Becoming a venture capitalist has become Hollywood's ultimate status symbol.
Everyone today Olivia Wilde to Emma Watson is starting a venture firm or working to back the next hottest company. Robin Hood Uber and Klarna have some brilliant names on their hat tables, paving the way for the rise of “Hollywood angels”.
For founders, Having a celebrity at the hat table can do a lot of wonders for a startup — and bonus points if the celebs know what they're doing. Here's a look at some of the top celebrities investing and what they typically look to invest in. (This list will be updated from time to time).
Snoop Dogg
The famous rapper and personality is also a wealthy angel investor and founder of Casa Verde Capital, a company focused on marijuana investments. As an angel investor, according to PitchBook; He cameo, Reddit Klarna, Other artists on this list include companies backed by Robinhood and fintech MoonPay. According to PitchBook, he has made at least 26 investments. The Managing Partner of Casa Verde Capital is Karan Wadhera and Company. $94 million closed. Fund II in 2020.
Sara and Erin Foster
The Foster sisters are two of Hollywood's most famous siblings, best known today as the producers of the Kristen Bell Netflix show “Nobody Wants This”. They started a venture in 2022. Looking to raise $20 million. Backing consumer companies, their representatives confirmed to us that the fund has officially closed. They know the consumer space well: they have podcasts; There's already a clothing line and a popular television show.
PitchBook, the company he runs with business partner Phil Schwarz, has written at least six checks, including to companies like diaper brand Kudos (with Gwyneth Paltrow). Juliet, a luxury boxed wine company.
As angel investors, the sisters invested in alkaline water company ZenWTR. Sara is also an angel investor in swimwear company Summersalt and ear piercing business Rowan.
Kevin Hart
A few years ago, comedian Kevin Hart founded HartBeat Ventures, a venture capital firm with Robert Roman, an investor behind money management for entertainment and sports celebrities.
The company was established around 2021 with the goal of Support minority and underrepresented founders.. JP Morgan received its first outside investment from JP Morgan as part of the bank's initiative. More funds Companies led by women and people of color.
The company is art market Masterworks; It has invested in at least 14 companies, according to PitchBook, including 3D printing company Ready Player Me and Rihanna's Savage x Fenty underwear line. Tashi Nakanishi and Walid Samaha are partners at the firm, while Ron Everline serves as vice president, according to LinkedIn.
HartBeat Ventures started raising its Fund I in 2022 with no target amount. By January 2024, it had already raised at least $28 million. Previously, it started from January. An SEC filing in October also shows HartBeat is trying to raise capital. It appears to be an SPV. Aston Martin is looking to invest in its Formula One racing team.
Paris Hilton
The celebrity socialite is also an angel investor, according to PitchBook. She has made investments through her company 11:11 Media, of which she is the CEO and co-founder. Among her investments. crypto company MoonPaybiotech company Colossal Biosciences; community event platform AfterParty and podcast platform Fireside Chats.
For her, the theme is social platforms; Biotech and SaaS products seem to make consumer life easier. She has made at least 22 investments, according to PitchBook, and is getting married to Carter Reum, founder of M13 Ventures, a well-known Los Angeles firm that has invested in companies like ClassPass, Canvas and Pinterest, according to her website.
Ashton Kutcher
Perhaps one of the most famous and memorable. Famous VCs are Ashton Kutcher.. He is the co-founder of two VC firms, A-Grade and Sound Ventures, both of which he started with Guy Oseary. Shortly after launching Sound, Effie Epstein joined as managing partner.
Founded in 2015, Sound Ventures backs software companies and has more than $1 billion in assets under management, according to PitchBook. It also invests from thematic funds and last year Hugging Face; OpenAI He launched an AI Growth Thematic Fund that invests in companies like Anthropic and World Labs. He told the audience at TechCrunch's 2024 Disrupt. He backs up his opponents in AI. Because he thinks there will be room for many giant AI modeling companies. Notable investments between A-Grade and Sound include Affirm, Airbnb; Airtable Duolingo and Uber.
Nurse
Popular rapper Nas founded his company QueensBridge Venture Partners in 2014. It has made more than 130 investments in a variety of industries and has $140 million in assets under management, according to PitchBook. Anand Murthy is a partner in the firm. The company has invested in companies such as the luggage brand Away (with Jay-Z) and the luggage brand. Bedding Company ParachuteAccording to PitchBook.
As an angel investor, Nas has made more than 50 investments, according to PitchBook. He is a SeatGeek; Robin Hood ring Backs Coinbase and fintech Mercury.
Gwyneth Paltrow
The Goop founder has made at least 24 investments as an angel investor, according to PitchBook. She is also the co-founder of Kinship Ventures, which invests in consumer and health companies, along with Moj Mahdara. Clear It is looking to raise $75 million in VC funding.Axios has backed the crypto, as reported last year. Payment company MoonPay. According to other SEC filings, Kinship Ventures appears to be raising what appears to be an SPV. To reverse OpenAI versus Bitcoin mining company TeraWulf.
As an angel investor, Paltrow invested in it. Kudos to the diaper company!hair company Crown Affair; cosmetics e-commerce marketplace Thirteen Lune and beverage brand Olipop; With actress Priyanka Chopra, according to PitchBook. actress Mindy Kaling; rapper Logic and the Jonas Brothers; Olipop is also backed..
Emma Watson
According to PitchBook , the actress has cut at least two angel investor checks. Investments include at least two companies. Biomanufacturing company FabricNanoversus Ovarian health. Watson is a well-known activist, especially when it comes to the environment and women's rights. So it's no surprise that her two angel investments are in companies that strive to make product production more sustainable and become a women's health platform.
Olivia Wilde
Actress and director Olivia Wilde has teamed up with Neil Sirni, who heads Roc Nation's venture arm Arrive, to launch Proximity, Bloomberg. reported in October.. Wilde doesn't yet have a PitchBook profile, but Bloomberg reports that her new company will focus on consumer and enterprise technologies and has already cut a few tests, including Pendulum Therapeutics.
Investor Jason Mack and artist Santigold, known for her song “LES Artistes,” are also partners in the company, according to Bloomberg. According to SEC filings, Proximity is raising two new SPV funds; Including one. $5 million health fund versus Another $10 million in funding.
Jay Z
The music mogul is an angel investor and co-founder of RocNation, which is now MarcyPen Capital Partners, an investment firm that has merged with Jay-Z's Marcy Venture Partners and Pendulum Holding's investment arm, Pendulum Opportunities.
Roc Nation I have a venture called Arrive Opportunities Management.Once managed by investor Neil Sirni; Now working with Olivia Wilde on Proximity. The firm has made at least 40 investments, according to PitchBook, which has backed companies like Sweetgreen and Epic Games.
Before the merger, Marcy Venture Partners has invested in several companies such as Rihanna's Fenty x Savage (making Rihanna one of the few black women in the world); web3 company Spatial Labs. Charlie Hanna and Mason O'Hanlon are listed as investors in MarcyPen Capital Partners on PitchBook and LinkedIn.
In addition, As an angel investor, Jay-Z has made at least 27 notable investments in Oatly, according to PitchBook. Flowhub, It's done at companies like Impossible Foods and luggage company Away.