We dont fit the mold of venture.. As an angel investor, you can only do so much, the world-class athlete, businesswoman, and philanthropist told BLACK ENTERPRISE exclusively. Women of Power TECH, PODCASTS Alison Rapaport is a Partner at Serena Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund founded by tennis superstar Serena Williams in 2014. 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.. 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. WebAlison Rapaport Stillman, Serena Ventures. Learn more about the 20+ companies we've invested in and what's next. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. 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. On that front, Alison advocates working with organizations like BLCK VC or All Raise. he wrote. That includes looking at digital learning as a supplement and a way to attack inequities in traditional education systems. BE 100s WebThe General partner is Alison Rapport Stillman. Like, look at what we have done.. Another way Alison recommends sourcing diverse deal flow is by not requiring a warm intro. 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? Owners & Partners are responsible for the overall success of the business. But it is important to have a founder who can be self-aware, handle feedback, and build a team to help them be successful. Williams understands firsthand the plight of founders of color. Venture is one of the most inequitable places to work. Right now, the firm is excited about companies that address aging. WebDiscover any aliases as well as possible relatives and associates of Alison Rapaport Stillman. 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. They just share a same surname but have no family ties. The founding partners of Serena Ventures are Ms. Williams and Alison Rapaport Stillman. 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. When one thinks of the name Serena Williams, the majority of thoughts flow in the direction of her impeccable tennis career. Just to be clear, you dont have to be a person of color or a woman to be in our fund, Williams says. Ms. Rapaport Stillman previously worked at JPMorgan, Wasserman and Melo7 Tech. However, just like in tennis, Serena does not believe in following the herd mentality while taking on investments. Alison's role is Manager: 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. }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; Her firm, Serena Ventures, is an active angel investor with a portfolio of 60 companies. It is important to us that the founder has a personal connection to the problem and is uniquely positioned to solve it. Serena Ventures was about to announce a historic $111 million raise that would change the world. After graduating from Brentwood school, Alison studied psychology for a while before enrolling at the Wharton School. Sign up for notifications from Insider! tude.cmd.push(function() { 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. Serena Ventures Serena Williams launched Serena Ventures in 2014 and has invested in over 60 companies. She is also disarmingly authentic. 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. Stillman said it's especially important for founders to be self-aware enough to know when they need to hire employees. According to the National Venture Capital Association data, only 4% of the people who work in venture capital are Black. 500 Startups Management Company, L.L.C. Alison graduated from Harvard Business School in March 2018 ( Source : instagram ). Dana: What trends are you excited to see in the world of consumer? Serena Williams in Hollywood in November. 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. Marc and Sheri Huttner Rapaport are the proud parents of Dan Rapaport who raised him in the serene setting of Los Angeles. Anyone can read what you share. Try not to control everything. Investing in people who look like you eventually leads to systemic exclusion. }); EVENTS Previously, Alison worked at J.P. Morgan Asset Management in Multi- Asset Solutions and led the development of the firms Alternative Beta offering. 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. Alison graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania. Management Your Money, Your Life, LATEST LISTS SERENA VENTURES. kw: 'mandc,black-venture-capitalists,newsletter-lead,serena-ventures,serena-williams,vc', ABOUT The General partner is Alison Rapport Stillman. According to Zola, Dan and his future wife Emma have set their wedding date for June 10, 2023, in the scenic landscape of Chicago. Every company that we invest in isnt meant for Alison Rapaport Stillman and I know that, she said. Serena is such a smart and driven person. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', We had great chemistry on that call. "It's hard. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', 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. Abena: What traits stand out to you in a founding team? When I met my husband, that was our first conversation. Review address history and property records. Dan Rapaport sister is named Alison Rapaport Stillman. You can find her on Twitter. Alison Stillman is a Managing Partner at Serena Ventures based in Sugar Land, Texas. The founder should find people with experience or a particular skill set to offer advice to prepare them for the ups and downs. Dan Rapaport sister is named Alison Rapaport Stillman. Were working on a mission that is bigger than any one of us and that makes me feel excited to do my job. Alison: There are a lot of different ways to think about making everyday lives better. WebAlison J. Rapaport, CFA, is a Partner at Serena Ventures, overseeing portfolio management and sourcing new investments. Williams launched Serena Ventures in 2014. 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. Alison: Dont get bangs it is not worth it! The FDA nears final approval on vaccines for young kids, women feel unprepared for menopause, and Zola adds a co-CEO. 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 Each day is a learning experience, Im learning all the things that I would have had I taken venture classes at school. To raise a child it takes a village. Serena Ventures partner Alison Rapaport Stillman thinks VCs need to get out of their comfort zones. He has been in the industry for four decades. Alison Stillman has been with Serena Ventures for a few months and is in Owner, Alison's role is Manager: Owner & Partner, Partner. It's your child. BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. Moreover, Dan has a younger sister Robyn Rapaport, founder of Shop Robynro. Ive been on a bit of a skincare kick so I have been trying a lot of Kate Somervilles products. 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. Europe, Menlo Park, China), Where the person is located (e.g. She is the first athlete ever to hit Forbes list of the Worlds Richest Self-Made Women. That includes looking at digital learning as a supplement and a way to attack inequities in traditional education systems. Dan does not have a brother and Alison is his only sibling. Prospective investors considering an investment into any 500 Startups fund should not consider or construe this content as fund marketing material. Dan posted a congratulations tweet in August 2022 as she represented the company in the New York Stock Exchange. Venture is one of the most inequitable places to work. 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.. She has persevered to become one of the top tennis players in history with 23 Grand Slam titles. This mindset allows us to have a broad and holistic approach to invest in FinTech, Wellness, and everything in between. For Williams, surrounding herself with other smart women was a no-brainer. pos: 'right_rail_3', Dan Rapaport father Marc Rapaport is a real estate agent from Los Angeles. 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 Alison Rapaport Stillman, General Partner, Serena Ventures (Image: Courtesy of Serena Ventures) For Williams, surrounding herself with other smart women was a no-brainer. Prior to joining Serena Ventures, Ashel spent time on the programming team at Kauffman Fellows and was a startup founder. WebDiscover any aliases as well as possible relatives and associates of Alison Rapaport Stillman. Dan Rapaport is not related to Ian Rapaport. 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. Learn more about the 20+ companies we've invested in and what's next. The company is their baby! The FDA nears final approval on vaccines for young kids, women feel unprepared for menopause, and Zola adds a co-CEO. A team thats all women and from very different backgrounds, we see the world differently. She earned Bachelor of Science degree in Finance & Operations from the campus. "The founder can't be doing everything," Stillman said. cat: 'entrepreneurship', The stats about the fund received by black women entrepreneurs in the recent years highlights the problem. And the only way to change those numbers was to be the person writing the big checks.. Dan often goes golfing with Marc where as Sheri stays as home waiting for them ( Source : instagram ). Stay up to date with what you want to know. 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.