Subscribe to Newsletter }); EVENTS Women of Power Summit For aspiring founders, Williams' retirement opens a window of opportunity. Review address history and property records. } In her next chapter, Williams said she planned to focus on her venture-capital firm, Serena Ventures. Dan does not have a brother and Alison is his only sibling. Like, look at what we have done.. 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. The stats about the fund received by black women entrepreneurs in the recent years highlights the problem. aid: '782078', 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. Were working on a mission that is bigger than any one of us and that makes me feel excited to do my job. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', Prospective investors considering an investment into any 500 Startups fund should not consider or construe this content as fund marketing material. Serena Ventures Serena Williams launched Serena Ventures in 2014 and has invested in over 60 companies. Dan Rapaport father Marc Rapaport is a real estate agent from Los Angeles. Founders should send a deck with their pitch even if it's just a "teaser deck." Serena Ventures partner Alison Rapaport Stillman thinks VCs need to get out of their comfort zones. A sample of the funds investments includes the following: Offers body products and shaving supplies at a fair price, without the pink tax. Having dabbled in almost everything from marketing to accounting, her intellectual athleticism makes her excited about exploring new sectors and industries. ]); Alison Rapaport: I never thought Id pursue a career in venture. Sign up to stay up to date on global innovation. While both individuals may have similar last names, they are not bonded. Then to further intensify her business knowledge, she attended Harvard Buisness School in Boston, Massachusetts. Alison Rapaport Stillman, General Partner, Serena Ventures (Image: Courtesy of Serena Ventures) For Williams, surrounding herself with other smart women was a no-brainer. They had one problem: their brand didnt reflect who they were as a firm- or as people. The tennis stars firm, Serena Ventures, will invest in founders with diverse points of view. 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. Thus, Marc bought Dan a golf set on his fourth birthday. tude.cmd.push(function() { Stillman said long emails and 10-page business plans, on the other hand, were not welcome. To raise a child it takes a village. Business partners. My first time pitching was terrible. San Francisco Bay Area, Silicon Valley), This describes the type of investor the person is (e.g. When Serena Williams announced her retirement earlier this month, there was plenty of talk of the tennis superstars 23 Grand Slam titles. 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. This mindset allows us to have a broad and holistic approach to invest in FinTech, Wellness, and everything in between. pos: 'right_rail_1', When one thinks of the name Serena Williams, the majority of thoughts flow in the direction of her impeccable tennis career. Pavan is an Associate at Serena Ventures where he researches market trends, dives into emerging sectors, and sources new investment opportunities. Plenty of its portfolio companies come from Silicon Valley, but two of its most recent investments came from North Carolina and Wisconsin. WebThe General partner is Alison Rapport Stillman. aid: '782078', They want to work with us because they know that we will come to them from a place of empathy, said Alison. They have scheduled their marriage on June 10, 2023. And that needs to happen across the board.. They are finding new sectors to focus on, such as the rise of online education. Alison graduated magna cum laude from the University of It receives about 200 pitches there a week, and Stillman said they read each one. She eventually widened the criteria and today Serena Ventures will fund anyone with a good idea. She works alongside the tennis superstar Serena Williams in overseeing the business and sourcing new investments. They had one problem: their brand didnt reflect who they were as a firm- or as people. She is a student at Princeton University in the School of Public and International Affairs with Minors in Entrepreneurship and Urban Studies. The former Sports Illustrated writer denied any connection with Ian via a Reddit post in 2018. My path to Serena Ventures started with another sports superstar, ten-time NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony. "I am one proud little brother!!" url: 'serena,williams,venture,capital,firm,raises,111,million', 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." Thanks for being part of ours! She works alongside the tennis superstar Serena Williams in overseeing the business and sourcing new investments. 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. Impact can take many forms, she continues. WebAlison Rapaport Stillman is a Founding General Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. Dog mom . WebVisit Alison Rapaport Stillman and Stillman Stillmans Baby Registry on Babylist. Even with her success and her privilege, she knows shes held to a different standard as a Black woman. Emma also posted a picture on her Instagram as they shared a passionate kiss after he popped her the question. 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. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { Alison: Im excited about the refocus on the home. 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. Abena: What traits stand out to you in a founding team? They are innovators who understand what goes into building companies. What motivates me is our mission to make lives better and ensure that others in the venture industry and ecosystem see the value in innovation for all by all. 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. 500 Startups Management Company, L.L.C. They are finding new sectors to focus on, such as the rise of online education. The move underscores 500 Globals multi-stage initiatives. 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 had great chemistry on that call. Serena Ventures, the venture capital fund backed and founded in 2017 by Serena Williams. Women of Power TECH, PODCASTS Yet, because of the areas they want to serve, Alison says they still naturally fund women, Black and Latinx founders. BE 100s Fund Budgeting & Cash Flow Management What are the financial nuts and bolts of launching and managing a venture 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. Dan does not have a brother and Alison is his only sibling. Managing partner Serena Williams and general partner Alison Rapaport Stillman have backed about 20 companies with Serena Ventures' first fund. As Analyst, Ashel assists with sourcing, diligence, and portfolio support initiatives at Serena Ventures. Sculptwear is an alternative to traditional shapewear that gives a smooth and tucked-in look under clothing. Masthead. 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); Have a great Thursday. 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. 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. Marc and Sheri Huttner Rapaport are the proud parents of Dan Rapaport who raised him in the serene setting of Los Angeles. That is exactly what we are going to talk about in this article. There is no recent news or activity for this profile. Sign up for notifications from Insider! We want to make sure that we dont necessarily neatly check a box. 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. We dont fit the mold of venture.. "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. Clayton, who landed on Venture Capital Journals 2023 list of Rising Stars, talks about his journey and shares some advice for founders. 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. SERENA VENTURES. Their most recent diversity investment was on December 5, 2020, when Kiira Health raised. 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. Abena Anim-Somuah: Tell us how you met Serena and what drew you to work with her? Allows traders to buy and sell bitcoin in the cryptocurrency and blockchain space. Business partners. Moreover, in May 2021, the two soulmates looked chic as they attended their friend's wedding in Wailea-Makena. Sep 10, 2022, 7:00 AM Serena Williams and Alison Rapaport Stillman. Partner @Serenaventures. 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 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. Dan does not have a brother and Alison is his only sibling. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', Alison's role is Manager: Stay up to date with what you want to know. I am excited about companies that are focused on natural ways to get healthier, supporting the postpartum journey, and mental health services for younger women. She is a CFA charterholder and earned her MBA from Harvard Business School. Dan took to Instagram to post a picture of the two as they flaunt the ring from a resort rooftop in Friday Harbor, Washington. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. targeting: { The pair hiked along rugged coastlines, through thick forests admiring all the beauty they witnessed. 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 Emma posted their first picture online on Valentine's in 2020. About According to Zola, Dan and his future wife Emma have set their wedding date for June 10, 2023, in the scenic landscape of Chicago. Williams was heavily involved in her firms decision-making process well before she announced her retirement. Investors claiming they cant find opportunities to invest in women and founders of color probably arent trying hard enough, said Alison. NFL insider Ian has a brother named Jake Rapaport. Im more on the analytical side, the portfolio-construction side. The General partner is Alison Rapport Stillman. Each day is a learning experience, Im learning all the things that I would have had I taken venture classes at school. It helps that Serena Ventures has a diverse team led by women. The best way to submit a pitch to Serena Ventures is through the contact form on the firm's website. 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. After graduating from Harvard, Alison joined the Jefferies & Company as an banking analyst in June 2009. 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. Thats how we met. Anyone can read what you share. When I met my husband, that was our first conversation. Alison Stillman Goes By Allison Stillman Nashville, TN Age: 67 Full Name: Allison Stillman Current Home Address: 5329 Old Village Rd Nashville TN 37211 Alison J. Rapaport, CFA, is a Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. I felt that it was an opportunity to combine my skill set with a mission and make a difference. Alison: I took my first call with Serena from a bridal store while trying on bridesmaid dresses for a friends wedding. To raise a child it takes a village. Ian Rapaport a television analyst and pundit for National Football League (NFL) ( Source : instagram ). The founding partners of Serena Ventures are Ms. Williams and Alison Rapaport Stillman. Serena Ventures has made investments in over 30 companies across multiple industries, including Coinbase, Daily Harvest, and Billie to name a few. The two cherished couple, beaming happy in the early morning, enjoyed an excellent breakfast as she held a Veuve Clicquot champagne bottle. While writing for her CNN Business Perspective column, she mentions the challenges black women entrepreneurs face while raising funds for their startups in the white and male predominant venture capital industry. Abena: What advice would you give your younger self? 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. Sep 10, 2022, 7:00 AM Serena Williams and Alison Rapaport Stillman. Thats a great way to get people to pitch to you who otherwise might not try, said Alison. The same goes for actor Michael Rapaport. Serena Ventures was about to announce a historic $111 million raise that would change the world. It's your baby. She is a founding partner at Serena Ventures after joining the capital fund company in 2018. By: Julia Hanna, Demographics-Race-African American, Black, Alumna-Led Reproductive Health Startup Raises $4.7 Million. Review address history and property records. 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 This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. aid: '782078', It's your child. 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. 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 company is their baby! SERENA VENTURES. }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; She has brought so much joy to our family and is a living reminder that there is a world beyond my screen. The views expressed herein are as at the date of this summary and are subject to change without notice. Financial services for what Stillman called the "unbanked and underbanked" and women's health companies have always ranked high on its list. You can also reach out to them oninfo@aysasia.com, Your email address will not be published. She works alongside the tennis superstar Serena Williams in overseeing the business and sourcing new investments. He worked for numerous organisations in various positions, including manager, director, and executive. Owners & Partners are responsible for the overall success of the business. When I eventually presented the pitches to Serena, she asked the same questions that I had worked to prepare for. Serena is such a smart and driven person. The FDA nears final approval on vaccines for young kids, women feel unprepared for menopause, and Zola adds a co-CEO. } Serena Ventures. 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. Marc co-founded Jefferies and Co., where he toiled as director and executive vice chairperson from 1990 to 1995. That was about four years ago, when Williams hired Alison Rapaport Stillman as general partner and they began building a teamwhich just happens to be all women. We also think about products that are creative, fun, and make life more enjoyable. 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. Venture capitalists tend to believe in founders who feel familiar and thereby move forward to fund them. Alison Stillman Goes By Allison Stillman Nashville, TN Age: 67 Full Name: Allison Stillman Current Home Address: 5329 Old Village Rd Nashville TN 37211 pos: 'right_rail_2', INFORMATION Alison Rapaport is a Partner at Serena Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund founded by tennis superstar Serena Williams in 2014. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', cnx.cmd.push(function() { Stillman said it's especially important for founders to be self-aware enough to know when they need to hire employees. 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. 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. And the only way to change those numbers was to be the person writing the big checks.. In March, Serena Ventures announced it had raised an inaugural fund of $111 million from outside investors including Alphabet, Norwest, LionTree, and Kapor Center. Dana Iverson is a contributing writer at All Raise. Ive been on a bit of a skincare kick so I have been trying a lot of Kate Somervilles products. She is currently on a gap-year and works on the Public Policy and Business Development Team at Tesla. Im still able to see the opportunity and help the company grow. Dan and Emma enjoying photogenic landscape in Snowmass Village, Colorado, July 2021 ( Source : instagram ). When Serena Williams first launched the firm, she explicitly wanted to provide funding for more women. She is the first athlete ever to hit Forbes list of the Worlds Richest Self-Made Women. Thats my job, to make the unfamiliar familiar she said. 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. ABOUT A team thats all women and from very different backgrounds, we see the world differently. August 10, 2022, 5:31 AM PDT. Thanks for being part of ours! My friends were asking questions that I didnt have the answers to, but I got better with time and more practice. In October 2020, the duo enjoyed a family lunch with their parents at a cosy restaurant in LA, California. "You want to do something that's going to make it easy for us to understand your business," Stillman said. 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. The founding partners of Serena Ventures are Ms. Williams and Alison Rapaport Stillman. kw: 'mandc,black-venture-capitalists,newsletter-lead,serena-ventures,serena-williams,vc', 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. WebAlison Rapaport Stillman is a Founding General Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. We have been trying to do this for a long time and Im excited to see the current momentum. 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.