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Serena Ventures partner Alison Rapaport Stillman thinks VCs need to get out of their comfort zones. Fund Budgeting & Cash Flow Management What are the financial nuts and bolts of launching and managing a venture fund? Dan took to Instagram to post a picture of the two as they flaunt the ring from a resort rooftop in Friday Harbor, Washington. WebDiscover any aliases as well as possible relatives and associates of Alison Rapaport Stillman. Alison Stillman has 1+ years experience as Partner. Serena Ventures doesnt require that its founders come from historically underrepresented backgrounds, though it says about three-quarters of its portfolio company founders do. As a world-class athlete, businesswoman, philanthropist and mother, Serena Williams knows what it takes to win. He has been in the industry for four decades. They are innovators who understand what goes into building companies. So I spent the week practicing my pitch with friends. There is no recent news or activity for this profile. She first worked as an advisory and sales analyst before getting promoted to investment specialist for the company. Were working on a mission that is bigger than any one of us and that makes me feel excited to do my job. Impact can take many forms, she continues. Dog mom . Its been proven that the more diverse your team, the better you do, and companies are now starting to realize that, she says. Have a great Thursday. 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. } Have a great Thursday. Register for your account and get started with our industry leading people contacts search engine. San Francisco Bay Area, Silicon Valley), This describes the type of investor the person is (e.g. They had one problem: their brand didnt reflect who they were as a firm- or as people. Your Money, Your Life, LATEST LISTS 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. According to Zola, Dan and his future wife Emma have set their wedding date for June 10, 2023, in the scenic landscape of Chicago. Serena Ventures was about to announce a historic $111 million raise that would change the world. 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 Rapaport sister is named Alison Rapaport Stillman. Alison graduated from Harvard Business School in March 2018 ( Source : instagram ). When I met my husband, that was our first conversation. url: 'serena,williams,venture,capital,firm,raises,111,million', "You want to do something that's going to make it easy for us to understand your business," Stillman said. At the start of February 2022, Emma and Dan travelled to Hualalai, Kona, in Hawaii. The founding partners of Serena Ventures are Ms. Williams and Alison Rapaport Stillman. 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. With my little experience in venture, I knew that I had to go in prepared and used all of my resources to get ready. It has been fun to watch creative people in that setting because Im not a creative person. 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. Behavioral Aspects in Decision Making (Part 2), Emerging trends in Life Insurance and how to choose the right plan. Business partners. url: 'serena,williams,venture,capital,firm,raises,111,million', } Dog mom . Required fields are marked *. 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. ', 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. 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. They may not be networked to them, and thats something that you can fix. An obvious solution is building a diverse team and creating internal opportunities for people with non-traditional VC backgrounds, which creates access to those wider networks. Alison's role is Manager: When Serena Williams announced her retirement earlier this month, there was plenty of talk of the tennis superstars 23 Grand Slam titles. Marc co-founded Jefferies and Co., where he toiled as director and executive vice chairperson from 1990 to 1995. That includes looking at digital learning as a supplement and a way to attack inequities in traditional education systems. 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. 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 General partner is Alison Rapport Stillman. tag: 'mandc,black-venture-capitalists,newsletter-lead,serena-ventures,serena-williams,vc', url: 'serena,williams,venture,capital,firm,raises,111,million', Williams launched Serena Ventures in 2014. You can find her on Twitter. Serena Ventures, the venture capital fund backed and founded in 2017 by Serena Williams. I just want people that believe in our mission and that want to be a part of something really amazing. It's your baby. It can be as simple as making products more affordable or accessible. Emma posted their first picture online on Valentine's in 2020. tude.cmd.push(function() { playerId: '783ef340-6832-4112-80cd-0e5f57b51915' Web2,862 Followers, 1,028 Following, 315 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Ali Jo Rapaport Stillman (@ali_jo_rap_stillman) The champions for Black female founders are here to stay. cat: 'entrepreneurship', Serena Ventures most notable exits include The Wing and OLLY. Every company that we invest in isnt meant for Alison Rapaport Stillman and I know that, she said. Alison Rapaport: I never thought Id pursue a career in venture. WebAlison Rapaport Stillman is a Founding General Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. 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. Alison Stillman has been with Serena Ventures for a few months and is in Owner What is Alison Stillman's role in Serena Ventures? Most notably, she helped launch the African Leadership University, named one of Africas most innovative companies in 2016 by Fast Company, and founded Black Women in Venture Capital, a community of over 200 Black women in venture capital who envision an equitable VC system. She has brought so much joy to our family and is a living reminder that there is a world beyond my screen. We do VC differently through standout strategies, bold initiatives, and a global network of investors, business leaders, and influencers. } Dan Rapaport sister is named Alison Rapaport Stillman. By: Julia Hanna, Demographics-Race-African American, Black, Alumna-Led Reproductive Health Startup Raises $4.7 Million. Dan Rapaport is not related to Ian Rapaport. Alison Rapaport is a Partner at Serena Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund founded by tennis superstar Serena Williams in 2014. Among its portfolio of more than 50 companies, 60% of founders are people of color. 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. Dan Rapaport girlfriend Emma Light is engaged in October 2021. She eventually widened the criteria and today Serena Ventures will fund anyone with a good idea. 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. She is so much more than just the worlds best tennis player. She works alongside the tennis superstar Serena Williams in overseeing the business and sourcing new investments. The founding partners of Serena Ventures are Ms. Williams and Alison Rapaport Stillman. I go up to her afterward and asked, Tell me about this 2 percent I know maybe you misspoke, Ms. Williams recounted. 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. tag: 'mandc,black-venture-capitalists,newsletter-lead,serena-ventures,serena-williams,vc', Marc works as a credit approval principal at Thorofare Capital. I want to highlight that we do not invest in women and people of color to simply check a box. 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', 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. Alison Stillman's peers at other companies are Ariane Rocha, Margaret Ursua, Marine Casiez, Joseph Eazyway, Janice Patriarca, David Guthery, Karen Chapman, John Stafford. It's not the only thing." The General partner is Alison Rapport Stillman. cnx.cmd.push(function() { She is currently on a gap-year and works on the Public Policy and Business Development Team at Tesla. This post includes the views and opinions of independent third parties that are not related to or controlled by 500 Startups. Im more on the analytical side, the portfolio-construction side. 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.. }); !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); Previously, Alison worked at J.P. Morgan Asset Management in Multi- Asset Solutions and led the development of the firms Alternative Beta offering. Alison Rapaport Stillman, General Partner, Serena Ventures (Image: Courtesy of Serena Ventures) For Williams, surrounding herself with other smart women was a no-brainer. William states, Its fun to get in there. 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. 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 raise a child it takes a village. Privacy Policy kw: 'mandc,black-venture-capitalists,newsletter-lead,serena-ventures,serena-williams,vc', Investors claiming they cant find opportunities to invest in women and founders of color probably arent trying hard enough, said Alison. However, just like in tennis, Serena does not believe in following the herd mentality while taking on investments. 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 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. For Williams, surrounding herself with other smart women was a no-brainer. The best way to submit a pitch to Serena Ventures is through the contact form on the firm's website. 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. The food we eat, the space we live in, and the tools we use at home are all getting a second look. Plenty of its portfolio companies come from Silicon Valley, but two of its most recent investments came from North Carolina and Wisconsin. Alison: We invest early in a market and a founder. Thats my job, to make the unfamiliar familiar she said. WebAlison J. Rapaport, CFA, is a Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. Dan does not have a brother and Alison is his only sibling. Take trading cards, something Alison has never cared aboutthat is until alternative assets boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Insider chatted with Stillman about how to land a spot in the Serena Ventures portfolio. 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." They are finding new sectors to focus on, such as the rise of online education. Still, 76% of Serena Ventures portfolio founders come from historically underrepresented backgrounds. aid: '782078', 500 Startups makes no representations as to or guarantees of specific outcomes from relying on the contents of this post. Alison Stillman Goes By Allison Stillman Nashville, TN Age: 67 Full Name: Allison Stillman Current Home Address: 5329 Old Village Rd Nashville TN 37211 Stillman said it's especially important for founders to be self-aware enough to know when they need to hire employees. I legit thought she misspoke because 98% is a huge number, Williams says. The founding partners of Serena Ventures are Ms. Williams and Alison Rapaport Stillman. Prior to joining Serena Ventures, Olivia launched her first startup, SevenSkin Beauty, a skincare company that combines science with technology and education. 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. 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. She earned Bachelor of Science degree in Finance & Operations from the campus. 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. Sep 10, 2022, 7:00 AM Serena Williams and Alison Rapaport Stillman. 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. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', Learn more about the 20+ companies we've invested in and what's next. 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. That includes looking at digital learning as a supplement and a way to attack inequities in traditional education systems. They just share a same surname but have no family ties. Financial services for what Stillman called the "unbanked and underbanked" and women's health companies have always ranked high on its list. The natural beauty of the world around the island struck them. WebAllison Stillman is the director of Aroma Blue, bringing aromatherapy to people in recovery. The pair hiked along rugged coastlines, through thick forests admiring all the beauty they witnessed. Have a great Thursday. ]); The company is their baby! After graduating from Harvard, Alison joined the Jefferies & Company as an banking analyst in June 2009. She makes you feel comfortable, as if youre not talking to the greatest athlete of all time. Allows traders to buy and sell bitcoin in the cryptocurrency and blockchain space. 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. Serena Ventures, the venture capital fund backed and founded in 2017 by Serena Williams. } I spent my teenage and college years trying to be liked and now I talk to three people from my high school. Delivers pre-prepped, frozen, healthy cuisine to your door. Managing partner Serena Williams and general partner Alison Rapaport Stillman have backed about 20 companies with Serena Ventures' first fund. 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. 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. 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? Just to be clear, you dont have to be a person of color or a woman to be in our fund, Williams says. She is a CFA charterholder and earned her MBA from Harvard Business School. 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. 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. 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. That is exactly what we are going to talk about in this article. 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. 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. The founder should find people with experience or a particular skill set to offer advice to prepare them for the ups and downs. Right now, the firm is excited about companies that address aging. ]); The FDA nears final approval on vaccines for young kids, women feel unprepared for menopause, and Zola adds a co-CEO. 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. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', 500 Startups Management Company, L.L.C. Alison: I took my first call with Serena from a bridal store while trying on bridesmaid dresses for a friends wedding. Moreover, Rapaport is also a former golf writer at Sports Illustrated and a staff writer for Golf Digest. Last week, amid the bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium, Serena Williams played what were likely the final matches of her tennis career. } Prior to joining Serena Ventures, Ashel spent time on the programming team at Kauffman Fellows and was a startup founder. 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. 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.