Serena Williams is no stranger to the tech world and now it seems she’s focusing on strengthening her relationship with one app in particular. Today, Bumble announced that Williams will join Bumble Fund as an investor.
Launched in 2018, Bumble Fund helps women of color and other underrepresented groups who are largely ignored in venture capitalism. Bumble Fund focuses on giving businesses early-stage investments.
Although Bumble originally launched as an online-dating app that was unique for only allowing women to send the first message to a match, Bumble Fund is another example of how they’ve branched into other ventures.
In a statement about the new partnership, Williams said:
“I’ve learned how impactful one woman’s voice can be when given a platform to speak and be heard. I am passionate about building on this progress and opening doors for women of all backgrounds, especially women of color, to share their message and trust in their potential to accomplish great things. By joining forces with the Bumble Fund, we will continue amplifying female entrepreneurs and creating a place for them to personally and professionally champion their growth.”
In addition to partnering with Bumble Fund and her own work, Williams is a board member of Poshmark and SurveyMonkey.
Through Serena Ventures, Williams has similarly sought to invest in founders of color. So, Williams’ decision to team up with Bumble Fund is perfectly on brand.
Williams’ relationship with Bumble originally started in January and she later appeared in a Super Bowl commercial. In addition to joining as an investor, Williams will lead the Bumble Fund pitch competition, along with Bumble’s founder and CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd.
If you’re interested in joining that competition, it launched today on Bumble Bizz. Any U.S.-based entrepreneurs who identify as women are free to enter. The deadline is March 27, 2019.
