7 Celebrities Turned Tech: In a city where the limelight traditionally shines on Hollywood’s film, television, and music industries, Los Angeles is gradually becoming synonymous with another kind of stardom – Tech entrepreneurship. The city’s burgeoning tech ecosystem has attracted not only innovative minds but also celebrities from various fields who are now making waves as tech entrepreneurs. Here’s a roundup of some well-known personalities who have founded startups in the City of Angels:
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7 Celebrities Turned Tech Entrepreneurs in LA
1. Jessica Alba – The Honest Company
- Headquarters: Playa Vista
Jessica Alba, known for her roles in “Idle Hands” and “Sin City,” co-founded The Honest Company in 2012. This e-commerce startup set the standard for affordable, organic, and family-focused household products, including baby care items, cosmetics, and household cleaners. Despite facing some challenges, The Honest Company recently raised an impressive $67.8 million in Series E funding.
2. Will.i.am – i.am+
- Headquarters: West Hollywood
The Black Eyed Peas member Will.i.am ventured into the tech world when he founded i.am+ in 2012. Initially perceived as an e-commerce brand, i.am+ has since pivoted into a profitable B2B tech startup specializing in AI-powered chatbots for customer service. The company has raised a total of $117 million, with a significant $89 million secured in a recent funding round.
3. Rainn Wilson – Soul Pancake
- Headquarters: East Hollywood
Best known for his role as Dwight Schrute in “The Office,” actor Rainn Wilson also co-founded Soul Pancake, an LA-based media company with over 2 million YouTube subscribers. In 2015, SoulPancake earned recognition as one of the “10 Most Innovative Companies in Video” by Fast Company and ranked 114th on Inc’s 5000 list.
4. Mike Mo Capaldi – Glassy
- Headquarters: Simi Valley
Mike Mo Capaldi, a prominent street skateboarder, turned entrepreneur when he launched Glassy, an e-commerce brand offering prescription eyeglasses, affordable sunglasses, and gaming glasses. Glassy boasts endorsements from notable skateboarders like Paul Rodriguez and has its roots in Simi Valley.
7 Celebrities Turned Tech Entrepreneurs in LA; From Hollywood to Silicon Beach
5. Reese Witherspoon – Hello Sunshine
- Headquarters: Los Angeles
Beyond her extensive acting career, Reese Witherspoon is the founder of Hello Sunshine, a media company dedicated to empowering women and female authors through various storytelling platforms, including traditional media, books, social content, and audio.
6. Jared Leto – VyRT
- Headquarters: Los Angeles
Academy Award-winning actor Jared Leto, known for his versatility, has a remarkable entrepreneurial side. Leto founded VyRT, an online streaming platform that combines social media networking and e-commerce. He’s also an active tech investor in LA-based companies like Headspace and Surf Air.
7. Paul “P-Rod” Rodriguez – Primitive
- Headquarters: Chatsworth
Paul Rodriguez, a renowned street skateboarder and San Fernando Valley native, serves as the CEO of Primitive, an e-commerce brand. Primitive recently introduced a subscription service to offer its skateboards and merchandise to a wider audience. Rodriguez, sponsored by Glassy, also co-owns Saint Archer Brewing Company.
7 Celebrities Turned Tech: These celebrity tech entrepreneurs are not only contributing to LA’s thriving startup scene but also bringing innovation and creativity to various industries, proving that the City of Angels has much more to offer than just Hollywood glitz and glamour. As they continue to make strides in the tech world, their ventures are bound to make a lasting impact.
7 Celebrities Turned Tech Entrepreneurs in LA; From Hollywood to Silicon Beach