Celebrity Millions: 10 European Startup Bets You Should Know

Jan de Vries · 2026-10-09

Celebrity investment in startups isn't new. But the kinds of companies attracting famous backers? That's definitely changing. Forget just endorsements and brand partnerships—celebrities are now putting real money into AI, digital health, clean energy, biotech, and other emerging sectors. Some invest directly. Others go through venture capital firms or their own investment vehicles. Either way, their involvement brings more than cash. It brings global visibility, industry connections, and strategic expertise that can make or break a young company. So we've rounded up 10 notable celebrity-backed startup deals across Europe. The figures below reflect publicly reported investment amounts, funding rounds, or financing arrangements. Individual contributions are noted where possible. ### Kylian Mbappé – Alan (France): $108 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. That same month, the company secured a $108 million funding round, bringing its valuation to roughly $5.4 billion. It then raised another $518 million in June 2026. Mbappé's individual investment wasn't disclosed, but he's collaborating with Alan on initiatives around preventive healthcare, mental health, nutrition, and physical activity. ### Leonardo DiCaprio – SolarMente (Spain): $54 Million Financing Agreement American actor and environmental advocate Leonardo DiCaprio, known for films like Titanic, Inception, and The Revenant, became an investor in Barcelona-based ClimateTech startup SolarMente in 2024. Unfortunately for both the founders and DiCaprio's investment, the company went bankrupt in April 2026. SolarMente helped households access solar energy through a subscription model that reduced the need for large upfront installation costs. That hasn't stopped Leo, though. He's continued his investment streak, recently putting an undisclosed amount into Stockholm-based Energy-as-a-Service company Elvy. ### Emma Watson – FabricNano (United Kingdom): $11.3 Million Series A British actress and activist Emma Watson, internationally recognized for playing Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films, joined investors in London-based BioTech startup FabricNano in 2021. Founded in 2018, FabricNano develops cell-free biomanufacturing technology designed to make industrial production more efficient and reduce dependence on fossil fuel-derived materials. Its tech uses immobilized enzymes to support the production of chemicals and other materials. ### Pau Gasol – Luzia (Spain): $10.3 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 players, backed Madrid-based AI startup Luzia through his investment vehicle, Gasol16 Ventures. Luzia develops a generative AI assistant accessible through messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram, letting users interact with AI without downloading a separate app. ### Elton John – Audoo (United Kingdom): $5.1 Million Funding Round British singer-songwriter Sir Elton John, whose career spans more than five decades and includes hits like Rocket Man and Your Song, became an investor 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 goal is to provide more accurate data to music rights organizations and help artists get fair compensation. ### What This Means for European Startups Celebrity backing isn't just a vanity metric. It signals that Europe's startup ecosystem is maturing. These deals show that stars are willing to bet on deep tech, climate solutions, and health innovation—not just consumer apps. For founders, it's a reminder: you don't need to be in Silicon Valley to attract global attention. You just need a compelling vision and the right backers. > "Celebrity capital can open doors, but it's the technology and team that keep them open." As more stars diversify their portfolios, expect to see even more unexpected names popping up in European cap tables. The line between entertainment and entrepreneurship is blurring—and that's probably a good thing.