‘Believe Me, This Is Only the Beginning!’ – Serena Williams Reveals Her Will to Reshape the US Venture Capital Ecosystem

Although out of action owing to injuries, Serena Williams made headlines recently for her off-court achievements. Her venture capital firm, Serena Ventures, raised $111 million as an inaugural fund recently. The firm invests in a diverse set of businesses, with an aim to overcome gender and racial inequalities.

Recently, some shocking statistics surfaced in the US Venture Capital ecosystem. Subsequently, the younger Williams sister opened up on these facts and revealed how she would like to make a difference through her venture capital firm, Serena Ventures.

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Serena Williams wants to make a difference

Recently, it emerged that only 3% of the $147.6 billion in U.S. venture capital went to Black-founded companies in 2020. Aiming to fix this, Serena revealed, “I’m always thinking of how to make a difference and believe me, this is only the beginning!” Through her VC firm, the former World Number 1 has already invested in more than 60 diverse sets of businesses thus far. Some of the companies she has invested in include MasterClass, SendWave, Daily Harvest, etc. Further, the firm invests in businesses that impact the everyday lives of people.

Additionally, Alison Rapaport Stillman, General Partner at Serena Ventures, said, “As a team led by women and people of diverse backgrounds, Serena Ventures is built on tenacity, grit, and passion – sharing an underdog mentality with the diverse entrepreneurs we work alongside. With the recent announcement of our inaugural $111 million fund, we’re thrilled to support diverse founders, unlocking opportunities to improve the lives of underrepresented communities, and reshaping the industries we invest in.”

Further, the 23-time Grand Slam champion has found success in many other business ventures. Recently, she launched the ‘Best Dressed’ collection under her clothing brand, S by Serena.

Serena’s long absence from tennis

On the tennis front, the 40-year-old is out of action for over eight months now. She last played at Wimbledon in June 2021. However, she retired in the first round there, after slipping on the wet grass and injuring her hamstring. Additionally, her long absence from the tour has massively affected her WTA rankings, dropping down to Number 236 in the world.

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However, there is some positive news from Serena’s camp. She has returned to light training. Although, she has admitted that she doesn’t want to take any pressure ahead of her potential comeback. Serena would be eager to make a comeback during the clay-court season this year. While we already miss her on the tennis courts, we hope that she makes a comeback soon.