Starfunding: 10 of Europe’s biggest celebrity-backed startup deals

Celebrity investment in startups is nothing new, but the range of businesses attracting famous backers is expanding. Beyond traditional endorsements and brand partnerships, celebrities are putting capital into companies working on artificial intelligence, digital healthcare, clean energy, biotechnology and other emerging sectors.

Some are investing directly, while others participate through venture capital firms or dedicated investment vehicles. Their involvement can bring not only funding but also international visibility, industry connections and strategic expertise.

With that in mind, we’ve put together 10 notable celebrity-backed startup deals across Europe. The figures below reflect publicly reported investment amounts, funding rounds or financing arrangements, depending on what has been disclosed. Individual contributions are identified wherever possible.

Kylian Mbappé – Alan (France): €100 million funding round

French football superstar Kylian Mbappé, a World Cup winner and Real Madrid forward, became an investor and ambassador for Paris-based health-tech company Alan in March 2026 through his investment vehicle, Coalition Capital.

Founded in 2016, Alan provides digital health insurance and healthcare services. Earlier that month, the company secured a €100 million funding round, bringing its valuation to approximately €5 billion. It subsequently raised another €480 million in June 2026.

Although Mbappé’s individual investment was not disclosed, he is collaborating with Alan on initiatives related to preventive healthcare, mental health, nutrition and physical activity.

Leonardo DiCaprio – SolarMente (Spain): €50 million financing agreement

American actor and environmental advocate Leonardo DiCaprio, known for films including Titanic, Inception and The Revenant, became an investor in Barcelona-based ClimateTech startup SolarMente in 2024.

Unfortunately for both the founders and Di Caprio’s invesmtent, the company went bankrupt in April of 2026. SolarMente helped households access solar energy through a subscription model that reduces the need for large upfront installation costs.

That has not stopped Leo however, as he has continued his investment trends since then, having this week invested an undisclosed amount in Stockholm-based Energy-as-a-Service company Elvy.

Emma Watson – FabricNano (United Kingdom): €10.5 million Series A

British actress and activist Emma Watson, internationally recognised for playing Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter film series, joined the investors in London-based BioTech startup FabricNano in 2021.

Founded in 2018, FabricNano develops cell-free biomanufacturing technology designed to make industrial production processes more efficient and reduce dependence on fossil fuel-derived materials. Its technology uses immobilised enzymes to support the production of chemicals and other materials.

Pau Gasol – Luzia (Spain): €9.5 million funding round

Spanish basketball legend Pau Gasol, a two-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers and one of Europe’s most successful basketball players, backed Madrid-based artificial intelligence startup Luzia through his investment vehicle, Gasol16 Ventures.

Luzia develops a generative AI assistant accessible through messaging platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram, allowing users to interact with artificial intelligence without downloading a separate application.

Elton John – Audoo (United Kingdom): €4.75 million funding round

British singer-songwriter Sir Elton John, whose career spans more than five decades and includes hits such as Rocket Man and Your Song, became an investor in London-based music technology startup Audoo in 2023.

Founded in 2018, Audoo develops audio recognition technology that identifies music played in public places such as shops, restaurants and gyms. Its goal is to provide more accurate data to music rights organisations and help artists receive fairer royalty payments.

Ibai Llanos – Plesh (Spain): €3.75 million funding round

Spanish streamer and entrepreneur Ibai Llanos, known for his massive online audience, the boxing event La Velada del Año and his involvement in the Kings League, entered the FoodTech sector in October 2026.

Together with former Barcelona footballer Gerard Piqué, Llanos led a €3.75 million financing round in Barcelona-based startup Plesh, a company developing chocolate snacks without added sugar.

Snoop Dogg – Sanity Group (Germany): €3 million investment

American rapper and entrepreneur Snoop Dogg, a prominent figure in hip-hop since the 1990s, has developed a broad business portfolio that includes technology and cannabis-related ventures.

Through Casa Verde Capital, the venture capital firm he co-founded, Snoop Dogg is connected an investment in Berlin-based Sanity Group in November 2021.

Founded in 2018, Sanity Group develops products and businesses in medical cannabis and consumer health, combining pharmaceutical expertise with regulated healthcare distribution.

Novak Djokovic – waterdrop (Austria): Seven-figure investment

Serbian tennis champion Novak Djokovic, one of the most successful players in the history of the sport.

In 2023, he became an investor and brand ambassador for Vienna-based startup waterdrop. Founded in 2016, waterdrop develops compact hydration cubes that dissolve in water.

Djokovic made a significant seven-figure investment, according to reports from January 2023. Although the exact figure was not disclosed, his personal commitment represents one of the clearer examples of an individually attributed celebrity investment in a European startup.

Diogo Dalot – Bioniq (United Kingdom): Over €1 million investment

Portuguese professional footballer Diogo Dalot, who plays for Manchester United and the Portuguese national team, joined London-based HealthTech startup Bioniq as an investor in March 2025.

Founded in 2019, Bioniq creates personalised nutritional supplements using blood biomarker data and AI-driven analysis to develop formulations tailored to individual needs.

Dalot contributed over €1 million to the company, joining fellow Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, who had invested in Bioniq the previous year.

David Beckham – Guild Esports (United Kingdom): €272k investment

English football icon David Beckham, a former Manchester United and Real Madrid player and one of the world’s most commercially recognisable athletes, entered competitive gaming by investing in London-based Guild Esports in 2020.

Founded in 2019, Guild Esports was established to build professional gaming teams, develop esports talent and compete in international tournaments across major video game titles.

In June 2020, Beckham invested through his business DB Ventures, acquiring shares in the company ahead of its listing on the London Stock Exchange later that year.

While the amounts and structures vary considerably, the involvement of globally recognised figures can give young companies access to networks, visibility and opportunities that extend beyond traditional startup financing. At the same time, the deals highlight an important distinction: a celebrity’s participation in a multimillion-euro funding round does not necessarily mean that the celebrity invested the full amount personally.

As more athletes, entertainers and creators establish investment vehicles of their own, celebrity-backed startups are likely to remain a visible part of Europe’s innovation landscape.