Asif Yahiya Sukri LLP provides unparalleled personalized financial services to a broad range of clients across different geographical locations. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', 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. WebVisit Alison Rapaport Stillman and Stillman Stillmans Baby Registry on Babylist. We do VC differently through standout strategies, bold initiatives, and a global network of investors, business leaders, and influencers. Serena Williams in Hollywood in November. 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. Im more on the analytical side, the portfolio-construction side. WebAlison Rapaport Stillman, Serena Ventures. "You want to do something that's going to make it easy for us to understand your business," Stillman said. Dan Rapaport girlfriend Emma Light is engaged in October 2021. Alison's role is Manager: Each day is a learning experience, Im learning all the things that I would have had I taken venture classes at school. The scorecard helps the firm remain objective in its evaluation process. WebThe General partner is Alison Rapport Stillman. This post was written in collaboration withAsif Yahiya Sukri LLP. Serena Ventures investments include MasterClass, Andela, Mayvenn, Tonal and Noom, to name a few. She is a CFA charterholder and earned her MBA from Harvard Business School. Alison Stillman has been with Serena Ventures for a few months and is in Owner What is Alison Stillman's role in Serena Ventures? 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. Zoe is the best decision that we have made in quarantine. 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. 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 Stillman's peers at other companies are Ariane Rocha, Margaret Ursua, Marine Casiez, Joseph Eazyway, Janice Patriarca, David Guthery, Karen Chapman, John Stafford. Serena Ventures was about to announce a historic $111 million raise that would change the world. Serena Williams, founding and managing partner at Serena Ventures and Alison Rapaport Stillman, founding and managing partner at Serena Ventures. The entire process from pitch to investment can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, Stillman said. Serena believes in taking on and nurturing the firms early, which is reflected in the funds investments as three-fourths of the total investment belongs to the seed stage category. WebAlison Rapaport Stillman, Serena Ventures. For fans of Williams, this year's US Open was likely a bittersweet moment. It's your child. He then introduced me to Chris Lyons at Andreessen Horowitzs Cultural Leadership Fund, who encouraged me to lean into my skill set to support world-class athletes who would like to get into venture but dont have the investment background. It has been fun to watch creative people in that setting because Im not a creative person. Managing partner Serena Williams and general partner Alison Rapaport Stillman have backed about 20 companies with Serena Ventures' first fund. 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. Previously, Alison worked at J.P. Morgan Asset Management in Multi- Asset Solutions and led the development of the firms Alternative Beta offering. Dan and Marc enjoying golf during dusk in Cabot Cliffs, July 2019 ( Source : instagram ). https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/01/business/serena-williams-venture-fund.html. Dana: What trends are you excited to see in the world of consumer? 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. Lets just be honest, you know I couldnt just say Oh Im going to do this and have fun with it. Prospective investors considering an investment into any 500 Startups fund should not consider or construe this content as fund marketing material. "The founder can't be doing everything," Stillman said. When I eventually presented the pitches to Serena, she asked the same questions that I had worked to prepare for. 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 invest in diverse teams because we stand by the belief that diverse leadership and diverse thoughts have the best returns, both financially and socially. As the famous story goes, I came over with tacos and a binder of pitches. WebAlison Rapaport Stillman, Serena Ventures. It is important to us that the founder has a personal connection to the problem and is uniquely positioned to solve it. They are finding new sectors to focus on, such as the rise of online education. 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. targeting: { We want to make sure that we dont necessarily neatly check a box. playerId: '783ef340-6832-4112-80cd-0e5f57b51915' Alison: Dont get bangs it is not worth it! The best way to submit a pitch to Serena Ventures is through the contact form on the firm's website. WebAlison J. Rapaport, CFA, is a Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. Ms. Rapaport Stillman previously worked at JPMorgan, Wasserman and Melo7 Tech. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. 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. 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 Noom and Impossible Foods, among others. Like, look at what we have done.. Learn more about the 20+ companies we've invested in and what's next. url: 'serena,williams,venture,capital,firm,raises,111,million', It's your baby. Thats how we met. "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. Thus, Marc bought Dan a golf set on his fourth birthday. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', Ive always been fascinated with technology, and Ive always loved how it really shapes our lives, said Ms. Williams, who has been investing for nine years. 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.. Pavan is an Associate at Serena Ventures where he researches market trends, dives into emerging sectors, and sources new investment opportunities. Alison: We invest early in a market and a founder. }).render('5eec50a0f683429ca3814da74bd486aa'); Nacho lover 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 Stillman, General Partner, Serena Ventures (Image: Courtesy of Serena Ventures) For Williams, surrounding herself with other smart women was a no-brainer. In hindsight, I did not need to worry about the other people who barely thought of me. 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. As Analyst, Ashel assists with sourcing, diligence, and portfolio support initiatives at Serena Ventures. 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 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. To raise a child it takes a village. I felt that it was an opportunity to combine my skill set with a mission and make a difference. There are so many things that keep me in venture. She eventually widened the criteria and today Serena Ventures will fund anyone with a good idea. Suddenly, she found herself learning about trading cards, trying to understand the market and find opportunities. My puppy Zoe. WebDiscover any aliases as well as possible relatives and associates of Alison Rapaport Stillman. The FDA nears final approval on vaccines for young kids, women feel unprepared for menopause, and Zola adds a co-CEO. 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. Venture is one of the most inequitable places to work. A sample of the funds investments includes the following: Offers body products and shaving supplies at a fair price, without the pink tax. WebAlison J. Rapaport, CFA, is a Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. Masthead. }); EVENTS Alison Stillman is a Managing Partner at Serena Ventures based in Sugar Land, Texas. targeting: { Alison Rapaport Stillman is a Founding General Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. 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); That includes companies that focus on issues from mobility to menopause to deathtech, Stillman said. Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. We made our founders feel like we are partners who can help them grow, she said. 500 Startups makes no representations as to or guarantees of specific outcomes from relying on the contents of this post. The champions for Black female founders are here to stay. They want to work with us because they know that we will come to them from a place of empathy, said Alison. 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. It receives about 200 pitches there a week, and Stillman said they read each one. They just share a same surname but have no family ties. 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 The General partner is Alison Rapport Stillman. They are innovators who understand what goes into building companies. She earned Bachelor of Science degree in Finance & Operations from the campus. Plenty of its portfolio companies come from Silicon Valley, but two of its most recent investments came from North Carolina and Wisconsin. Abena Anim-Somuah: Tell us how you met Serena and what drew you to work with her? 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. As a world-class athlete, businesswoman, philanthropist and mother, Serena Williams knows what it takes to win. Im the most non-taking-a-chance kind of a person, but I felt like a seed was where we wanted to be.. My path to Serena Ventures started with another sports superstar, ten-time NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony. Moreover, in May 2021, the two soulmates looked chic as they attended their friend's wedding in Wailea-Makena. 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. Below, Stillman explains how the firm evaluates prospective investments and what makes the winners stand out. } Dog mom . tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', Alison: Im excited about the refocus on the home. Its been proven that the more diverse your team, the better you do, and companies are now starting to realize that, she says. Having dabbled in almost everything from marketing to accounting, her intellectual athleticism makes her excited about exploring new sectors and industries. San Francisco Bay Area, Silicon Valley), This describes the type of investor the person is (e.g. 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. WebAlison J. Rapaport, CFA, is a Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. Were working on a mission that is bigger than any one of us and that makes me feel excited to do my job. The funds limited partners include Norwest Venture Partners, Capital G (Alphabets growth fund) and LionTree. Alison: 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. Partner @Serenaventures. 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. 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. She is a founding partner at Serena Ventures after joining the capital fund company in 2018. Partner @Serenaventures. My friends were asking questions that I didnt have the answers to, but I got better with time and more practice. Marc and Sheri Huttner Rapaport are the proud parents of Dan Rapaport who raised him in the serene setting of Los Angeles. Alison: Skincare. Ultimately, Stillman believes that a Serena Ventures company is defined by three qualities. The food we eat, the space we live in, and the tools we use at home are all getting a second look. 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. Stay up to date with what you want to know. We have been trying to do this for a long time and Im excited to see the current momentum. Prior to joining Serena Ventures, Olivia launched her first startup, SevenSkin Beauty, a skincare company that combines science with technology and education. Anyone can read what you share. he wrote. That includes looking at digital learning as a supplement and a way to attack inequities in traditional education systems. Alison Rapaport is a Partner at Serena Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund founded by tennis superstar Serena Williams in 2014. The pair had unforgettable intimate moments in a cold, chilly environment in the woods near a lake. The company is their baby! Allows traders to buy and sell bitcoin in the cryptocurrency and blockchain space. Serena Williams, founding and managing partner at Serena Ventures and Alison Rapaport Stillman, founding and managing partner at Serena Ventures. She is a founding partner at Serena Ventures after joining the capital fund company in 2018. Every quarter, the team brainstorms sectors it wants to dive deeper into. 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. Marc started his job in 1983 as a banker at Drexel Burnham Lambert. 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. url: 'serena,williams,venture,capital,firm,raises,111,million', Serena Ventures, the venture capital fund backed and founded in 2017 by Serena Williams. Moreover, Dan has a younger sister Robyn Rapaport, founder of Shop Robynro. Take trading cards, something Alison has never cared aboutthat is until alternative assets boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic. After graduating from Brentwood school, Alison studied psychology for a while before enrolling at the Wharton School. The same was kept secret until April 17, 2019, when the tennis star took to Instagram to post about it. Marc works as a credit approval principal at Thorofare Capital. That constant sense of regret for not having taken up golf at a younger age compelled him not to let his kids have the same mistake. Serena agrees that there is a social purpose to that decision. 500 Startups Management Company, L.L.C. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { That includes looking at digital learning as a supplement and a way to attack inequities in traditional education systems. Dan Rapaport is not related to Ian Rapaport. Subscribe to Newsletter Those include "business opportunity, founder fit, business model, and mission alignment," she told Insider by email. 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.. By: Julia Hanna, Demographics-Race-African American, Black, Alumna-Led Reproductive Health Startup Raises $4.7 Million. According to Zola, Dan and his future wife Emma have set their wedding date for June 10, 2023, in the scenic landscape of Chicago. 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. 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. cat: 'entrepreneurship', Learn more about the 20+ companies we've invested in and what's next. WebAlison Rapaport Stillman is a Founding General Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. To raise a child it takes a village. The golf guy at Barstool Sports currently lives a serene life with his fiance Emma in the radiant metropolis of Brooklyn, New York. Web2,862 Followers, 1,028 Following, 315 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Ali Jo Rapaport Stillman (@ali_jo_rap_stillman) aid: '782078', Nothings going to replace what tennis was for her, but as shes thinking about whats nextits exciting to see her as passionate about this as you see her on the court., Matching investment wits with a tennis great, Re: Amal Enan (MBA2014); By: Julia Hanna; photographed by Abdelrahman Gabr Koree, Re: David Motley (MBA1988); Rosabeth M. Kanter (Ernest L. Arbuckle Professor of Business She first worked as an advisory and sales analyst before getting promoted to investment specialist for the company. 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. Sadly this is why I wanted to build a track record, because, quite frankly I knew that above other people I needed to have something that could speak for itself, she says. Review address history and property records. url: 'serena,williams,venture,capital,firm,raises,111,million', document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. Weve made some investments in the food and beverage space but are interested in the holistic wellness space as well. Looking at the VC industry more broadly, Alison doesnt see a diverse pipeline problem, but a networking issue. To raise a child it takes a village. Thanks for being part of ours! Alison Rapaport is a Partner at Serena Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund founded by tennis superstar Serena Williams in 2014. aid: '782078', They had one problem: their brand didnt reflect who they were as a firm- or as people. 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 Web2,862 Followers, 1,028 Following, 315 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Ali Jo Rapaport Stillman (@ali_jo_rap_stillman) Dog mom . Investing in people who look like you eventually leads to systemic exclusion.