alison rapaport stillman
I was at a conference and Caryn Seidman-Becker, the founder of CLEAR, was on stage and she said less than 2% of all VC money goes to women. The General partner is Alison Rapport Stillman. Venture is one of the most inequitable places to work. WebAllison Stillman is the director of Aroma Blue, bringing aromatherapy to people in recovery. 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. They are finding new sectors to focus on, such as the rise of online education. INFORMATION They are innovators who understand what goes into building companies. As a world-class athlete, businesswoman, philanthropist and mother, Serena Williams knows what it takes to win. url: 'serena,williams,venture,capital,firm,raises,111,million', 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 subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Alison Rapaport Stillman 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. 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 She is also disarmingly authentic. 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. For me success is when you dont have to have the quota, said Alison. 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. By: Julia Hanna, Demographics-Race-African American, Black, Alumna-Led Reproductive Health Startup Raises $4.7 Million. Each day is a learning experience, Im learning all the things that I would have had I taken venture classes at school. If you have a cold inbound, you can find great opportunities, she says. Serena Ventures Serena Williams launched Serena Ventures in 2014 and has invested in over 60 companies. window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; The company is their baby! Alison Rapaport Stillman is a Founding General Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. 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. Learn more about the 20+ companies we've invested in and what's next. Doubles Partner - Alumni - Harvard Business School Investors claiming they cant find opportunities to invest in women and founders of color probably arent trying hard enough, said Alison. Dan Rapaport dad Marc works in real estate and serves as the head of Thorofare Capital, a mercantile real estate pawnbroker entity. Alison graduated from Harvard Business School in March 2018 ( Source : instagram ). Below, Stillman explains how the firm evaluates prospective investments and what makes the winners stand out. Inclusivity is a key factor for us, we analyze all aspects of a business with that lens, including who is on the team, who the target customers are, and what the price points look like. 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. Marc co-founded Jefferies and Co., where he toiled as director and executive vice chairperson from 1990 to 1995. 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. Thus, Marc bought Dan a golf set on his fourth birthday. tag: 'mandc,black-venture-capitalists,newsletter-lead,serena-ventures,serena-williams,vc', Zola founder Shan-Lyn Ma adds co-CEO Rachel Jarrett | Fortune 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. Financial services for what Stillman called the "unbanked and underbanked" and women's health companies have always ranked high on its list. Rapaport Stillman 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. The founding partners of Serena Ventures are Ms. Williams and Alison Rapaport Stillman. Alison Stillman Serena Ventures Serena Williams launched Serena Ventures in 2014 and has invested in over 60 companies. Dana Iverson is a contributing writer at All Raise. 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. We have been trying to do this for a long time and Im excited to see the current momentum. 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. Yet, because of the areas they want to serve, Alison says they still naturally fund women, Black and Latinx founders. Alison J Rapaport Stillman Work | OWG You can also reach out to them oninfo@aysasia.com, Your email address will not be published. Since 2014, Serena Ventures has championed founders whose perspectives and innovations level the playing field for women and people of color. Fund Budgeting & Cash Flow Management What are the financial nuts and bolts of launching and managing a venture fund? Serena Ventures. 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. Serena Williams raises $111 million for new venture fund. She is so much more than just the worlds best tennis player. 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. Ms. Williamss other business activities include fashion lines, entertainment deals and a seat on the board of Poshmark. Rapaport Stillman She has brought so much joy to our family and is a living reminder that there is a world beyond my screen. 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. Thanks for being part of ours! https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/01/business/serena-williams-venture-fund.html. 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 Web2,862 Followers, 1,028 Following, 315 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Ali Jo Rapaport Stillman (@ali_jo_rap_stillman) You can find her on Twitter. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. WebAlison Rapaport Stillman, Serena Ventures. Take trading cards, something Alison has never cared aboutthat is until alternative assets boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic. 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. That is exactly what we are going to talk about in this article. They make strategic decisions, manage finances and develop business plans. }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; There is no recent news or activity for this profile. SV Team | Serena Ventures 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. 500 Startups Management Company, L.L.C. Alison Rapaport Stillman I hurriedly picked a dress, which luckily fit, and jumped on the call. The move underscores 500 Globals multi-stage initiatives. Not surprisingly, thats a big reason why women and entrepreneurs of color struggle to access venture funding. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', Sells personal care, food, and household goods products under the Brandless brand. Clayton, who landed on Venture Capital Journals 2023 list of Rising Stars, talks about his journey and shares some advice for founders. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', Stay up to date with what you want to know. Dan does not have a brother and Alison is his only sibling. How to Land an Investment From Serena Williams' VC Firm Alison Rapaport Stillman, General Partner, Serena Ventures (Image: Courtesy of Serena Ventures) For Williams, surrounding herself with other smart women was a no-brainer. Weve made some investments in the food and beverage space but are interested in the holistic wellness space as well. Rapaport pos: 'right_rail_3', 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. In March, Serena Ventures announced it had raised an inaugural fund of $111 million from outside investors including Alphabet, Norwest, LionTree, and Kapor Center. 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. 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. Alison graduated magna cum laude from the University of Ms. Rapaport Stillman previously worked at JPMorgan, Wasserman and Melo7 Tech. Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. He supports all aspects of existing deals through analysis, market research, competitive landscapes, financial modeling, and deal structuring. Each day is a learning experience, Im learning all the things that I would have had I taken venture classes at school. Serena Williams' Venture Capital Firm Raises $111 Million In October 2020, the duo enjoyed a family lunch with their parents at a cosy restaurant in LA, California. B.E. 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. 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. Doubles Partner - Alumni - Harvard Business School Last week, amid the bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium, Serena Williams played what were likely the final matches of her tennis career. Serena Ventures partner Alison Rapaport Stillman thinks VCs need to get out of their comfort zones. A team thats all women and from very different backgrounds, we see the world differently. We made our founders feel like we are partners who can help them grow, she said. Alison Rapaport Stillman SV Team | Serena Ventures Serena Ventures - The Serena Williams-backed VC Fund Web2,862 Followers, 1,028 Following, 315 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Ali Jo Rapaport Stillman (@ali_jo_rap_stillman) Alison Stillman