If you thought the tech world is full of hardcore geeks and nerds only, then think again. The field is so enticing, even Hollywood stars, TV personalities, musicians, professional athletes are trying out their fortunes.
For instance, Lady Gaga has invested in several tech startups including music sharing platform Turntable FM, and also celebrity social media site Backplane. Pop singer Kanye West is yet another celeb who has invested in Turntable FM.
The celebrity backup fittingly helps tech startups in two ways. One, they provide the financial backing. Two, they can use their influence to draw more investments and more than anything to accelerate the sale of products.
Not surprisingly, some of the celebrity investors have started looking beyond investing and have created their own apps. Kim Kardashian’s Hollywood-inspired game, Kim Kardashian Hollywood, and Jay-Z’s streaming service Tidal are few of the recent examples. Kardashian has also established a pioneering online fashion subscription service ShoeDazzle. If you are interested in engineering an app similar to Kim Kardashian’s app, consult some top mobile app development companies in the world.
Here is a roundup of celebrities who have founded or enormously invested in tech startups:
Justin Bieber: Amidst all the chaos surrounding his marriage, the singer, the songwriter has managed to take some time out and buy stakes in instant messaging app Tinychat, rating app Stamped and music streaming service Spotify. In the case of selfie-sharing app Shots, he apparently led a $1.1 million seed round.
Leonardo Dicaprio – After having an Oscar to his name, Leo is testing the Startup waters. In addition to leading to a $4 million investment round in Mobli, a photo sharing app, he has equally invested in sleep startup Casper and a mobile phone company named Solarin.
Reese Witherspoon: There’s more to this Legally Blonde actress than what meets the eye. She possesses chops that’s beyond her impressive IMDB account. This Stanford University English major runs a media company that empowers women and female authors by providing them with new storytelling platforms, including traditional media outlets, books, audio and more.
Ashton Kutcher: Kutcher’s name ranks on the top when it comes to celebrity investment. The actor and tech entrepreneur has proactively funded some of the most popular apps such as Airbnb, Skype, Box and more
Venus Williams: The tennis superstar is inspiring women to invest and reach their greatest financial goals through — Ellevest. A supporter of women’s rights, Williams passion for these causes inspired her to back Ellevest.
Jessica Alba: Co-founder of The Honest Company, an eCommerce start-up in Los Angeles, the company offers a line of affordable products including baby care products, shampoos, conditioners, household cleaners, makeup line and more. If you are looking to open an eCommerce store like The Honest Company, consult top eCommerce development companies.
Robert Downey Jr. – He is more than a superhero. This Ironman is backing a couple of popular companies including subscription box service Loot Crate and Masterclass.
Tyra Banks – Tyra Banks is a regular investor in startups. In fact, she runs an investment firm Fierce Capital that invests in cool startups related to beauty and fashion, and especially those founded by women. The Muse, a digital platform that offers career-building tools and advice, is considered to be one of her most noteworthy investments.
Arnold Schwarzenegger: The Terminator star has heavily invested in Planet Hollywood chain restaurants.
Justin Timberlake: This musician and actor have invested in several startups, including social media platform Myspace and San Francisco startup Stipple.
Jesse Williams: This American actor, director, producer, and activist have openly spoken about the biases in the Silicon Valley – about the industry being inundated with whites, with little or no space for people of color. In keeping with his beliefs, Williams has created Ebroji and BLeBRiTY, apps that represent, and uplift Black culture.
The list is just the tip of the iceberg. Many celebrities out there are testing the tech waters and investing in various startups in a massive way. The best part? These celebrity-backed tech startups offer a little something for everyone. They empower, make out lives easier and even offer a new form of entertainment.
Any more celebrities do you know about who are into startup investment. Share them in the comments.
Author Bio: This is Jennifer Warren, a Content Crafter for GoodFirms – a review and research platform for mobile app development, web development companies and more. The company publishes research reports on a time to time basis, the latest one is on PPC Management Research.