From Red Carpets to Startups: Celebrities Are Betting Big on Tech

Gone are the days when celebrity endorsements were limited to a face on a billboard. Today’s stars don’t just promote products, they own equity, fund innovation and shape narratives.

From Hollywood’s elite to Bollywood’s visionaries, the last five years have seen a surge in celebrities turning into serious startup investors. Whether it’s AI, climate-tech, or edtech, their portfolios are beginning to look more like those of venture capital firms than vanity projects.

Actors like Ashton Kutcher, Priyanka Chopra and Leonardo DiCaprio have made names for themselves as early backers of transformative tech companies. Their motivation? Diversification, influence and a genuine fascination with the future.

Why Are Celebrities Betting on Tech ?

Celebrities understand that fame has a shelf life, but influence when paired with smart investment lasts far longer. Many are drawn to tech because it aligns with their personal missions and long-term legacy. AI, sustainability, digital education and healthtech are purpose-driven profitable sectors.

Others see technology as the ultimate frontier for entrepreneurship. By backing startups early, they gain access to innovation pipelines, align their personal brands with future-forward causes and build cross-industry relevance.

As a result, the line between “influencer” and “innovator” has never been thinner.

How Celebrity Capital Shapes Startups ?

When a public figure joins a cap table, it brings more than money, it brings momentum.

A single post by a high-profile investor can give a young company visibility that millions in marketing couldn’t buy. But more importantly, celebrity involvement lends trust, the kind of credibility that early-stage startups desperately need.

From hiring talent faster to closing partnerships and attracting venture capital, celebrity participation often accelerates the startup lifecycle. However, it’s a double-edged sword, if a star’s reputation falters, the brand attached can take collateral damage.

World’s Growing Trend. Stars Meet Startup Nation

The celebrity–startup connection is no longer about fashion or fitness brands. It’s expanding deep into AI, climate tech, edtech and frontier innovation. From Bollywood to Hollywood and even sports, influential figures are backing technology that’s shaping the future.

• Dia Mirza became a strategic advisor and investor to WITHOUT, a deep-tech climate startup recycling multi-layer plastics; the company raised $1.9M around the same time.
• Priyanka Chopra Jonas invested in Bumble and the Holberton School, aligning with women-first networks and tech education.
• Ashton Kutcher (via Sound Ventures) invested in Hugging Face and other AI companies, furthering his reputation as a serious Silicon Valley investor.
• Ranbir Kapoor invested in Prozo, a tech-enabled supply-chain platform streamlining B2B commerce and warehouse automation.
• Saquon Barkley, the NFL star, invested in Crusoe, a clean-energy AI data-center startup that turns wasted energy into computing power.
• Prakash Padukone invested in Machaxi, an AI-driven sports-tech platform focused on digital coaching and athletic analytics.
• Leonardo DiCaprio, a long-time environmentalist, invested in Mosa Meat and Aleph Farms, biotech startups pioneering lab-grown sustainable meat.

These are just some of the famous examples. Together, these partnerships highlight how celebrities view technology not as an accessory to fame, but as a vehicle for impact, innovation and long-term relevance.

The Risks Behind the Glamour

Behind the headlines and red carpets lies a sobering truth: not every investment works.

While celebrity involvement can supercharge attention, it doesn’t guarantee product-market fit or profitability. Many ventures fail quietly despite big names, especially when investments are driven by hype rather than strategic insight.

Data privacy, AI ethics and governance are new frontiers even for seasoned VCs. For celebrity investors, due diligence has become non-negotiable.

From Passion Projects to Power Moves

This new wave of celebrity investors represents something bigger than branding. It signals the rise of “influence capital”: where fame, finance and future technologies converge.

For some, it’s a genuine passion for innovation. For others, it’s a smart diversification strategy. But for all, it marks a redefinition of what it means to have cultural power in the digital age.

The Star Power in Startup Capitalism

Celebrities are no longer just the faces of brands, they are becoming the architects of innovation.

Whether it’s Dia Mirza’s climate-tech advocacy, Priyanka Chopra’s digital ventures, or Ashton Kutcher’s Silicon Valley footprint, their influence now extends beyond entertainment into shaping the next generation of technology.

In a world where startups are the new status symbols, celebrity capital isn’t just about fame, it’s about foresight. Because in the 21st century, the smartest stars aren’t chasing the spotlight, they’re funding it.