Backing What's Next: A Conversation with Serena Williams | Global Conference 2026
The Global Conference 2026 panel featured Serena Williams discussing her evolution from tennis legend to venture capital founder of Starfire Ventures. Williams described how a lifelong curiosity about technology and business led her from angel investing in 2014 to raising institutional capital after a disciplined three‑year period of building relationships, due diligence, and a track record. Key insights included the importance of patience—echoed by Magic Johnson’s comment on athletes understanding long‑term building—and the strategic focus on underrepresented founders. Williams highlighted her firm’s mission to allocate capital to women and people of color, emphasizing team composition that blends experience with fresh, diverse perspectives to navigate emerging sectors like AI and fintech. She illustrated her investment thesis with the fintech company Isuzu, which helps renters build credit, noting that early backing from Starfire enabled the startup to secure further funding and become a multi‑billion‑dollar business. Throughout, she stressed leveraging her extensive network to source deals and provide founders with introductions that only a high‑profile investor can deliver. The conversation underscores a broader shift: high‑visibility athletes are translating personal brands into influential VC platforms, reshaping capital flows toward inclusive entrepreneurship and demonstrating that disciplined, curiosity‑driven approaches can generate both financial returns and social impact.
The One Man Accelerator at The Four Seasons & Why VCs Can Be Sharks | Josh Browder
In this interview, Josh Browder explains his "one‑man accelerator" model, where he invests in sub‑$5 million‑valued startups and houses the founders in a Four Seasons‑adjacent residence until they secure a seed round. The approach blends capital with intensive, day‑to‑day mentorship, turning...
Entrepreneurs First April '26 Demo Day in San Francisco
Entrepreneur First (EF) marked its two‑year San Francisco demo‑day anniversary, unveiling a fresh $200 million fundraise that lifts its portfolio valuation to $17 billion – an eight‑fold increase over five years. CEO Alice emphasized EF’s “talent‑investing” approach, selecting founders twice, first as individuals...