Top 50 Celebrity Startup Investors in September 2025

Adam Nash is the Co-Founder and CEO at Daffy. He attended Stanford University and Harvard Business School.

Larry Braitman - Angel Investor; Advisor @ Braitman & Company

startup300 operates as an angel investor network and business accelerator offering services to Austrian startups.

Harrison Metal invests in early stage technology companies led by exceptional founders.

Speedinvest is one of Europe’s most active early-stage venture capital funds, with more than €1.2bn in AuM and offices in Berlin, London, Munich, Paris, and Vienna. Our dedicated sector-focused teams (Climate Tech & Industrial Tech, Deep Tech, Fintech, Health & Bio, Marketplaces & Consumer Tech, SaaS & Infra) are the first to fundEMEA's most innovative pre-Seed and Seed tech startups. Our in-house operational experts and global network of industry leaders support our portfolio companies with growth, people (HR), market expansion, and more throughout every stage of their journeys. Bitpanda, GoStudent, Wayflyer, Open, CoachHub, Schüttflix, TourRadar, Adverity, and TWAICE are among our portfolio of 400+ companies.

Investing in powerful, positive change that endures

Investing in early-stage tech companies with founding teams inclusive of diverse entrepreneurs such as #Women and #PersonsofColour.

Vine Street Ventures is a venture capital investment firm dedicated to investing in internet and mobile businesses.

Jim Moloshok serves on various digital media company boards, gives advice to venture capital firms in the evolution of media consumption and how consumers relate to content across multi-platforms, and has invested in companies that overlap his areas of expertise and passion.Before entering the investment and entrepreneurial world fulltime,Moloshok most recently was president, Digital Initiatives for Home Box Office.Before joining HBO, Moloshok was part of the turn-around team that went to Yahoo! in 2001 to help it recover from the dotcom collapse, building Yahoo! back to be the leading portal with all of its content areas ranking first or second in their categories.Prior to joining Yahoo!, Moloshok was one of the founders of Windsor Digital, a venture capital firm cofounded with Terry Semel, former Chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Studios and then Chairman and CEO of Yahoo!Moloshok also spent eleven years at Warner Bros. as co-founder and president of Warner Bros. Online, and president and CEO of Entertaindom.com. Moloshok also served as SVP of Warner Bros. marketing and advertising.Moloshok started his professional career working in local television.

Mike Hennessey

Marc Benioff is Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Salesforce. Marc Benioff attended the University of Southern California.

Aubrey Graham (Drake) is the Founder of OVO Sound.

Inveready is a leading Spanish financial services firm focused on investment solutions and wealth management.

Nexus Venture Partners is a venture capital firm established by ex-entrepreneurs in enterprise technology and consumer internet. The firm was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Menlo Park, California, United States.

TBT is an Adventure Capital.We are more than your average VC investor; we are always up for an adventure. Investment means more than just transfer of capital for us. We want to be a discussion partner that discovers possibilities beyond risk and aligns growth with progress. We want to share decades of industry knowledge and experience in internetand mobile services to build services and products that can make the world a better place.

Troy Carter is the Founder and CEO of Venice Music. He previously worked at Atom Factory as a Founder and CEO. Troy Carter attended Fairfield University.

Edgar Bronfman Jr. is the co-founder, Chairman, and General Partner at Waverley Capital Acquisition Corp. 1.

Javier Martín Chocarro - Shareholder @ Appszoom

Axel Serena is the Director and Investor of Alva House Capital and Alva Ventures

SoftBank Group provides venture funding and strategic support to exceptional entrepreneurs building disruptive enduring businesses. They are a small team of experienced entrepreneurs and investors who take an "active" approach to helping their companies reach their full potential. They manage $600 million across three funds and investacross a company’s lifecycle, from early to growth stages. Through their close ties to a number of Asia’s leading mobile, internet and technology companies – including strategic partners SoftBank Corp, Yahoo! Japan and Alibaba Group – SoftBank Capital offers unique expertise to businesses seeking to address the Asian market. Since 1995, SoftBank Capital has partnered with internet pioneers such as Criteo, Gilt Groupe, OMGPOP (Zynga), betaworks, BuzzFeed, Buddy Media (Salesforce.com), Huffington Post (AOL), Associated Content (Yahoo!), Danger (Microsoft), Geocities (Yahoo!), E*Trade and Yahoo!.

Slaight Communications, Inc. manages the internet radio portal Iceberg radio. The company has strategic alliances with Sirius Satellite Radio and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

Joseph Tsai is the current Executive Vice Chairman of Alibaba Group. He previously worked at Investor AB as a Vice President and Senior Investment Manager. Joseph Tsai attended Yale Law School.

Entrepreneurial small businesses are major engines of job growth and key players in the commercialization of new technologies. However, most entrepreneurial ventures fail to achieve their goals. Among the most common reasons for such business failures are the inability to execute sound business plans and to access capital funding, particularly atcritical early stages of a company's development.Affiliated as Pasadena Angels, Inc., a nonprofit entity, the organization offers early-stage companies the opportunity to benefit from the knowledge of more than 100 experienced entrepreneurs, senior corporate executives, and skilled professionals from a variety of industries and venture capital affiliates.Approximately 80 companies from a broad range of industries are screened each year by Pasadena Angels members and are provided with invaluable counsel, including insights into developing business and financing strategies that are achievable and fundable. Companies also benefit from the group's feedback and the opportunity to connect with individuals who may offer more specialized expertise and advice.The organization's members provide up to $1 million in early-stage financing and seed money to emerging technology-based ventures located in Southern California. The group cooperates with other venture capital firms and angel investment groups to support companies that are raising between $1 to $5 million. Pasadena Angels members invest individually and directly, without any legal pooling of financial resources. The corporate entity, Pasadena Angels, Inc. does not invest or act as an investment agent in any manner.Pasadena Angels charges no fees and provides its services to companies which it believes have a significant potential for success and the potential to benefit from an association with the organization.

The Manatt Venture Fund is the investment arm of Manatt, Phelps & Philips, LLP, a Los Angeles-based law firm.

Bo Feng is the Managing Partner at Dragonfly Capital Partners.

Allen DeBeviose started Third Wave in 2014 after more than 30 years of experience incubating and investing in digital media companies. He has invested in over 70 digital media companies and has co-founded several of the most important digital media brands including Machinima, StyleHaul, DanceOn, INDMusic, Mitu, and Tubular Labs. Prior to foundingThird Wave, Allen built a strong track record as an Angel Investor in the digital media sector and has had over 15 high-multiple exits and NAVs. Allen is currently the Chairman of Machinima and sits on several digital media company boards including StyleHaul, MiTu, Tubular Labs, DanceOn, INDMusic, and Mondo Entertainment. He was an early investor and outside board member for several companies. LowerMyBills.com and Dealer.com are examples of two companies that had highly successful exits. He was featured on the Hollywood Reporter's Digital Power List 2009 and on Digital Media Wire's 2010 List of "25 Executives to Watch” and dubbed the Godfather of Online Video. Allen is a frequent speaker at major digital media conferences and considered an important leader in the rapidly growing Silicon Beach venture capital community.Allen has been engaged on the leading edge in the digital media and interactive arena for over three decades including working on the first uses of computer animation in entertainment ("Tron"), the first interactive video on the Mac ("Guernica"), the first interactive television trial (Time Warner Orlando) and the first broadband cable Internet prototype ("@Home").Allen has an A.B. in Mathematics and an MSE in Computer Science from the University of Pennsylvania.

Jordan French is the Founder and CEO of Grit Daily News. He previously worked at BNB Shield as a Co-founder. Jordan French attended Vanderbilt University.

John Tan - Founder @ Controlled Commodity

Mishaal Alireza - Board Member @ DokkanAfkar

Raptor Group Holdings is an alternative investment firm that provides investment management and advisory services. Raptor Group sources and invest in companies across various stages and asset classes, ranging from early-stage venture to both private and public equity. Raptor focuses on various industries including, but not limited to Sports,Consumer, Technology, Media, Entertainment, and Financial Services. It was founded in 2009 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.

Oleg Tscheltzoff is Co-Founder & CEO at Fotolia. Oleg Tscheltzoff is the Investor of LOTS18. Oleg Tscheltzoff is one of the top serial internet entrepreneurs but also a successful angel investor with over 30 investments, board member, serious innovator, provocateur, disruptor, and connector. As an entrepreneur, Oleg has leveraged a globalvision and knowledge of international business, management and marketing to develop successful online businesses. In 2004 Oleg co-founded Fotolia.com, the first global online social marketplace for creative digital stock images. As president, he led the company to the world’s largest microstock photography site. Prior to Fotolia, Oleg co-founded Amen, the leading Internet hosting company in France, which was sold in 2004 to Vianetworks (NASDAC Symbol VNWIE).

Kenny Dichter is Founder and CEO of Wheels Up, a revolutionary membership-based private aviation company that eliminates fixed costs and provides unparalleled flexibility. Wheels Up will commence full-service flight operations October 2013, appealing to new entrants as well as to individuals and corporations currently flying privately.Previously, Dichter Founded Marquis Jet in 2001 and introduced the first-ever fractional jet card program, which revitalized and democratized the private aviation industry. Led by Dichter, Marquis Jet generated over $4 billion in revenue, culminating in its sale to Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway’s Net Jets in 2010. At that time, Dichter was named Vice Chairman of Net Jets. Dichter’s role enabled him to build lasting relationships with CEOs,entrepreneurs, celebrities, athletes and tastemakers around the globe.An entrepreneur at heart, with a sociology major from the University of Wisconsin, Dichter is a self-proclaimed “man of the people.” Since his youth, he has been known for being a trend spotter and trendsetter, and has always had an innate knack for branding, marketing, public relations and advertising. Dichter’s successes prove that he can apply these skills to a variety of industries.As always, Dichter has his eye on early-stage businesses where he sees potential for hyper growth. He has an active role and has invested in Juice Press, a Manhattan-based, multi-location, grab-and-go organic, raw food and juice company; SportYapper, a global communications platform for talking sports; CYC, the first indoor cycling studio aimed at college students and young professionals at universities across the country; and Cirrus, a fitnesscompany that customizes premium exercise equipment.In 2010, Dichter co-founded Tequila Avion, an ultra-premium brand that in 30 months has positioned itself, through branding and distribution, as an emerging leader in its category. Paris-based Pernod Ricard, the world’s second largest premium wine and spirits company, purchased a minority stake in Tequila Avion in 2011, and has the worldwide distribution rights.In 2004, Dichter Founded MGX Lab, an independent, full-service, digital media, brand strategy, and business development company that serves as a think tank for companies such as Disney, Bayer, Patch, cambio.com and Muhammad Ali Enterprises.Dichter is also Founder and Chairman of Tour GCX Partners, Inc., a golf membership program providing cliententertainment solutions to corporations and individuals, through access to private country clubs.In 1996, Dichter co-founded Alphabet City, a sports marketing and music company, which was acquired by Robert FX Sillerman’s SFX Entertainment in 1998.Dichter is a regular guest on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” and sought by media outlets for his perspectives on the aviation industry, consumer brands, and the luxury goods and services sector.Dichter co-founded Action America, along with AOL Chairman and CEO Tim Armstrong, to unite and activate Americans everywhere to turn the events of 9/11 into positive action. He also chairs the Council of Advocates at New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital for Dr. Ken Davis, Mount Sinai’s Chairman and CEO, and sits on the Board of the Jack Martin Fund, which currently works with the hospital’s cutting-edge pediatric oncology department. Also,Dichter is a major supporter of his alma mater, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Michael Mahan is the President of dick clark productions and a Partner of Mosaic Media Investment Partners. Mr. Mahan brings a wealth of experience to this position from his previous post as President of the TV Guide Network and tvguide.com. Mahan led the transformation of the TV Guide Network from a guidance-focused utility network to afull-screen entertainment destination available in 81 million homes. Prior to TV Guide, Mahan was a board member and head of corporate strategy for dick clark productions.

social networks like Twitter, Facebook, etc.Since it is partially open source, users can create their own apps, plug-ins, and skins for it.The framework for Boxee is based on source code from the

Roshan is founder of Encompass Events Pvt. Ltd.

entrepreneur and investor in tech start-ups, crypto and public markets. Founded a fintech company, and was a part of the Investment Team of Lumis Partners (PeopleStrong, TalentEdge, Sheroes etc). Headed Startup Programs for Facebook for South Asia & India. Early backer of companies like Plum (health insurance for SME employees), Clickpost(logistics tech), Rupifi (credit for SMEs), WorkApps (Enterprise Collaboration), Chingari (Social Video), Kutumb (social communities for Bharat), DelightChat (customer support for D2C brands), 10Club (D2C e-commerce), UrbanYogi (mental health)

Srishti Behl is the Founder of Rose Audio Visuals.

StartupXseed Ventures LLP is the Investment Manager of “Aaruha Technology Fund” registered with Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) as Category I - under Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) Regulations 2012.StartupXseed is a Strategic programme, for supporting the aspiring entrepreneurs with great ideas. StartupXseed is a uniqueprogramme combined with Seed fund, Strategic support, Market Access, Mentorship and closely supported by the Investor/advisory board of StartupXseed. It acts as a “Co-Founder/Seed Partner” in helping innovation to succeed in the Technology and Technology enabled areas across sectors in India.Backed by the team of pioneers of IT, Entrepreneurs, Educationist and Industrialist, the StartupXseed provides small business innovators with a complete structured help of Startup eco system to help navigate the unique challenges of building the sustainable growth businesses in India.

Vinod Bhanushali

Zubin Gandevia

TiE Pune is a nonprofit network that fosters entrepreneurship through mentoring, networking, and education.The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), was founded in 1992 in Silicon Valley by a group of successful entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and senior professionals with roots in the Indus region. TiE Global is devoted to entrepreneurs in allindustries, at all stages, from incubation, throughout the entrepreneurial lifecycle.TiE connects the entire entrepreneurship ecosystem from early stage entrepreneurs, serial entrepreneurs, professionals at leading corporations, venture capital, angel investors, thought leaders among others. The organization emphasizes the spirit of giving in all aspects of their work.There are currently 11,000 members, including over 2,500 charter members in 60 chapters across 17 countries.

Before founding zulily, Darrell spent almost a decade at Blue Nile, where he was CTO and SVP of Marketing. In 2009, he spent a year at Microsoft leading the BizTalk Server business. Previously, he was at Starwave, a Seattle-based internet company, working on large web properties including ESPN.com and ABCNews.com. He attended the University ofVictoria. When he's not at zulily, Darrell's favorite thing to do is spend time with his young son and daughter, especially on trips to visit family in Canada and Ireland.

Fuse Capital (formerly Velocity Interactive Group and fused with ComVentures) is a leading investment and strategic equity management firm that focuses on digital media and communications. The firm brings a unique approach to investing by bringing not just financial capital, but also human capital to its investment companies. Fuse has a globalpresence with offices in Palo Alto, Los Angeles, India and China. For more information, please visit www.fusecapital.com.

Wayra is a globally connected and technological open innovation hub in the world. We currently operate in 10 countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Germany, Mexico, Peru, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Venezuela.Through Telefónica our global presence allows us to be at the helm of innovation, shoulder to shoulder with drivenentrepreneurs and in a position to engage the right partners and leaders of industries for business. Our mission is clear, to connect innovators with Telefónica and generate joint business opportunities. We are the interface between Telefónica and entrepreneurial ecosystems across the globe because innovation makes good business sense.

QF Capital is a fund management company that focuses on private equity investments.

Lerer Hippeau is an early-stage venture capital fund based in New York City. As founders and operators ourselves, we see returns in relationships

Supermorpheus is an investment firm.

Mumbai Angels is an angle stage investment firm. Mumbai Angels has served as a breeding ground for both plug-in businesses for larger corporations and financial investors seeking incubated businesses ready to scale.

Online investing opportunities in the best new startup businesses, and raise seed and angel investment, with top European equity crowdfunding site Seedrs.

Sina Afra is the CEO and Founder of Tiko. He previously worked at Markafoni as a CEO and Founder. Sina Afra attended the University of Münster.