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11 Well Known Celebrities That Are Pumping Their Cash Into New Tech & Social Media Companies
Twitter, Tumblr, LinkedIn, Facebook & Angry Birds are just a few of the already established game players on the field that these celebs wish they invested in right from the start. Looks like its time for no more regrets for these celebs as they are cashing in on some of the best up and coming startups this year.
From Kim Kardashian to Justin Timberlake, here are 11 celebrities who are hot for startups, and the companies they’ve invested in.
Ashton Kutcher has invested in at least 13 startups since 2007.
Ashton Kutcher has his own fund, A Grade. He has invested in at least 13 startups since 2007.
Kutcher’s first investment, online calling company Ooma, flopped. Since then the actor has had better luck.
Kutcher’s investments range from billion-dollar startups like Foursquare and Airbnb, to early stage companies like Hipmunk, Blekko, Zaarly and Amen.
A few weeks ago, we broke the news that Kutcher had invested in furniture sales site, Fab.com. Kutcher is also an investor in Dave Morin’s Path, iPad news reader Flipboard, Skype, UberMedia, and outfit app Fashism. He sits on SB Nation’s advisory board too.
Kutcher’s wife, actress Demi Moore, occasionally invests too.
Demi Moore caught the startup bug from her husband.
She is personally invested in Fashism, an outfit application that lets users ask each other what they should wear.
While she isn’t an investor in errand-posting startup Zaarly, Demi Moore is its formal advisor.
Justin Timberlake has invested in three tech companies: MySpace, Dekko, and Stipple.
Justin Timberlake seems to think that he is, in fact, Sean Parker.
Last November, he backed a startup called Stipple. Stipple allows people to label, share and advertise on pictures. The company raised a $2 million seed round from a number of investors, including Kleiner Perkins and Timberlake.
Last month, we broke the news that Timberlake invested in a stealth startup, Dekko. Dekko is similar to Stipple in that information is added to pictures. Dekko wants to be an instant Wikipedia page for everything you see via mobile camera.
Timberlake also thinks he can bring MySpace back. He took an ownership stake in the dying social network; he will be making strategy and creative decisions for the company.
Madonna’s manager invested in Berlin startup, Amen, alongside Ashton Kutcher.
Guy Oseary, Madonna’s manager and the producer of Twilight, recently invested in a stealth Berlin startup, Amen.
The startup hasn’t revealed much about itself yet, except to say that “this is the best place for having an opinion in the world.” Beta users have said that Amen is extremely addicting.
Oseary and actor Ashton Kutcher invested in the startup’s $2 million seed round.
Phoenix Suns player Steve Nash is a partner at VC firm, Consigliere.
NBA player Steve Nash is a partner at a NYC VC firm, Consigliere.
Consigliere’s investments include makeup company Birch Box, jewelry startup Chloe & Isabel, and website rating company STELLAService.
Lady Gaga just invested in hot NYC startup, Turntable.fm.
Earlier this week, we reported Lady Gaga’s investment in Turntable.fm. She’s a part of the NYC startup’s $7.5 million round.
Turntable.fm lets users join rooms and take turns playing DJ.
Lady Gaga also invested in a startup founded by her business manager, Backplane. Backplane blends entertainment and technology by combining social media outlets into one fan page.
Kanye West is also investing in Turntable.fm.
He’ll be a part of the NY startup’s $7.5 million round alongside Lady Gaga and Union Square Ventures.
Kim Kardashian cofounded Shoedazzle, a startup with $40 million in funding.
Reality star Kim Kardashian cofounded Shoedazzle, a startup with $40 million behind it from Andreessen Horowitz, Polaris Venture Partners, and Lightspeed Venture Partners.
Shoedazzle costs $39.95 per month. Users receive a box of shoes, jewelry, or a bag. If they like it, they keep it for 30 days. If they don’t, they return it to Shoedazzle and get their money back.
Currently the startup has 3 million users. If every member paid every month, that would add up to $120 million in revenue per month. Of course they don’t, but Shoedazzle still has the potential to be a pretty big business.
Magic Johnson just joined a VC firm in Detroit to invest in startups.
Earvin “Magic” Johnson announced a few weeks ago that he’d be joining and investing in Detroit Venture Partners.
The NBA star’s firm has invested in startups like Stylecaster, Sociocast, and FLUD News.
MC Hammer cofounded DanceJam, a startup that lets users upload videos of themselves dancing.
DanceJam, a startup that lets users upload videos of themselves dancing, was cofounded by MC Hammer in 2007.
It raised $1 million from investors like TechCrunch’s Mike Arrington and SV Angel’s Ron Conway. It went on to raise another $3.5 million and was acquired by Purevideo Networks in 2009.
Chamillionaire loves startups
Chamillionarrington
Chamillionaire (the ‘Riding Dirty’ rapper) has yet to invest in or found a startup, but he’s definitely into the tech scene.
He’s attended events with Los Angeles investor, Mark Suster.
Suster writes, “Chamillionaire stood up, grabbed the mic and gave a heartfelt overview of his experiences in experimenting with new technologies to build relationships with his audience, get feedback on his product quality and to market his music all the way to the top of iTunes. To stay the crowed was “wowed” was an understatement. He received that only round of applause of the evening.
“While many were floored by his insights, I wasn’t in the slightest. I’ve known Chamillionaire for a couple of years and I’ve never been at a tech event where he HASN’T upstaged everybody with his marketing insights.”