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6 Celebrity backed start-ups that became unicorns

Virat kholi, ms dhoni, Anushka Sharma, sachin Tendulkar, shikhar dhawan

celebrities

The worlds of cricket and showbiz often collide, not just in glamorous parties and power couples, but also in the business realm. Many cricket legends and Bollywood stars have ventured into the startup ecosystem, leveraging their star power as angel investors. Start-ups that achieved unicorn status in India, fueled by celebrity investments, have exceeded 110, according to Tracxn data as of December 21, 2023.

Celebrity Investment Landscape

Data reveals that celebrities show a strong preference for investing in B2C e-commerce and internet-first brands. Mumbai and Bengaluru emerge as hotspots for such investments, with a significant number of successful startups originating from these cities.

Six Celebrity-Backed Unicorns

Several celebrity-backed startups have achieved unicorn status, reaching valuations exceeding USD 1 billion. Let’s delve into six notable success stories:

Unicorn Company Definition

The term “unicorn” was coined by venture capitalist Aileen Lee in 2013. A privately-held startup earns the unicorn title when it achieves a valuation exceeding USD 1 billion.

Understanding Angel Investors

Angel investors are private individuals with a high net worth who finance small business ventures in exchange for equity. Unlike venture capital firms, angel investors use their personal funds for these investments. Their involvement can range from a one-time monetary injection to ongoing financial support, and they often play an active role in the businesses they back.

Celebrity Investment Statistics

According to Tracxn data, Sachin Tendulkar has invested in nine start-ups, Suniel Shetty and Virat Kohli in eight each, Shilpa Shetty in seven, and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Amitabh Bachchan, and Shraddha Kapoor in six each. Anushka Sharma has invested in five start-ups. Notably, actor and cricket presenter Gaurav Kapur leads the pack with investments in 19 start-ups.

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