When Serena Williams first launched the firm, she explicitly wanted to provide funding for more women. 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. Venture Capital Investing: What It Is and Where Its Headed Alison: I took my first call with Serena from a bridal store while trying on bridesmaid dresses for a friends wedding. 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, Alison's role is Manager: Owner & Partner, Partner. Its time we all play on the same court. playerId: '783ef340-6832-4112-80cd-0e5f57b51915' 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. 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. Alison J Rapaport Stillman The views expressed herein are as at the date of this summary and are subject to change without notice. Dan and Michael are unrelated and has never even talked to each other. Investors claiming they cant find opportunities to invest in women and founders of color probably arent trying hard enough, said Alison. Registry of Corporate Directors. Sep 10, 2022, 7:00 AM Serena Williams and Alison Rapaport Stillman. Still, 76% of Serena Ventures portfolio founders come from historically underrepresented backgrounds. 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. Alison Stillman is a Managing Partner at Serena Ventures based in Sugar Land, Texas. Business partners. 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? Alison Rapaport is a Partner at Serena Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund founded by tennis superstar Serena Williams in 2014. I dont gamble. 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. Rapaport Stillman page_type: 'article', Previously, Alison worked at J.P. Morgan Asset Management in Multi- Asset Solutions and led the development of the firms Alternative Beta offering. If you have a cold inbound, you can find great opportunities, she says. The best way to submit a pitch to Serena Ventures is through the contact form on the firm's website. 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. Have a great Thursday. 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.. As an angel investor, you can only do so much, the world-class athlete, businesswoman, and philanthropist told BLACK ENTERPRISE exclusively. 500 Startups makes no representations as to or guarantees of specific outcomes from relying on the contents of this post. SERENA VENTURES. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', The same goes for actor Michael Rapaport. William states, Its fun to get in there. ]); cnx.cmd.push(function() { Alison's role is Manager: url: 'serena,williams,venture,capital,firm,raises,111,million', Serena Williams co-investor shares what comes next for the Amongst the portfolio of more than 50 companies, 60% of the founders are women or people of color. The stats about the fund received by black women entrepreneurs in the recent years highlights the problem. SERENA VENTURES. To take a closer look at how Serena Ventures developed its diverse portfolio and pipeline, Alison recently joined 500 Startups CEO Christine Tsai for a fireside chat at the 2021 Unity and Inclusion Summit. Owners & Partners are responsible for the overall success of the business. The General partner is Alison Rapport Stillman. 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? Anyone can read what you share. Thats just the way of the land. Sales Partnership Solutions Dan and Emma strolled in the streets near Three Lakes, Wisconsin, in September 2020 with Bud. Partner @Serenaventures. Last week, amid the bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium, Serena Williams played what were likely the final matches of her tennis career. Required fields are marked *. Im more on the analytical side, the portfolio-construction side. Alison: Dont get bangs it is not worth it! However, we need to acknowledge there is a problem and strive to fix it. As a result, they were able to provide for their children. } When one thinks of the name Serena Williams, the majority of thoughts flow in the direction of her impeccable tennis career. "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. Business partners. We cant resort to a theater allyship, you have to do the work write the checks and make the hires. 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. Nacho lover Review address history and property records. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', 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. Her firm, Serena Ventures, is an active angel investor with a portfolio of 60 companies. Abena Anim-Somuah is a contributing writer at All Raise. Sign up for notifications from Insider! Thanks for being part of ours! The team also scores each prospective investment that makes it past the introductory rounds. 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. Business partners. Alison Rapaport Stillman I hurriedly picked a dress, which luckily fit, and jumped on the call. The pair hiked along rugged coastlines, through thick forests admiring all the beauty they witnessed. 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. BE 100s Serena Ventures, the venture capital fund backed and founded in 2017 by Serena Williams. Alison: Im excited about the refocus on the home. Like, look at what we have done.. Web2,862 Followers, 1,028 Following, 315 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Ali Jo Rapaport Stillman (@ali_jo_rap_stillman) WebDiscover any aliases as well as possible relatives and associates of Alison Rapaport Stillman. Zoe is the best decision that we have made in quarantine. She has been actively investing in a portfolio worth at least $10 million in more than 50 startups through Serena Ventures over the past 6 years. Every company that we invest in isnt meant for Alison Rapaport Stillman and I know that, she said. 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. 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. 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. My path to Serena Ventures started with another sports superstar, ten-time NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony. Dan Rapaport sister is named Alison Rapaport Stillman. WebAlison Rapaport Stillman is a Founding General Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. SV Team | Serena Ventures Alison Rapaport Stillman It's not the only thing." The FDA nears final approval on vaccines for young kids, women feel unprepared for menopause, and Zola adds a co-CEO. Im the most non-taking-a-chance kind of a person, but I felt like a seed was where we wanted to be.. They make strategic decisions, manage finances and develop business plans. Alison Rapaport Stillman, General Partner, Serena Ventures (Image: Courtesy of Serena Ventures) For Williams, surrounding herself with other smart women was a no-brainer. This post is intended solely for general informational or educational purposes only. Quoting its founder, Serena, I am by no means alone in my mission to build an inclusive venture capital landscape. 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." That includes looking at digital learning as a supplement and a way to attack inequities in traditional education systems. subcat: '', Alison Stillman's peers at other companies are Ariane Rocha, Margaret Ursua, Marine Casiez, Joseph Eazyway, Janice Patriarca, David Guthery, Karen Chapman, John Stafford. Sep 10, 2022, 7:00 AM Serena Williams and Alison Rapaport Stillman. 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. To be successful, though, you have to let go of the reins.". 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 Try not to control everything. WebAllison Stillman is the director of Aroma Blue, bringing aromatherapy to people in recovery. Serena Ventures Built a Portfolio With Alison Rapaport Stillman is a Founding General Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. Alison: There are a lot of different ways to think about making everyday lives better. Ive been watching a lot of reruns of reality shows. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', Since 2014, Serena Ventures has championed founders whose perspectives and innovations level the playing field for women and people of color. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { Alison Rapaport Having dabbled in almost everything from marketing to accounting, her intellectual athleticism makes her excited about exploring new sectors and industries. She has brought so much joy to our family and is a living reminder that there is a world beyond my screen.