Celebrity Money Is Flooding Into European Startups — Here's Where It's Going

Jan de Vries · 2026-10-09

Celebrity investing in startups isn't exactly breaking news. Athletes, actors, and musicians have been writing checks for years. But something's shifted lately — the kinds of companies pulling in famous backers are getting a lot more interesting. We're not just talking about another sneaker brand or a tequila label. These days, celebrities are putting real money into artificial intelligence, digital healthcare, clean energy, and biotech. Some invest directly. Others go through venture firms or their own investment vehicles. Either way, their involvement brings more than cash — it brings visibility, connections, and a certain strategic star power. So let's look at some of the most notable celebrity-backed startup deals across Europe. The numbers below come from publicly reported funding rounds and financing arrangements. Where individual contributions were disclosed, we've noted them. ### Kylian Mbappé and Alan: A $108 Million Health-Tech Play French football superstar Kylian Mbappé — World Cup winner, Real Madrid forward — became an investor and ambassador for Paris-based health-tech company Alan in March 2026 through his investment vehicle, Coalition Capital. Alan, founded in 2016, provides digital health insurance and healthcare services. That same month, the company closed a funding round of roughly $108 million (€100 million), pushing its valuation to about $5.4 billion (€5 billion). Then in June 2026, it raised another $520 million (€480 million). Mbappé's individual investment wasn't disclosed, but he's working with Alan on preventive healthcare, mental health, nutrition, and physical activity initiatives. ### Leonardo DiCaprio and SolarMente: A $54 Million Bet That Didn't Pan Out American actor and environmental advocate Leonardo DiCaprio — you know him from Titanic, Inception, The Revenant — invested in Barcelona-based ClimateTech startup SolarMente back in 2024. SolarMente helped households access solar energy through a subscription model, cutting down the need for big upfront installation costs. Unfortunately, the company went bankrupt in April 2026. That's a tough break for both the founders and DiCaprio's investment. But Leo hasn't slowed down. He recently put an undisclosed amount into Stockholm-based Energy-as-a-Service company Elvy. ### Emma Watson and FabricNano: A $11.3 Million Series A British actress and activist Emma Watson — Hermione Granger to an entire generation — joined investors in London-based BioTech startup FabricNano in 2021. Founded in 2018, FabricNano develops cell-free biomanufacturing technology. The goal? Make industrial production more efficient and less dependent on fossil fuel-derived materials. Their tech uses immobilized enzymes to help produce chemicals and other materials. ### Pau Gasol and Luzia: A $10.3 Million Round Spanish basketball legend Pau Gasol — two-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers — backed Madrid-based AI startup Luzia through his investment vehicle, Gasol16 Ventures. Luzia builds a generative AI assistant you can access through messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram. No separate app download required. Pretty handy, right? ### Elton John and Audoo: A $5.1 Million Round Sir Elton John — five decades of hits like Rocket Man and Your Song — invested in London-based music tech startup Audoo in 2023. Founded in 2018, Audoo develops audio recognition technology that identifies music played in public places — shops, restaurants, gyms. The aim is to give music rights organizations more accurate data so artists get paid fairly. ### What This Means for European Startups Celebrity backing isn't just a vanity metric. When someone like Mbappé or DiCaprio gets involved, it signals something. It draws attention. It opens doors. And for European startups trying to compete globally, that kind of spotlight can be a game-changer. Of course, not every bet pays off — SolarMente's bankruptcy is a reminder that even star power can't save a business with flawed fundamentals. But the trend is clear: celebrities are getting more strategic with their money, and European startups are increasingly the beneficiaries. Whether you're an entrepreneur looking for funding or just someone who follows startup news, this convergence of fame and finance is worth watching. The next big deal might come from a name you never expected.