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The 22 most active celebrity startup investors
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Justin Bieber.
Venture capitalists and corporates aren’t the only ones funding new tech startups as they look to become the next Google or Facebook.
High net worth individuals and angel investors are also ploughing millions of dollars into new ideas in the hope that one day they’ll become billion dollar businesses.
Many of those individuals happen to be famous, and analysts at research firm CB Insights have rounded up the 22 most active celebrity investors for a new list that was published Wednesday.
Approximately half of the individuals on the list hail from the music industry, while others have made a name for themselves in TV and movies, sports, or fashion. Those on the list have backed some big names including the likes of Spotify, Airbnb, Box, and Lyft.
In order to create the list, CB Insights looked at celebrity startup investment data going back to 2007.
22. Snoop Dogg has backed cannabis startups FunkSac and Eaze.
21. “Iron Man” star Robert Downey Jr has put money into subscription box service Loot Crate and Masterclass, a site that offers interactive video courses taught by big names including athletes, actors, and singers.
20. Pop star Justin Bieber has put money into music streaming service Spotify and selfie app Shots.
19. Former Black Eyed Peas member will.i.am has backed everything from tech firm Shellanoo Group to stealth startup Honest Dollar, which was acquired by Goldman Sachs in March.
18. 50 Cent has invested in “enhanced water” brand Glaceau and founded consumer electronics company SMS Audio.
17. Ryan Seacrest, a US radio personality, television host, and producer, has backed mindfulness app Headspace and social sharing platform Stamped.
16. Movie star Will Smith has invested in mental health startup BioBeats and men’s clothing company Vastrm.
15. Rapper Jay Z has backed private jet startup JetSmarter, while he owns music streaming startup Tidal.
14. Actor Leonardo DiCaprio has invested in sleep startup Casper as well as mobile phone company Solarin.
13. Former Victoria’s Secret model Tyra Banks has invested in The Muse, which helps people figure out what to do for a living, and video greetings card company VideoGram.
12. Musician Justin Timberlake has put some of his millions into the likes of social media platform Myspace and San Francisco startup Stipple, which has a platform that lets users tag people, places, and objects in an image.
11. Fashion designer Rachel Zoe has invested in travel company Raden as well as food and wellness startup FabFitFun, which delivers boxes containing snacks and beauty products through people’s letterboxes.
10. The Linkin Park band members have backed everything from stock market app Robinhood to shipping startup Shyp through their VC fund.
9. Retired Canadian basketballer Steve Nash has invested in mattress company Casper and children’s creativity platform Kiwi Crate.
8. Record label owner Scooter Braun has invested in salon booking platform VIVE and mattress company Casper.
7. Former LA Lakers star Kobe Bryant has backed restaurant booking platform Reserve and education platform VIPKid.
6. Carmelo Anthony has invested in startups such as physical storage service MakeSpace and women’s fashion website PureWow.
5. Jared Leto, an actor, singer-songwriter, and director, has backed electronic signature service DocuSign and mindfulness app Headspace.
4. Former American football quarterback Joe Montana has backed a number of startups over the last few years, including home intercom system Nucleus, video analytics startup Mux, and deep learning platform SkyMind.
3. Troy Carter, an American music manager who is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Atom Factory, a talent management and film and television production company, has backed over 30 startups since 2007, including London DIY computing startup Kano.
2. Nas has backed over 40 startups since 2007, primarily through his venture fund QueensBridge Venture Partners. They include clothing platform Totspot and FitMob, which gives people access to gyms.
1. Ashton Kutcher is “by far and away” the most active celebrity investor, according to CB Insights. The American actor, who starred in “Dude Where’s My Car?” has backed startups like Airbnb, Bebo, and Box.
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