Hollywood Angels: Celebrities Who Are Also Star VCs

The Growing Trend of Hollywood Venture Capitalists

A new status symbol is emerging within the Hollywood community: becoming a venture capitalist.

Increasingly, prominent figures, ranging from Olivia Wilde to Emma Watson, are either establishing their own venture firms or actively participating in funding promising new companies.

Celebrity Involvement in Major Startups

Several well-known companies, including Robinhood, Uber, and Klarna, feature high-profile individuals on their cap tables. This trend has facilitated the emergence of what are now being referred to as “Hollywood angels.”

Benefits for Founders

Securing investment from celebrities can generate significant publicity for a startup.

Furthermore, there's an added advantage when these celebrities possess genuine understanding and expertise in the investment landscape.

Notable Celebrity Investors and Their Focus Areas

Below is a compilation of leading celebrities who are actively investing, along with details regarding their typical investment preferences.

This information will be regularly updated to reflect the evolving dynamics of celebrity venture capital.

• The presence of celebrities on a company’s cap table can significantly boost its visibility.
• Founders benefit from the network and influence these investors bring.

Snoop Dogg

Renowned rapper and media figure Snoop Dogg is also a highly active angel investor. He notably co-founded Casa Verde Capital, an investment firm specializing in the cannabis industry.

Data from PitchBook indicates Snoop Dogg’s investment portfolio includes prominent companies like Cameo, Reddit, Klarna, and Robinhood.

Investment Portfolio

He has participated in funding rounds for at least 26 different companies, as tracked by PitchBook. His investments often occur alongside other well-known celebrities.

Notably, Snoop Dogg also invested in MoonPay, a financial technology company. This demonstrates his interest in the evolving fintech landscape.

Casa Verde Capital

Karan Wadhera serves as the managing partner of Casa Verde Capital. The firm successfully completed fundraising for its $94 million Fund II in the year 2020.

Casa Verde Capital’s focus remains firmly on identifying and supporting promising ventures within the cannabis sector.

The firm’s investment strategy is geared towards capitalizing on the growth and innovation occurring in the cannabis market.

Sara and Erin Foster

The Foster sisters, Sara and Erin, represent a prominent sibling duo within the Hollywood landscape. Currently, they are widely recognized for their roles as producers of the Netflix series “Nobody Wants This,” starring Kristen Bell.

In 2022, they initiated a venture capital firm with the intention of securing $20 million in funding to support consumer-focused businesses. Confirmation from their representatives indicates that the fund has now successfully reached its closing goal.

Their expertise lies within the consumer market, evidenced by their existing portfolio which includes a popular podcast, a fashion line, and a successful television program.

Investment Activity

Data from PitchBook reveals that the firm, managed in collaboration with business partner Phil Schwarz, has made at least six investments to date.

These investments encompass companies such as Kudos, a diaper brand backed alongside Gwyneth Paltrow, and Juliet, a provider of premium boxed wine.

Prior Angel Investments

Beyond the venture fund, the sisters have independently engaged in angel investing. They have previously invested in ZenWTR, a company specializing in alkaline water.

Sara Foster also holds an angel investment position in Summersalt, a swimwear brand, and Rowan, a startup focused on ear piercing services.

Kevin Hart

Comedian Kevin Hart established HartBeat Ventures in collaboration with Robert Roman, a financial investor specializing in the entertainment and sports industries, several years ago.

Founded around 2021, the firm’s core objective is to provide support to founders from minority groups and those who are underrepresented. Its initial external funding came from J.P. Morgan, as part of a broader program aimed at increasing investment in firms led by women and people of color.

Investment Portfolio

According to PitchBook data, HartBeat Ventures has made investments in a minimum of 14 different companies.

• These include Masterworks, a platform for art investment.
• Ready Player Me, a company focused on 3D printing technology, is also within their portfolio.
• Furthermore, they have invested in Savage x Fenty, Rihanna’s well-known lingerie brand.

Tashi Nakanishi and Walid Samaha hold partner positions at the firm, as indicated by their LinkedIn profiles. Ron Everline currently serves as the firm’s vice president.

Fundraising Activities

HartBeat Ventures initiated fundraising for its Fund I in 2022, without specifying a target amount. As of January 2024, the fund has secured at least $28 million, as documented in a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing.

An additional SEC filing from October reveals that HartBeat is actively seeking capital for a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). This SPV is intended to facilitate an investment in Aston Martin’s Formula One racing team.

HartBeat Ventures is demonstrating a commitment to both diverse entrepreneurship and high-profile investment opportunities.

Paris Hilton

Beyond her well-known persona as a socialite, Paris Hilton actively functions as an angel investor, as reported by PitchBook.

Her investment activities are channeled through 11:11 Media, a company she leads as both CEO and co-founder.

Investment Portfolio

Hilton’s investment portfolio demonstrates a diverse range of interests. It includes ventures like the cryptocurrency firm MoonPay, the groundbreaking biotech company Colossal Biosciences, and the event-focused platform AfterParty.

Furthermore, she has invested in Fireside Chats, a platform dedicated to podcasting.

Investment Focus

A discernible pattern emerges from Hilton’s investment choices. She appears to prioritize companies operating within the social media landscape, the field of biotechnology, and the development of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) products.

These SaaS solutions are specifically designed to simplify and enhance the consumer experience.

PitchBook data indicates that she has participated in at least 22 investment rounds.

Connection to M13 Ventures

Paris Hilton is married to Carter Reum, the founder of M13 Ventures, a prominent venture capital firm based in Los Angeles.

M13 Ventures has a successful track record, having invested in well-recognized companies such as ClassPass, Canvas, and Pinterest, as detailed on their official website.

The firm’s portfolio showcases a commitment to innovative and disruptive businesses.

Ashton Kutcher

Ashton Kutcher is widely recognized as a prominent celebrity investor in the venture capital landscape.

He serves as the co-founder of two venture capital firms: A-Grade and Sound Ventures, both established in collaboration with Guy Oseary.

Following the launch of Sound Ventures, Effie Epstein was brought on board as a managing partner.

Sound Ventures' Investment Strategy

Founded in 2015, Sound Ventures concentrates its investments on software-based companies.

The firm currently manages assets exceeding $1 billion, as reported by PitchBook.

Beyond standard investments, Sound Ventures also utilizes thematic funds, recently introducing an AI Growth Thematic fund.

This fund has made investments in leading AI companies, including Hugging Face, OpenAI, Anthropic, and World Labs.

Kutcher's Perspective on the AI Market

At TechCrunch’s 2024 Disrupt event, Kutcher articulated his belief that the AI sector has the capacity to support numerous large-scale AI model companies.

Consequently, he actively invests in competing AI ventures.

Notable Investments

Through A-Grade and Sound Ventures, Kutcher’s investment portfolio includes several well-known companies.

• Affirm
• Airbnb
• Airtable
• Duolingo
• Uber

These investments demonstrate his broad interest in disruptive technologies and innovative businesses.

Nas

In 2014, the renowned rapper Nas established QueensBridge Venture Partners. According to PitchBook, the firm has since deployed capital in over 130 ventures spanning diverse sectors.

Currently, QueensBridge Venture Partners manages approximately $140 million in assets. Anand Murthy serves as a partner within the organization.

Investments made by the firm include the luggage manufacturer Away – a venture also supported by Jay-Z – and the home goods company Parachute, as detailed by PitchBook.

Angel Investing Activities

Beyond his firm’s activities, Nas himself has directly invested in more than 50 companies as an angel investor, as reported by PitchBook.

His personal investment portfolio features prominent names like SeatGeek, Robinhood, Ring, Coinbase, and the financial technology company Mercury.

These investments demonstrate Nas’s significant involvement in the venture capital landscape.

Gwyneth Paltrow

According to data from PitchBook, Gwyneth Paltrow, the founder of Goop, has participated in a minimum of 24 investment rounds as an angel investor.

In addition to her individual investments, Paltrow co-founded Kinship Ventures with Moj Mahdara. This firm focuses on companies operating within the consumer and wellness sectors.

Kinship Ventures' Investments

Reports from Axios indicate that Kinship Ventures aimed to secure a $75 million venture capital fund last year. The firm has already provided backing to MoonPay, a company specializing in cryptocurrency payments.

Further SEC filings suggest Kinship Ventures also established a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to invest in both OpenAI and TeraWulf, a bitcoin mining operation.

Paltrow's Angel Investments

Paltrow’s angel investing portfolio includes a diverse range of companies. She has invested in Kudos, a diaper brand, and Crown Affair, a hair care company.

Her investments also extend to the beauty industry, with a stake in the e-commerce marketplace Thirteen Lune. Furthermore, Paltrow has invested in Olipop, a beverage brand.

Olipop has attracted investment from other prominent figures as well. Priyanka Chopra, Mindy Kaling, Logic, and the Jonas Brothers are also listed as investors in the company, as per PitchBook data.

These investments demonstrate Paltrow’s active engagement in the venture capital landscape, particularly within the consumer and wellness spaces.

Emma Watson

According to data from PitchBook, the actress has made at least two investments as an angel investor.

Her investment portfolio includes companies like FabricNano, a biomanufacturing firm, and Hertility Health.

Investment Focus

Watson is widely recognized for her activism, particularly concerning environmental issues and the advancement of women’s rights.

Consequently, her angel investments align with these values, focusing on companies dedicated to sustainable manufacturing processes and women’s healthcare solutions.

Portfolio Details

• FabricNano: A biomanufacturing company focused on more sustainable production methods.
• Hertility Health: A platform dedicated to providing comprehensive women’s health services.

These investments demonstrate a clear pattern of supporting businesses that prioritize both environmental responsibility and female empowerment.

The choices reflect Watson’s commitment to leveraging her resources for positive social and environmental impact.

Olivia Wilde

Olivia Wilde, a prominent actress and director, has collaborated with Neil Sirni, formerly the head of Roc Nation’s Arrive venture division, to establish a new venture capital firm called Proximity.

This development was reported by Bloomberg in October. Currently, Wilde doesn't have a profile on PitchBook, but reports indicate that Proximity’s investment strategy will center on both consumer and enterprise technology sectors.

The firm has already begun making investments, with Pendulum Therapeutics being one of its initial portfolio companies.

Proximity’s Founding Team

Alongside Wilde and Sirni, investor Jason Mack and the artist Santigold, recognized for her hit song “L.E.S. Artistes,” are also listed as partners within the firm.

According to SEC filings, Proximity is actively raising capital through two new Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) funds.

Fundraising Details

• A $5 million fund is dedicated to investments within the health technology space.
• A separate $10 million fund is being raised for broader technology investments.

These funds will allow Proximity to further expand its portfolio and support innovative companies in its target sectors.

Jay-Z

Shawn Carter, widely known as Jay-Z, functions as an angel investor and serves as a co-founder of both RocNation and MarcyPen Capital Partners.

MarcyPen Capital Partners originated from the consolidation of Jay-Z’s Marcy Venture Partners and Pendulum Holding’s investment division, Pendulum Opportunities.

Roc Nation's Investment Activities

Roc Nation maintains its own venture capital arm, Arrive Opportunities Management. This division was previously under the leadership of Neil Sirni, who now collaborates with Olivia Wilde at Proximity.

PitchBook data indicates that Arrive Opportunities Management has participated in a minimum of 40 investment deals.

These investments include prominent companies like Sweetgreen and Epic Games.

Marcy Venture Partners and Subsequent Merger

Prior to the merger, Marcy Venture Partners had already established a portfolio of investments.

Notable examples include Rihanna’s Fenty x Savage, contributing to Rihanna’s status as one of a select group of Black women to lead a unicorn company.

The firm also invested in Spatial Labs, a company focused on web3 technologies.

Charlie Hanna and Mason O’Hanlon are currently identified as investors with MarcyPen Capital Partners through platforms like PitchBook and LinkedIn.

Jay-Z’s Individual Angel Investments

Beyond his firm affiliations, Jay-Z has directly invested in at least 27 companies as an angel investor, as reported by PitchBook.

Notable investments include Oatly, Flowhub, Impossible Foods, and the luggage brand Away.