Sharon Bowen, chair of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), left, Serena Williams, pro tennis player and founder of Serena Ventures, and Alison Rapaport, managing partner of Serena Ventures, are shown during the opening bell on the floor of the NYSE on Aug. 26, 2022. How Serena Williams Is Making Massive Social Impact Through - Worth Smoller, her longtime endorsement agent, recalls a recent meeting at Nike. Three executives of companies in the Serena Ventures portfolioDaily Harvest, the woman-centric co-working space The Wing, and Lola, a natural tampon brandnetworked at the first-ever Bumble Fund Summit in April. Consequently, such firms do not broaden their vision nor welcome diversity. Create an environment where everyone feels seen Joanna Smith-Griffin, AllHere Shes excited about an S by Serena show for New York Fashion Week in September. And sure, shell happily continue to rake in easy endorsement money from the likes of Nike and JPMorgan Chaseher $29 million total income over the past 12 months is the highest of her career. Serena Ventures - For Entrepreneurs Which piece of advice is most helpful to you at this point in your career? Get ready to be blown away by their unrivaled success as they wield their mighty influence over the fate of 8 groundbreaking AI startups. Their most recent diversity investment was on Mar 3, 2023, when SoLo Funds raised Serena Ventures has had 5 exits. Total number of diversity investments made by an investor, Announced Date: Date when the Investment is announced, Organization Name: Name of the organization that received 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. The list includes the top 50 breakthrough companies that show promising scalability and the potential to disrupt established industries. Platformt O Catch Errors In Apps Prior To Launch: Acelab: $3500000: New York, N.Y. . "That's not a huge difference," she acknowledges. Their fathers insistence that his precocious daughters avoid the private tennis academy machine and well-oiled junior tournament circuit left a mark on the younger one, especially after she won her first Grand Slam title at age 17. Williams is by far the most famous female athlete in the U.S.and only Tom Brady and Tiger Woods finish a tick ahead among all athletes in terms of public awareness. Serena Ventures, the venture fund of four-time Olympic tennis champion Serena Williams', led the $7.3 million equity portion of the round, with participation from Breega, 4Di Capital, Launch Africa, Soma Capital, Y Combinator, and existing investor MFS Africa, which is following on. "The tech-enabled model really creates win-win situations for stakeholders from renters to landlords. I want to be the brand, instead of just being the face. Given her longtime background in style and design, that means overweighting on fashion lines, jewelry and beauty products. Stillman explained that having a diverse team led by women ensures that the mission is met without straining. Of the 34 companies shes backed through Serena Ventures, more than three quarters are early-stage. As venture investing goes, given her net worth, its still low-risk stuff. Sharon Bowen, chair of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), left, Serena Williams, pro tennis player and founder of Serena Ventures, and Alison Rapaport, managing partner of Serena Ventures, are shown during the opening bell on the floor of the NYSE on Aug. 26, 2022. Serena Williams has a new game plan: venture capital : NPR Gift this new digital Barbie doll to women and girls in your life to inspire them to dream big! This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Today we are thrilled to announce the launch of Zitti's self-serve option, revolutionizing the way restaurants manage their operations and save on food costs https://lnkd.in/gAQjM62d. Not even a year after launching, Wondermind has cultivated an impressive. Read more: How Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian and tennis superstar Serena Williams met and fell in love. Three executives of companies in the Serena Ventures portfolioDaily Harvest, the woman-centric co-working space The Wing, and Lola, a natural tampon brandnetworked at the first-ever Bumble Fund Summit in April. When you hear gunshots, you get low.. In March this year, her venture capital firm, Serena Ventures, said it had raised $111 million from investors, with a portfolio of 60 companies, according to The New York Times, including MasterClass and healthy frozen meal service DailyHarvest. "Furthermore, the underrepresentation of Black businesses is costing the U.S. economy millions of jobs and billions of dollars in unrealized revenues," the Brookings report says. Williams has a net worth of $260 million, according to real-time tracking by Forbes. It can be challenging to find the right company to invest in, but thanks to Serena Ventures broadening its vision, it only needs a recommendation from those already in its portfolio. At Zitti Inc., we are committed to empowering independent restaurants with innovative technology solutions. This year, the percentage is closer to 3%. 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. The superstar's newest venture, Will Perform, features recovery essentials for pain relief and muscle care . The only exception is when they are really going to add value. Click the link below to read more! In addition to founding Serena Ventures, the 40-year-old has established brand partnerships throughout her career with big names including Gatorade, Ford, Hanesbrands, Gucci and Nike, which named an office building at its global headquarters after the athlete earlier this year. Our AI-powered system automates invoice management, saving you time and reducing errors. The regal surroundings befit a historic figure of American sport, who has 23 Grand Slam titles and has blown away any number of barriers and stereotypes. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXBUSINESS.COM. In an essay published by Vogue magazine on Aug. 9, Williams said she would be shifting her focus from the sport to her family and her venture capital firm, Serena Ventures. Smoller, her longtime endorsement agent, recalls a recent meeting at Nike. Serena Williams's early-stage venture capital firm, Serena Ventures, has raised an inaugural fund of $111 million that will invest in founders with diverse points of view, she told the. Watch Isoken Igbinedion, Simone Kendle & Ifueko I. chat about how they built their company and how they are revolutionizing the wig industry at the link below. Athletes are richer than ever, thanks to the explosion in TV. "We focus on how much revenue they generate and [the] chance they create, because we recognize the multiplier effect is in the communities they serve. Esusu is a company that allows renters to acquire credit for their on-time rental payments, proving to be a win-win addition . Serena Ventures participated in Tonal's $45 million Series C financing round in April 2019. Our very own Pavan Sethi will be a judge for the 2023 Untapped AI Startup Pitchfest! . Primary San Francisco, CA, US Get directions Employees at Serena Ventures Pavan Sethi Investor at Serena Ventures Veronica Reaves Investor at Serena Ventures + Founder of Black Women in. Theres Chris Lyons, from Andreessen Horowitz, who is an informal advisor and friend. In 2021, Noom raised approximately $540 million in Series F funding led by Silver Lake. Williams plans to launch an S by Serena jewelry line this year and one of beauty products in 2020. However, the privately-held company has taken its time in making significant funding rounds, with the $111 million being its first fund. Top performers include Billie, Daily Harvest, MasterClass and The Wing. According to Stillman, the main reason venture capitalists remain too closed-minded about who to invest in is because they do not have the right networking channel. And over the past five years, shes been quietly dropping money into 34 startups. . Leprechaun Ventures LLC - Missouri City TX and Ocala FL - Bizapedia It is a lesson learned the hard way after investing $250,000 in a startup and losing the funding, although it was long before founding Serena Ventures. Bradley, who is Black, says she got into the VC business "after I started my first company and realized that there was a lack of access to capital." Serena Williams celebrates with the championship trophy after her victory in the women's singles final at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne in January 2017. Rapaport, a former asset manager at JPMorgan, will oversee the fund's portfolio and new investments. She is more passionate than 99% of the people in this space, says Lyons. And that voice is amplified exponentially when dealing with an early-stage brand, rather than one like Nike. Founded Date 2014. I want to create a brand that has longevity, kind of like my career, she says. Stefan Mitu, VU Venture Partners 4 min read Serena Williams. Serena Williams talks mom guilt, her venture capital firm & 'King See the latest thinkpieces and advice from our unparalleled network of founders, business leaders, influencers and the team behind Serena Ventures (including Serena Williams and Alison Rapaport Stillman). Last month, Williams' venture capital firm Serena Ventures raised $111 million to launch a fund with a focus on diversity. Rapaport did her homework on the investment ideasand diligence on her potential new boss, who earlier in the week posted on Instagram how much she liked Taco Sunday. And the returns so far seem promising; Serena Ventures says they currently value the portfolio at more than $10 million and double the initial investment. Williams reasoned that the underrepresented groups would always scramble for the 2% Thus the problem of having to deal with a boys club even in venture capital funding would never be resolved. SportTechie is brand of Sports Business Journal, which is affiliated . . She kept waiting for someone to fund a company for her to design clothing, she says, but I was thinking of this the wrong way. Visit our online store. And over the past five years, shes been quietly dropping money into 34 startups. But like a ground stroke with torque, Williams bets she can eventually dwarf those figures by leveraging some of her own cash with her name and fame. Bumble and Serena Ventures invest in Alice Series A Diversity Spotlight (US Headquarters Only): Types of diversity represented in an organization, specifically of those who are founding members, currently the CEO, or have check-writing abilities in an investment firm. As their business has, Read More 20 Things You Didnt Know about Urban CompanyContinue, Jack Ma, a teacher who created Alibaba, began operations in 1999. Serena Ventures, which has invested in more than 60 start-ups, disclosed in March that it has raised $111 million By Lucas Manfredi FOXBusiness video FOX Business Flash top headlines for. Williams appeared on Forbes 2022 list of Americas Richest Self-Made Women in June worth an estimated $260 million. CHICAGO, Dec. 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ShoppingGives, the social impact commerce platform that offers turn-key cause marketing and donation processing for retailers, today announces funding by. When Williams earned her first one-million-dollar paycheck, she took it to the bank. Athletes are richer than ever, thanks to the explosion in TV rights fees for live sporting events, which trickle down to players. Rapaport arrived at Williams home outside San Francisco for a Sunday meeting at noon armed with investment ideas and two bags of takeout, make-your-own tacos, and she handled Ohanians rapid-fire follow-up emails with aplomb. I dont jump off buildings, says Williams. Speaking with NPR's Weekend All Things Considered recently, Sallie Krawcheck, the CEO of Ellevest, said despite the fact that businesses run by female CEOs tend to get a very small slice of VC investment, the return on those dollars tends to be higher. Therefore, it is no surprise that Stillman disclosed that Serena Ventures is interested in other sectors, such as online education. Click the link below to secure tickets to attend. The only way to find enough of those companies right now is to nurture them early, something that Williams got hooked on after investing and losing (eventually) $250,000 in a startup in the years before Serena Ventures. "To have someone like Serena saying, 'I think it's important to be an athlete and a strong Black woman and a mother. Serena Ventures - The Serena Williams-backed VC Fund PLAY TO WIN Through a champion mindset and unparalleled network, we empower founders to change the world. The Saturday Im with her in Rome (she was in New York earlier in the week and will be in Paris the following one) carries extra significance. She shared a pair of videos in an Instagram story of her entourage eating Daily Harvest meals ahead of her hosting duties for the Met Gala. Diversity Spotlight (US Headquarters Only). Last night, we welcomed founders and investors for an incredible evening in partnership with the SB Opportunity Fund. Courtesy Image. I was talking, and Serena interrupted me and started asking all these questions about their distribution channels, KPIs and growth strategies, he says. Serena Williams Feels Your Pain, And She's Launching A - Forbes Flexible Payment Options: Conveniently manage your bills with the choice of ACH or check payments, giving you flexibility and control over your financial transactions. I looked around and saw their faces. I dont gamble. Serena Williams, professional tennis player and businesswoman, speaks during the Bitcoin 2022 Conference at the Miami Beach Convention Center in April in Florida. I think it is the best of all opportunities, and she can essentially cherry-pick from the top VC firms on deals that are interesting that come her way and at the same time she still has her own deal flow from folks who want her to invest., Change Agent: "A lot of people say what I do on the court is amazing, but I feel like thats just the beginning," says Williams. Since its inception, Alibaba has transformed e-commerce and broken numerous records. The recent IPOs for Uber and Lyft included scores of musicians and Hollywood A-listers like Gwyneth Paltrow, Jay-Z and Olivia Munn, who got in early and cashed in big. Serena Williams raises $111 million for new venture fund. makesense and Serena launch 80 million impact fund for French startups . Venture Capital and Private Equity Principals, Join to see who you already know at Serena Ventures, At Serena Ventures we ignite change by investing in opportunities that make the everyday lives of everyday people better. Now, any restaurant across the US can access Zittis powerful features designed to streamline operations and boost profitability at any time, day or night: The most significant IPO in global history took place in 2014 when Alibaba, Read More 10 Companies Similar to AlibabaContinue, Vicarius is a technology startup that specializes in providing remediation for network vulnerabilities against cyber attacks. The only way to find enough of those companies right now is to nurture them early, something that Williams got hooked on after investing and losing (eventually) $250,000 in a startup in the years before Serena Ventures. Subscribe. The Firm Has Broadened Its Vision Since Its Founding, It is Looking for New Sectors to Invest In, 20 Things You Didnt Know About Anduril Industries, Five Companies Leading the Way in Electronic Health Records, 20 Things You Didnt Know about Urban Company, How Rayna Vallandingham Achieved a Net Worth of $600,000, How Sean Payton Achieved a Net Worth of $24 Million. And Williams is hardly the first to put newfound disposable income to active workin the NBA alone, LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant have all launched media companies, and Durant, Andre Iguodala and Carmelo Anthony are active venture capital investors. "I want to be remembered for things I do off the court; lives Ive been able to impact and voices that have been heard. ", Serena Williams celebrates with the championship trophy after her victory in the women's singles final at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne in January 2017. But as with her tennis upbringing, shes also finding opportunity by avoiding the herd. Numida secures $16.7 million CAD in Serena Ventures-led round to equip MasterClass is a streaming platform that offers members access to more than 150 instructors and classes across fields including arts and entertainment, business, design and style, sports and gaming, writing and more. Using her platform to talk about our mission was the biggest support weve had besides her capital, says Georgina Gooley, cofounder of Billie, which makes razors priced to eliminate the pink tax that makes female-targeted products cost more than similar versions for men. Serena Williams Launches VC Firm to Invest in Diverse - Insider But in Serena Ventures, shes laid the foundation to keep playing the game her entire life. Serena Ventures (@serena.ventures) Instagram photos and videos George Bandarian, Untapped Ventures Since the murder of George Floyd at the hands of a white police officer, billions of dollars in new money has come from Black investors, much of it being funneled into Black-owned businesses, she says. Serena Ventures General Information. And the unicorns? Below is a FOX Business roundup of some of Serena Ventures' most notable investments. Founded in 2014, Serena Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Washington, District of Columbia. But like a ground stroke with torque, Williams bets she can eventually dwarf those figures by leveraging some of her own cash with her name and fame. The dating and networking app Bumble added Williams as an endorser for 2019, including a Super Bowl ad. Williams returned the favor when she hosted a baby shower for the Duchess of Sussex in February. Market data provided byFactset. In 2014, Serena Williams launched Serena Ventures with the mission of giving opportunities to founders across an array of industries. She added that it is not about having the biggest company on board but about having that one company that has a major social or global impact. Spring Venture Group | 10,969 followers on LinkedIn. The venture-capital firm focuses on early-stage investments in companies led by. I knew this was our girl, Williams says. Between Reddit and his $500 million fund, Initialized Capital, Ohanian does his part. Fifty-three percent of the founders who have received some funding from the firm are women, 47% of whom are black. nother benefit of early-stage investing: Even with 34 checks written, she has still sunk only an estimated $6 million into these companies. When everyone zigs, she zags. By clicking Sign Up, you also agree to marketing emails from both Insider and Morning Brew; and you accept Insiders. While Serena Ventures, as her small firm is known, is among a tiny number of VC firms owned by Black women, that's changing, albeit slowly, says Sydney Sykes, a partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners, a Silicon Valley-based VC firm that invests heavily in early-stage, female-led businesses. The new digital era has made it a requirement for most major healthcare providers to use digital record-keeping that replaces many of, Read More Five Companies Leading the Way in Electronic Health RecordsContinue, Urban Company is a privately traded company headquartered in Gurgram, India. Our significant investment in Esusu will help the company scale and unlock more financial opportunity for people.". Picnic Area at Boat Launch | Missouri State Parks The line includes dresses, jackets, tops, denim and more, mostly priced under $200. So Williams tries to put money in deals where her fame and brand and platform grow the pie. Marco Bello/Getty Images The past decade has given rise to the celebrity VC investor, spurred by the success of people like the actor Ashton Kutcher and the musician Nas, who both have their own funds. Youre just beginning.. (Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg via Getty Images). He spends more time than is perhaps wise with his eyes fixed on a screen either reading history books, keeping up with international news, or playing the latest releases on the Steam platform, which serve as the subject matter for much of his writing output. Shes reaching out to me regularly asking what we think of companies., Theres Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg, a longtime friend, with whom she serves on the board of SurveyMonkey. At the end of the two-hour session, she gracefully obliges several with autographs and selfies. FOX Business Flash top headlines for August 29. Serena is a once-in-a-generation voice, reaching a global audience that extends well beyond tennis, says Hookit CEO Scott Tilton. . Five months later, in a cover article in Vogue, Williams, 40, announced she would retire from tennis after playing at the U.S. Open. Im the most non-taking-a-chance kind of a person, but I felt like seed was where we wanted to be., Given the exponential riskiness involved in pre- and early-revenue companies, Williams has built a team of Silicon Valley mentors around her, much as Patrick Mouratoglou has guided Williams on the court and WMEs Jill Smoller has handled her endorsementsalmost a quarter-billion worthfor nearly two decades. Serena Williams in Hollywood in November. In April, Williams formally announced that Serena Ventures is open for business, to fund others and launch companies herself. It really shaped me for the rest of my career both on and off the court in terms of taking a chance and how to be different and how to stand out, Williams says of his strategy. Williams, who revealed in the Vogue essay that she wrote one of MasterClass' "very first checks," offers her own class on the techniques, drills and mental skills that helped her win 23 Grand Slam singles titles. Vicarius identifies weaknesses within, Read More 20 Things You Didnt Know About VicariusContinue, Didi is a vehicle for hire company that has been much talked-about in recent times. Their mission aims to normalize the conversation surrounding women's hormonal health and menopause. Payment Communication and Tracking: Stay informed about the status of your payments with real-time communication and tracking, ensuring transparency and peace of mind.

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