self-aware. 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. While both individuals may have similar last names, they are not bonded. 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. Clayton, who landed on Venture Capital Journals 2023 list of Rising Stars, talks about his journey and shares some advice for founders. When Serena Williams first launched the firm, she explicitly wanted to provide funding for more women. 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. Marc started his job in 1983 as a banker at Drexel Burnham Lambert. 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. Wharton School, with a Bachelor of Science in Economics with concentrations in Finance and Operations & Information Management and a minor in Psychology. The food we eat, the space we live in, and the tools we use at home are all getting a second look. Founders should send a deck with their pitch even if it's just a "teaser deck." Marc co-founded Jefferies and Co., where he toiled as director and executive vice chairperson from 1990 to 1995. My first time pitching was terrible. Alison Rapaport is a Partner at Serena Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund founded by tennis superstar Serena Williams in 2014. "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. url: 'serena,williams,venture,capital,firm,raises,111,million', ]); Stillman said long emails and 10-page business plans, on the other hand, were not welcome. 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. Nacho lover }).render('5eec50a0f683429ca3814da74bd486aa'); However, we need to acknowledge there is a problem and strive to fix it. Abena: What traits stand out to you in a founding team? Sep 10, 2022, 7:00 AM Serena Williams and Alison Rapaport Stillman. 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. The General partner is Alison Rapport Stillman. Alison Rapaport Stillman, General Partner, Serena Ventures (Image: Courtesy of Serena Ventures) For Williams, surrounding herself with other smart women was a no-brainer. WebVisit Alison Rapaport Stillman and Stillman Stillmans Baby Registry on Babylist. SERENA VENTURES. 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. Even with her success and her privilege, she knows shes held to a different standard as a Black woman. 500 Startups makes no representations as to or guarantees of specific outcomes from relying on the contents of this post. When it comes to our team, thats what everyone is on board for and theyre really excited to help founders have an opportunity that they probably wouldnt have had before., The firms approach is to build a more inclusive future by investing in overlooked, underestimated, and fledgling markets.. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { ]); 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. Dan Rapaport sister is named Alison Rapaport Stillman. I just want people that believe in our mission and that want to be a part of something really amazing. 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. 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 They are finding new sectors to focus on, such as the rise of online education. 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. After graduating from Brentwood school, Alison studied psychology for a while before enrolling at the Wharton School. Alison: We invest early in a market and a founder. cat: 'entrepreneurship', Review address history and property records. 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. 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. 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. Zoe is the best decision that we have made in quarantine. Their most recent acquisition was on May 27, 2021, when Infinite Objects raised $6M.Serena Ventures has made 21 diversity investments. If you have a cold inbound, you can find great opportunities, she 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. Owners & Partners are responsible for the overall success of the business. She eventually widened the criteria and today Serena Ventures will fund anyone with a good idea. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. 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. Europe, Menlo Park, China), Where the person is located (e.g. Stillman said it's especially important for founders to be self-aware enough to know when they need to hire employees. Each day is a learning experience, Im learning all the things that I would have had I taken venture classes at school. Founded in 2014 by tennis legend Serena Williams, Serena Ventures is an early-stage fund that embraces diverse founders and the ideas theyre serving up. Previously, Alison worked at J.P. Morgan Asset Management in Multi- Asset Solutions and led the development of the firms Alternative Beta offering. Dan and Emma enjoying photogenic landscape in Snowmass Village, Colorado, July 2021 ( Source : instagram ). She is a CFA charterholder and earned her MBA from Harvard Business School. I dont jump off buildings. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', August 10, 2022, 5:31 AM PDT. 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. page_type: 'article', Investors claiming they cant find opportunities to invest in women and founders of color probably arent trying hard enough, said Alison. The views expressed herein are as at the date of this summary and are subject to change without notice. Alison Rapaport is a Partner at Serena Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund founded by tennis superstar Serena Williams in 2014. Serena Williamss early-stage venture capital firm, Serena Ventures, has raised an inaugural fund of $111 million that will invest in founders with diverse points of view, she told the DealBook newsletter. The same was kept secret until April 17, 2019, when the tennis star took to Instagram to post about it. "You want to do something that's going to make it easy for us to understand your business," Stillman said. WebAllison Stillman is the director of Aroma Blue, bringing aromatherapy to people in recovery. With my little experience in venture, I knew that I had to go in prepared and used all of my resources to get ready. Dan and Marc enjoying golf during dusk in Cabot Cliffs, July 2019 ( Source : instagram ). Stillman said it scored companies in due diligence across a number of metrics. Alison Stillman's job functions are Entrepreneurship, Operations, Alison Stillman's LinkedIn profile can be found at, https://linkedin.com/in/aliso***illman-cfa***. Serena Ventures was about to announce a historic $111 million raise that would change the world. 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. Dan Rapaport girlfriend Emma Light is engaged in October 2021. Another way Alison recommends sourcing diverse deal flow is by not requiring a warm intro. aid: '782078', In her next chapter, Williams said she planned to focus on her venture-capital firm, Serena Ventures. BE 100s When I eventually presented the pitches to Serena, she asked the same questions that I had worked to prepare for. 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 most notable exits include The Wing and OLLY. NFL insider Ian has a brother named Jake Rapaport. Web2,862 Followers, 1,028 Following, 315 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Ali Jo Rapaport Stillman (@ali_jo_rap_stillman) Last week, amid the bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium, Serena Williams played what were likely the final matches of her tennis career. 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. 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.. Alison J. Rapaport, CFA, is a Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. Serena Ventures has a market cap of $14 billion and 29 active investments. Plenty of its portfolio companies come from Silicon Valley, but two of its most recent investments came from North Carolina and Wisconsin. The tennis stars firm, Serena Ventures, will invest in founders with diverse points of view. 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. Thats a great way to get people to pitch to you who otherwise might not try, said Alison. subcat: '', The team also scores each prospective investment that makes it past the introductory rounds. Nacho lover Alison Stillman is a Managing Partner at Serena Ventures based in Sugar Land, Texas. 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. We think its important to look beyond where traditional venture is focusing because there are a ton of opportunities that theyre not funding products and services for, said Alison. Have a great Thursday. Alison Rapaport Stillman, General Partner, Serena Ventures (Image: Courtesy of Serena Ventures) For Williams, surrounding herself with other smart women was a no-brainer. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', Serena Ventures doesnt require that its founders come from historically underrepresented backgrounds, though it says about three-quarters of its portfolio company founders do. Alison: I took my first call with Serena from a bridal store while trying on bridesmaid dresses for a friends wedding. WebAlison Rapaport Stillman, Serena Ventures. and this attitude has led to White men receiving an overwhelming majority of venture capital funds. WebDiscover any aliases as well as possible relatives and associates of Alison Rapaport Stillman. And that needs to happen across the board.. Serena Williams, founding and managing partner at Serena Ventures and Alison Rapaport Stillman, founding and managing partner at Serena Ventures. The funds limited partners include Norwest Venture Partners, Capital G (Alphabets growth fund) and LionTree. 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. } Serena Ventures invests in early-stage companies, but Stillman said the firm understood that companies wouldn't always adhere to their original pitches as they grew. The two lovebirds had a great time ice skating in Snowmass Village, Colorado. playerId: '783ef340-6832-4112-80cd-0e5f57b51915' Alison: There are a lot of different ways to think about making everyday lives better.
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