It is not us versus them. We cant resort to a theater allyship, you have to do the work write the checks and make the hires. Alison Rapaport Stillman is a Founding General Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. Wharton School, with a Bachelor of Science in Economics with concentrations in Finance and Operations & Information Management and a minor in Psychology. Alison graduated from Harvard Business School in March 2018 ( Source : instagram ). Behavioral Aspects in Decision Making (Part 2), Emerging trends in Life Insurance and how to choose the right plan. Abena Anim-Somuah is a contributing writer at All Raise. 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. window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; Alison Stillman 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. page_type: 'article', Alison Stillman 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. Some of Alison Stillman's colleagues are Alison Rapaport, Amy Berliner, Kyra Mccarty, Alison Rapapaort, Olivia Griffian, Serena Williams, Jair Bobbitt, Veronica Reaves. Alison Stillman 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. I dont jump off buildings. We want to make sure that we dont necessarily neatly check a box. Serena Williams founded Serena Ventures in 2014. Alison Stillman's peers at other companies are Ariane Rocha, Margaret Ursua, Marine Casiez, Joseph Eazyway, Janice Patriarca, David Guthery, Karen Chapman, John Stafford. The General partner is Alison Rapport Stillman. WebDiscover any aliases as well as possible relatives and associates of Alison Rapaport Stillman. San Francisco Bay Area, Silicon Valley), This describes the type of investor the person is (e.g. Stillman Marc started his job in 1983 as a banker at Drexel Burnham Lambert. Fund Budgeting & Cash Flow Management What are the financial nuts and bolts of launching and managing a venture fund? Serena Ventures Serena Williams launched Serena Ventures in 2014 and has invested in over 60 companies. 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. 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. We had great chemistry on that call. She first worked as an advisory and sales analyst before getting promoted to investment specialist for the company. They want to work with us because they know that we will come to them from a place of empathy, said Alison. Zola founder Shan-Lyn Ma adds co-CEO Rachel Jarrett | Fortune Alison Rapaport is a Partner at Serena Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund founded by tennis superstar Serena Williams in 2014. Even with her success and her privilege, she knows shes held to a different standard as a Black woman. Alison Stillman Dan and Michael are unrelated and has never even talked to each other. Serena Ventures has a market cap of $14 billion and 29 active investments. They make strategic decisions, manage finances and develop business plans. Alison Stillman has 1+ years experience as Partner. 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. Registry of Corporate Directors. How to Land an Investment From Serena Williams' VC Firm Then to further intensify her business knowledge, she attended Harvard Buisness School in Boston, Massachusetts. Ive been watching a lot of reruns of reality shows. 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. Im more on the analytical side, the portfolio-construction side. Serena Ventures Built a Portfolio With My path to Serena Ventures started with another sports superstar, ten-time NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony. Serena Ventures partner Alison Rapaport Stillman thinks VCs need to get out of their comfort zones. Like, look at what we have done.. tude.cmd.push(function() { Prior to joining Serena Ventures, Ashel spent time on the programming team at Kauffman Fellows and was a startup founder. "I am one proud little brother!!" Sign up for notifications from Insider! } Moreover, Rapaport is also a former golf writer at Sports Illustrated and a staff writer for Golf Digest. Work | OWG https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/01/business/serena-williams-venture-fund.html. More than half of the firm's portfolio companies were founded by women, and more than three-fourths were founded by people from historically underrepresented backgrounds, according to the firm's website. Review address history and property records. As a world-class athlete, businesswoman, philanthropist and mother, Serena Williams knows what it takes to win. That includes looking at digital learning as a supplement and a way to attack inequities in traditional education systems. 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. he wrote. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { As a Senior Associate, Veronica sources, conducts diligence, and provides portfolio support at Serena Ventures. 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. Serena Williams raises $111 million for new venture fund. }).render('5eec50a0f683429ca3814da74bd486aa'); Stillman said it's especially important for founders to be self-aware enough to know when they need to hire employees. In a December 2020 interview with the HBS Alumni Bulletin, Stillman describes the duos skill sets as different and super complementary. Sep 10, 2022, 7:00 AM Serena Williams and Alison Rapaport Stillman. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', Many recommendations they now get come from current portfolio companies. This isnt new for me, she says. 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. It's your baby. She comes to Serena Ventures from Equitable Advisors, where she worked as an Investment Operations Specialist. 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. Thats a great way to get people to pitch to you who otherwise might not try, said Alison. For fans of Williams, this year's US Open was likely a bittersweet moment. However, Im a firm believer that success comes from focusing on the skills you want to develop and the people you want to work for rather than fixating on job titles. When I eventually presented the pitches to Serena, she asked the same questions that I had worked to prepare for. How to Land an Investment From Serena Williams' VC Firm That includes companies that focus on issues from mobility to menopause to deathtech, Stillman said. Contact Dana Iverson is a contributing writer at All Raise. When Serena Williams first launched the firm, she explicitly wanted to provide funding for more women. Tennis superstar Serena Williams has just announced that her venture capital firm,Serena Ventures, has raised $111 million dollars in an inaugural fund. 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. SV Team | Serena Ventures They just share a same surname but have no family ties. Serena Ventures, the venture capital fund backed and founded in 2017 by Serena Williams. Take trading cards, something Alison has never cared aboutthat is until alternative assets boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Abena: What traits stand out to you in a founding team? "You want to do something that's going to make it easy for us to understand your business," Stillman said. Emma posted their first picture online on Valentine's in 2020. 500 Startups makes no representations as to or guarantees of specific outcomes from relying on the contents of this post. Williams launched Serena Ventures in 2014. Prospective investors considering an investment into any 500 Startups fund should not consider or construe this content as fund marketing material. When I met my husband, that was our first conversation. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Anyone can read what you share. 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. Alison Rapaport Just to be clear, you dont have to be a person of color or a woman to be in our fund, Williams says. Business partners. Alison's role is Manager: The information is out there.. Serena Ventures Serena Williams launched Serena Ventures in 2014 and has invested in over 60 companies. They have scheduled their marriage on June 10, 2023. 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. There has been a lot of innovation outside of the home, but now with consumers spending most of their days at home we have the opportunity to think through how to make home life better. We do VC differently through standout strategies, bold initiatives, and a global network of investors, business leaders, and influencers. The same was kept secret until April 17, 2019, when the tennis star took to Instagram to post about it. 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. Serena Ventures was about to announce a historic $111 million raise that would change the world. Another way Alison recommends sourcing diverse deal flow is by not requiring a warm intro. It helps that Serena Ventures has a diverse team led by women. subcat: '', page_type: 'article', 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. Stillman You can find her on Twitter. Alison Stillman has been with Serena Ventures for a few months and is in Owner, Alison's role is Manager: Owner & Partner, Partner. WebAlison J. Rapaport, CFA, is a Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. cnx({ Investing in people who look like you eventually leads to systemic exclusion. 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. and this attitude has led to White men receiving an overwhelming majority of venture capital funds. She is a founding partner at Serena Ventures after joining the capital fund company in 2018. Williams was heavily involved in her firms decision-making process well before she announced her retirement. Last week, amid the bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium, Serena Williams played what were likely the final matches of her tennis career. For Williams, surrounding herself with other smart women was a no-brainer. targeting: { Still, one key factor the firm looks for in an investment opportunity is whether the company is tapping into a sizable market that it's excited about. 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. Ms. Williamss other business activities include fashion lines, entertainment deals and a seat on the board of Poshmark. Web2,862 Followers, 1,028 Following, 315 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Ali Jo Rapaport Stillman (@ali_jo_rap_stillman) She is a founding partner at Serena Ventures after joining the capital fund company in 2018. Web2,862 Followers, 1,028 Following, 315 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Ali Jo Rapaport Stillman (@ali_jo_rap_stillman) 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.. Its incredible working with founders to help them solve everyday problems as well as find new companies along the way. Marc works as a credit approval principal at Thorofare Capital. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', She is so much more than just the worlds best tennis player. 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. Alison J Rapaport Stillman While both individuals may have similar last names, they are not bonded. WebDiscover any aliases as well as possible relatives and associates of Alison Rapaport Stillman. Alison Stillman Goes By Allison Stillman Nashville, TN Age: 67 Full Name: Allison Stillman Current Home Address: 5329 Old Village Rd Nashville TN 37211 Thats my job, to make the unfamiliar familiar she said. SV Team | Serena Ventures Ian Rapaport a television analyst and pundit for National Football League (NFL) ( Source : instagram ). But she still finds that VCs ignore products and services made for audiences theyre not familiar with, even those representing massive markets with loyal customers. Alison: We invest early in a market and a founder. They had one problem: their brand didnt reflect who they were as a firm- or as people. That fact naturally attracts diverse deal flow, because founders identify with the investment team and see Serena Ventures as a safe place to share their vision. Serena is such a smart and driven person. Women of Power TECH, PODCASTS WebVisit Alison Rapaport Stillman and Stillman Stillmans Baby Registry on Babylist. Onstage at an event, Ms. Seidman-Becker said less than 2 percent of venture money went to women. targeting: { divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', Alison Rapaport Stillman Alisa Gumbs is the executive managing editor of BLACK ENTERPRISE, planning and creating content across the company's print, digital, events, and broadcast platforms. Your Money, Your Life, LATEST LISTS I dont gamble. Partner @Serenaventures. Still, 76% of Serena Ventures portfolio founders come from historically underrepresented backgrounds. kw: 'mandc,black-venture-capitalists,newsletter-lead,serena-ventures,serena-williams,vc', }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; Ultimately, Stillman believes that a Serena Ventures company is defined by three qualities. 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? The company is their baby! Zola founder Shan-Lyn Ma adds co-CEO Rachel Jarrett | Fortune It also helps that a byproduct of working with diverse entrepreneurs is that it leads to a more diverse deal flow. They are finding new sectors to focus on, such as the rise of online education. WebThe General partner is Alison Rapport Stillman. 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. Dana: What trends are you excited to see in the world of consumer? WebAllison Stillman is the director of Aroma Blue, bringing aromatherapy to people in recovery. Rapaport Stillman Serena Ventures has made investments in over 30 companies across multiple industries, including Coinbase, Daily Harvest, and Billie to name a few. That is exactly what we are going to talk about in this article. They had one problem: their brand didnt reflect who they were as a firm- or as people. Serena Williams co-investor shares what comes next for the When Im serving, I dont serve at 98%. This mindset allows us to have a broad and holistic approach to invest in FinTech, Wellness, and everything in between. 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 WebThe General partner is Alison Rapport Stillman. Alison Rapaport is a Partner at Serena Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund founded by tennis superstar Serena Williams in 2014. 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. She is a founding partner at Serena Ventures after joining the capital fund company in 2018. Its time we all play on the same court. When Serena Williams announced her retirement earlier this month, there was plenty of talk of the tennis superstars 23 Grand Slam titles. August 10, 2022, 5:31 AM PDT. The same goes for actor Michael Rapaport. pos: 'right_rail_3', Since 2014, Serena Ventures has championed founders whose perspectives and innovations level the playing field for women and people of color. Financial services for what Stillman called the "unbanked and underbanked" and women's health companies have always ranked high on its list. SERENA VENTURES. With Sheri and Marc's established careers, the Full Swing star enjoyed a secure upbringing and affluent lifestyle during childhood. Goodwin Women Guide Serena Williams Venture Fund in $111 Managing partner Serena Williams and general partner Alison Rapaport Stillman have backed about 20 companies with Serena Ventures' first fund. 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. ]); The golf guy at Barstool Sports currently lives a serene life with his fiance Emma in the radiant metropolis of Brooklyn, New York. You can also reach out to them [email protected], Your email address will not be published. Dan does not have a brother and Alison is his only sibling. Alison: Dont get bangs it is not worth it! We also want to see a founder who is self-aware. About My puppy Zoe. Venture Capital Investing: What It Is and Where Its Headed Alison married Alec Stillman in October 2020, and they welcomed a daughter named Lucy in February 2023. On that front, Alison advocates working with organizations like BLCK VC or All Raise. Web2,862 Followers, 1,028 Following, 315 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Ali Jo Rapaport Stillman (@ali_jo_rap_stillman) 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. Sep 10, 2022, 7:00 AM Serena Williams and Alison Rapaport Stillman. She earned Bachelor of Science degree in Finance & Operations from the campus. Quoting its founder, Serena, I am by no means alone in my mission to build an inclusive venture capital landscape. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Serena Williams' Venture Capital Firm Raises $111 Million 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 Serena Williams, founding and managing partner at Serena Ventures and Alison Rapaport Stillman, founding and managing partner at Serena Ventures. aid: '782078', 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. There are so many things that keep me in venture. 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 ). Her firm, Serena Ventures, is an active angel investor with a portfolio of 60 companies. "It's hard. And also, its very authentic. WebAlison J. Rapaport, CFA, is a Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. A week later, she asked me to come to her house and present some ideas to her. WebVisit Alison Rapaport Stillman and Stillman Stillmans Baby Registry on Babylist. }); EVENTS She eventually widened the criteria and today Serena Ventures will fund anyone with a good idea. Investors claiming they cant find opportunities to invest in women and founders of color probably arent trying hard enough, said Alison. Alison Rapaport is a Partner at Serena Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund founded by tennis superstar Serena Williams in 2014. subcat: '', Serena Williams raises $111 million for new venture fund. I was someone who lived my life to be on a conveyor belt. SERENA VENTURES. Besides, Marc stars in the new Netflix docu-series about the PGA golf tour, "Full Swing," which premiered on February 15, 2023. WebAlison Rapaport Stillman is a Founding General Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. The founding partners of Serena Ventures are Ms. Williams and Alison Rapaport Stillman. WebAllison Stillman is the director of Aroma Blue, bringing aromatherapy to people in recovery. Alison Rapaport Stillman This post includes the views and opinions of independent third parties that are not related to or controlled by 500 Startups. Emma also posted a picture on her Instagram as they shared a passionate kiss after he popped her the question.