Snoop Dogg
Widely known as Snoop Dogg in the music industry but Calvin Broadus, in the world of business, is an active investor in the cannabis-tech industries. He has a general partnership with Casa Verde Capital, a venture-capital company focusing on cannabis industry development. After the second funding round, the company raised approximately $100 million in December 2020.
He invested in the Greenbits, a futuristic cannabis dispensary software. This software utilizer data for simplifying cannabis commerce while optimizing retail performance. He also invested in AceCann for $15 million. This Portugal-based medical cannabis company utilizes unique cultivation technology for cannabis extraction.
Serena Williams
Serena Williams launched a VC firm in San Francisco in 2014, aiming to back different early-stage companies. Since then, the tennis star continuously invested in various startups that support minority communities and women.
Most of Serena’s investment is associated with the tech industry focusing on financial, health, and education equality. She has recently backed HUED’s seed funding round, a health-tech company that addresses racial disparities.
Serena participated in Fiveable’s funding round, an edtech startup and a social learning platform that connects event-led spaces with resources and guidance. She joined Motley Fool Ventures for Esusu’s $10 million series A investment funding, a fintech startup that helps many lessors raise credit scores.
Keshia Knight Pulliam
Keshia Knight Pulliam co-founded The Fearless Fund to bridge the gap between black women and the VC world. The investments were made in 6 companies that plan to invest in 14 more.
The portfolio includes an online beauty retailer AmP Beauty LA. This retailer utilizes data science and AI to provide high-quality beauty products for women.
Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Downey Jr. recently launched a philanthropic project, Footprint Coalition Ventures. This ESG-focused project brings together storytellers, donors, and investors to scale environmental issues solutions. The Iron Man actor revealed two latest investment funds for Footprint Coalition to support developing technologies that address climate change.
The biotech company RWDC industries are among the portfolio companies creating alternatives to plastic. Other portfolio companies include Ynsect, a natural fertilizer, and insect protein producer, and Cloud Paper, a startup for producing tree-free paper products. Robert also recently joined Saturn’s $44 million funding round, a calendar-based social platform.
Katy Perry
Katy Perry has not only marked her name in the music and entertainment industry but also in the business world. She is one of the know investors in food companies that use technology for making innovations.
She invested in Apeel Sciences to trade in her lollipops and cotton candies for Apples. She contributed to Apeel Sciences’ $250 million seed funding round. She is also an investor in Weight Watchers as she acquired a 10% stake for $43 million.
Other notable celebrity tech investors are Jay-Z, Leonardo DiCaprio, Will Smith, Spectacular Smith, Chamillionaire, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Andy Murray. As the tech industry offers high returns and low-interest rates, do not be surprised to see more celebrities joining tech companies.
