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

Jan de Vries · 2026-10-09

Celebrity investment in startups isn't new. But the kinds of companies pulling in famous backers? That's shifting fast. Forget just endorsements and brand deals—stars are now writing checks for AI, digital health, clean energy, biotech, and other emerging sectors. Some invest directly. Others go through venture firms or their own investment vehicles. Either way, they bring more than cash. They bring global visibility, industry connections, and strategic know-how that money alone can't buy. So we rounded up 10 notable celebrity-backed startup deals across Europe. The figures below come from publicly reported investment amounts, funding rounds, or financing arrangements—depending on what's been disclosed. Individual contributions are noted wherever possible. ### Kylian Mbappé – Alan (France): €100 million funding round French football superstar Kylian Mbappé—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 (about $108 million), bringing its valuation to roughly €5 billion (around $5.4 billion). It then raised another €480 million (about $520 million) in June 2026. 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 – SolarMente (Spain): €50 million financing agreement American actor and environmental advocate Leonardo DiCaprio—known for 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. 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): €10.5 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): €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 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. Users can interact with AI without downloading a separate app. ### Elton John – Audoo (United Kingdom): €4.75 million funding round British singer-songwriter Sir Elton John—whose career spans more than five decades with 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 such as shops, restaurants, and gyms. Its goal is to provide more accurate data to music rights organizations and help artists receive fair compensation. ### The bigger picture These deals show a clear trend: celebrities aren't just lending their names anymore. They're putting real money into sectors that could define the next decade. And while not every bet pays off—just ask DiCaprio about SolarMente—the overall flow of capital into European startups is only growing. For founders, that means new opportunities. For investors, it's a signal that Europe's startup scene is maturing. And for the rest of us? It's a fascinating window into where smart money is heading next.