} Alison Stillman is a Managing Partner at Serena Ventures based in Sugar Land, Texas. 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. The General partner is Alison Rapport Stillman. According to the National Venture Capital Association data, only 4% of the people who work in venture capital are Black. Thanks for being part of ours! "It's hard. Serena Ventures. Alison J. Rapaport, CFA, is a Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. Alison Stillman has 1+ years experience as Partner. Stillman Television. kw: 'mandc,black-venture-capitalists,newsletter-lead,serena-ventures,serena-williams,vc', Serena Ventures Built a Portfolio With 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. 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. A week later, she asked me to come to her house and present some ideas to her. Serena Ventures Built a Portfolio With WebVisit Alison Rapaport Stillman and Stillman Stillmans Baby Registry on Babylist. Dan popped the question to Emma in Friday Harbor, Washington in October 2021 ( Source : instagram ). Serena Ventures partner Alison Rapaport Stillman thinks VCs need to get out of their comfort zones. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', Alison Stillman Goes By Allison Stillman Nashville, TN Age: 67 Full Name: Allison Stillman Current Home Address: 5329 Old Village Rd Nashville TN 37211 }).render('5eec50a0f683429ca3814da74bd486aa'); Previously, Alison worked at J.P. Morgan Asset Management in Multi- Asset Solutions and led the development of the firms Alternative Beta offering. "The founder can't be doing everything," Stillman said. Ive been watching a lot of reruns of reality shows. 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. The firm is headquartered in San Francisco Bay Area, West Coast, and the Western US. aid: '782078', Alison Rapaport is a Partner at Serena Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund founded by tennis superstar Serena Williams in 2014. To be successful, though, you have to let go of the reins.". pos: 'right_rail_1', 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. targeting: { Economic Equity & Racial Justice Townhall Series, Elevate Black Podcast sponsored by Fifth Third Bank, 100 Founders of Change by American Express, Chasing Success Podcast by JP Morgan Chase, Black Business Month Sponsored by Nationwide, 2022 Registry Of Corporate Directors Listing, 2021 BE Registry Of Corporate Directors Listing, finding companies that solve bigger consumer problems. 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. Managing partner Serena Williams and general partner Alison Rapaport Stillman have backed about 20 companies with Serena Ventures' first fund. WebDiscover any aliases as well as possible relatives and associates of Alison Rapaport Stillman. For fans of Williams, this year's US Open was likely a bittersweet moment. To raise a child it takes a village. Like, look at what we have done.. 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. According to Zola, Dan and his future wife Emma have set their wedding date for June 10, 2023, in the scenic landscape of Chicago. Venture Capital Investing: What It Is and Where Its Headed The views expressed herein are as at the date of this summary and are subject to change without notice. kw: 'mandc,black-venture-capitalists,newsletter-lead,serena-ventures,serena-williams,vc', Serena Ventures partner Alison Rapaport Stillman thinks VCs need to get out of their comfort zones. ', Just like on the court, Williams is all about performance: I really wanted to spend time in creating something for that very reason, so when questions are asked its like, not only do we have answers, but we have exits and we have unicorns. Dan and Marc enjoying golf during dusk in Cabot Cliffs, July 2019 ( Source : instagram ). }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; Zola founder Shan-Lyn Ma adds co-CEO Rachel Jarrett | Fortune tude.cmd.push(function() { Ian Rapaport a television analyst and pundit for National Football League (NFL) ( Source : instagram ). Dan does not have a brother and Alison is his only sibling. Serena Ventures doesnt require that its founders come from historically underrepresented backgrounds, though it says about three-quarters of its portfolio company founders do. Always ready for a new challenge, she started out by asking a lot of questions, then investing in a fund, and then becoming an angel investor. Alisa Gumbs is the executive managing editor of BLACK ENTERPRISE, planning and creating content across the company's print, digital, events, and broadcast platforms. Business partners. Review address history and property records. The information is out there.. August 10, 2022, 5:31 AM PDT. WebDiscover any aliases as well as possible relatives and associates of Alison Rapaport Stillman. Another way Alison recommends sourcing diverse deal flow is by not requiring a warm intro. Dan Rapaport sister is named Alison Rapaport Stillman. Besides, they have a pet dog named Bud, who has also been featured in most of her uploads. How to Land an Investment From Serena Williams' VC Firm Its incredible working with founders to help them solve everyday problems as well as find new companies along the way. Alison Stillman Still, 76% of Serena Ventures portfolio founders come from historically underrepresented backgrounds. 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. The latest Tweets from Alison Stillman (@alison_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. 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. 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.. It is important to us that the founder has a personal connection to the problem and is uniquely positioned to solve it. 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. 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); The FDA nears final approval on vaccines for young kids, women feel unprepared for menopause, and Zola adds a co-CEO. You can find her on Twitter. 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. As the famous story goes, I came over with tacos and a binder of pitches. cat: 'entrepreneurship', 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? In October 2020, the duo enjoyed a family lunch with their parents at a cosy restaurant in LA, California. "I am one proud little brother!!" 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. All views and opinions presented herein by such third party participants do not represent those of 500 Startups or any of its affiliates or representatives. SERENA VENTURES. She works alongside the tennis superstar Serena Williams in overseeing the business and sourcing new investments. 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. In a December 2020 interview with the HBS Alumni Bulletin, Stillman describes the duos skill sets as different and super complementary. The FDA nears final approval on vaccines for young kids, women feel unprepared for menopause, and Zola adds a co-CEO. Ive been on a bit of a skincare kick so I have been trying a lot of Kate Somervilles products. 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. 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. 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. Thats how we met. Abena Anim-Somuah is a contributing writer at All Raise. 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. Her Instagram feed is overflowing with many images capturing the cherished moments of their romantic love life. 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. } cat: 'entrepreneurship', Dan Rapaport sister is named Alison Rapaport Stillman. It can be hard for founders to delegate. She can get an amazing read on a person and see the big picture really quickly, whereas it takes me longer. It's not the only thing." Alison Rapaport 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. 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. This post includes the views and opinions of independent third parties that are not related to or controlled by 500 Startups. Dana: Fill in the blank: I wouldnt get through quarantine without. Learn more about the 20+ companies we've invested in and what's next. Dog mom . The FDA nears final approval on vaccines for young kids, women feel unprepared for menopause, and Zola adds a co-CEO. 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. View select TechCrunch Disrupt content online today Im the most non-taking-a-chance kind of a person, but I felt like a seed was where we wanted to be.. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. 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. And the only way to change those numbers was to be the person writing the big checks.. Alison Rapaport Early Stage Venture Investors Female Founded Venture Capital Investors, Western US Venture Capital Female Founded Companies, San Francisco Bay Area Female Founded Companies, San Francisco Bay Area Female Founded Micro VCs, Female Founded Early Stage Venture Investors with Investments in San Francisco, California, Finance Companies With Fewer Than 10 Employees (Top 10K), United States Investors with Funds Raised in 2022, San Francisco Bay Area Female Founded Investors. However, we need to acknowledge there is a problem and strive to fix it. Dan and Emma enjoying photogenic landscape in Snowmass Village, Colorado, July 2021 ( Source : instagram ). That includes looking at digital learning as a supplement and a way to attack inequities in traditional education systems. WebDiscover any aliases as well as possible relatives and associates of Alison Rapaport Stillman. Learn more about the 20+ companies we've invested in and what's next. "You want to do something that's going to make it easy for us to understand your business," Stillman said. Alison Rapaport is a Partner at Serena Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund founded by tennis superstar Serena Williams in 2014. She is so much more than just the worlds best tennis player. tag: 'mandc,black-venture-capitalists,newsletter-lead,serena-ventures,serena-williams,vc', To raise a child it takes a village. That is exactly what we are going to talk about in this article. Learn more about the 20+ companies we've invested in and what's next. Alison Rapaport Stillman She is currently on a gap-year and works on the Public Policy and Business Development Team at Tesla. I want to highlight that we do not invest in women and people of color to simply check a box. The golf guy at Barstool Sports currently lives a serene life with his fiance Emma in the radiant metropolis of Brooklyn, New York. Moreover, Rapaport is also a former golf writer at Sports Illustrated and a staff writer for Golf Digest. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', Williams understands firsthand the plight of founders of color. Venture is one of the most inequitable places to work. William states, Its fun to get in there. With my little experience in venture, I knew that I had to go in prepared and used all of my resources to get ready. Serena Ventures Built a Portfolio With Alison Rapaport Stillman When I eventually presented the pitches to Serena, she asked the same questions that I had worked to prepare for. 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. 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. BE 100s 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.. Work | OWG Williams was heavily involved in her firms decision-making process well before she announced her retirement. }); !function(n){if(!window.cnx){window.cnx={},window.cnx.cmd=[];var t=n.createElement('iframe');t.display='none',t.onload=function(){var n=t.contentWindow.document,c=n.createElement('script');c.src='//cd.connatix.com/connatix.player.js',c.setAttribute('async','1'),c.setAttribute('type','text/javascript'),n.body.appendChild(c)},n.head.appendChild(t)}}(document); Alison Rapaport Either Stillman, Williams, or another member of the firm's six-person team will schedule an introductory call with the founder. 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. It helps that Serena Ventures has a diverse team led by women. The founding partners of Serena Ventures are Ms. Williams and Alison Rapaport Stillman. View select TechCrunch Disrupt content online today Since 2014, Serena Ventures has championed founders whose perspectives and innovations level the playing field for women and people of color. Stillman We had great chemistry on that call. Serena Ventures' portfolio companies span a variety of industries, but Stillman said there were a few areas it had always been interested in. They are finding new sectors to focus on, such as the rise of online education. Women of Power Summit She earned Bachelor of Science degree in Finance & Operations from the campus. } Web2,862 Followers, 1,028 Following, 315 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Ali Jo Rapaport Stillman (@ali_jo_rap_stillman) Ms. Williamss other business activities include fashion lines, entertainment deals and a seat on the board of Poshmark. Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. The stats about the fund received by black women entrepreneurs in the recent years highlights the problem. Alison Stillman She works alongside the tennis superstar Serena Williams in overseeing the business and sourcing new investments. Alison J Rapaport Stillman Serena Williams co-investor shares what comes next for the pos: 'right_rail_2', Besides, Marc stars in the new Netflix docu-series about the PGA golf tour, "Full Swing," which premiered on February 15, 2023. Ms. Rapaport Stillman previously worked at JPMorgan, Wasserman and Melo7 Tech. Alison Rapaport Stillman, General Partner, Serena Ventures (Image: Courtesy of Serena Ventures) For Williams, surrounding herself with other smart women was a no-brainer. I hurriedly picked a dress, which luckily fit, and jumped on the call. Sells personal care, food, and household goods products under the Brandless brand. How to Land an Investment From Serena Williams' VC Firm subcat: '', Serena Ventures has a market cap of $14 billion and 29 active investments. Kyra is the Operations Manager for Serena Ventures where she oversees the day-to-day operations for the team and helps manage LPs, Portfolio Founders, and prospective investment companies. Sep 10, 2022, 7:00 AM Serena Williams and Alison Rapaport Stillman. 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. Behavioral Aspects in Decision Making (Part 2), Emerging trends in Life Insurance and how to choose the right plan. Alison Stillman has been with Serena Ventures for a few months and is in Owner What is Alison Stillman's role in Serena Ventures? 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 url: 'serena,williams,venture,capital,firm,raises,111,million', Goodwin Women Guide Serena Williams Venture Fund in $111 The former Sports Illustrated writer denied any connection with Ian via a Reddit post in 2018. 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 entire process from pitch to investment can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, Stillman said. 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. 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. We also want to see a founder who is self-aware. When one thinks of the name Serena Williams, the majority of thoughts flow in the direction of her impeccable tennis career. As a result, they were able to provide for their children. They had one problem: their brand didnt reflect who they were as a firm- or as people. Alison graduated magna cum laude from the University of 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. 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. Impact can take many forms, she continues. Founders should send a deck with their pitch even if it's just a "teaser deck." 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. Rapaport Stillman Alison: Skincare. A sample of the funds investments includes the following: Offers body products and shaving supplies at a fair price, without the pink tax. And also, its very authentic. Onstage at an event, Ms. Seidman-Becker said less than 2 percent of venture money went to women. Dan and Emma strolled in the streets near Three Lakes, Wisconsin, in September 2020 with Bud. Have a great Thursday. Thus, Marc bought Dan a golf set on his fourth birthday. My path to Serena Ventures started with another sports superstar, ten-time NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony. Rapaport Stillman However, just like in tennis, Serena does not believe in following the herd mentality while taking on investments. 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. kw: 'mandc,black-venture-capitalists,newsletter-lead,serena-ventures,serena-williams,vc', Zoe is the best decision that we have made in quarantine. 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. They want to work with us because they know that we will come to them from a place of empathy, said Alison. The latest Tweets from Alison Stillman (@alison_stillman). Business partners. Abena: What traits stand out to you in a founding team? She comes to Serena Ventures from Equitable Advisors, where she worked as an Investment Operations Specialist. Alison Rapaport Alison Stillman is a Managing Partner at Serena Ventures based in Sugar Land, Texas. 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. Doubles Partner - Alumni - Harvard Business School WebAlison J. Rapaport, CFA, is a Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. Dan Rapaport father Marc Rapaport is a real estate agent from Los Angeles. The move underscores 500 Globals multi-stage initiatives. pos: 'right_rail_3', As a Senior Associate, Veronica sources, conducts diligence, and provides portfolio support at Serena Ventures. 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. Alison Rapaport Stillman Previously, Alison worked at J.P. Morgan Asset Management in Multi- Asset Solutions and led the development of the firms Alternative Beta offering. Serena Ventures partner Alison Rapaport Stillman thinks VCs need to get out of their comfort zones. Alison Rapaport Stillman, General Partner, Serena Ventures (Image: Courtesy of Serena Ventures) For Williams, surrounding herself with other smart women was a no-brainer. Alison Rapaport Stillman 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. Europe, Menlo Park, China), Where the person is located (e.g. I dont jump off buildings. They had one problem: their brand didnt reflect who they were as a firm- or as people. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. About 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. Her firm, Serena Ventures, is an active angel investor with a portfolio of 60 companies. When I met my husband, that was our first conversation. Alison Stillman He has been in the industry for four decades. Asif Yahiya Sukri LLP provides unparalleled personalized financial services to a broad range of clients across different geographical locations. 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. 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. One recent investment they made is Fiveable, a woman-led Milwaukie ed-tech startup helping students prepare for AP exams by offering free online resources. The latest Tweets from Alison Stillman (@alison_stillman). WebAlison Rapaport Stillman is a Founding General Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. We are focusing not just on the people, but on the market. Weve made some investments in the food and beverage space but are interested in the holistic wellness space as well. One meeting led to another and the next thing you know, Im working at Serena Ventures. Serena Ventures Serena Williams launched Serena Ventures in 2014 and has invested in over 60 companies. 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.