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The Fame Game

The only newsletter breaking down how celebrities and creators build billion dollar brands

Written by Scott van den Berg, founder of HotStart and an active investor in celebrity- and creator-founded brands.

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2,000+ celebrities, founders, investors, and operators already reading.

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Venture Capital

+7

The Strategic Partners That Silently Kill Celebrity Brands

Aug 27, 2026

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7 min read

The Strategic Partners That Silently Kill Celebrity Brands

Why the best strategic partner in the world can be the reason your brand disappears.

Scott Van den Berg
Scott Van den Berg

Venture Capital

+7

The Day Celebrity Brands Grew Up

Aug 20, 2026

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8 min read

The Day Celebrity Brands Grew Up

Why a day of wins and wipeouts is the most bullish signal in this space

Scott Van den Berg
Scott Van den Berg

Venture Capital

+7

The Pricing Mistake Most Celebrity Founders Make

Aug 13, 2026

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6 min read

The Pricing Mistake Most Celebrity Founders Make

Why Sabrina Carpenter Sells at Walmart and Martha Stewart Competes with La Mer

Scott Van den Berg
Scott Van den Berg

Venture Capital

+7

The Creator-Founder Playbook

Aug 6, 2026

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6 min read

The Creator-Founder Playbook

How Thomas Straker, Dani Austin, and Joe Sasto Built Their Audiences Before They Built Their Businesses

Scott Van den Berg
Scott Van den Berg

Venture Capital

+7

Becoming a Content Creator Was Never the Plan

Jul 30, 2026

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7 min read

Becoming a Content Creator Was Never the Plan

The Entrepreneurs Who Built Audiences to Solve a Business Problem

Scott Van den Berg
Scott Van den Berg

Venture Capital

+7

28% of Celebrity Brands Never Launch

Jul 23, 2026

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5 min read

28% of Celebrity Brands Never Launch

The Shocking Stat I Found From My Own Deal Flow

Scott Van den Berg
Scott Van den Berg

Venture Capital

+7

The New Celebrity Brand Exit Model

Jul 16, 2026

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6 min read

The New Celebrity Brand Exit Model

Why 1-to-10 Is the Celebrity Founder's Superpower, and 10-to-100 Is Someone Else's Job

Scott Van den Berg
Scott Van den Berg

Venture Capital

+7

The Wasted Opportunity in Celebrity Brands

Jul 9, 2026

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6 min read

The Wasted Opportunity in Celebrity Brands

Why Most Celebrities Are Pointing the World's Most Powerful Platform at the Wrong Thing

Scott Van den Berg
Scott Van den Berg

Venture Capital

+7

The Hidden Cost of a Celebrity Co-Founder

Jul 2, 2026

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8 min read

The Hidden Cost of a Celebrity Co-Founder

What Nobody Tells You Before You Sign the Deal

Scott Van den Berg
Scott Van den Berg
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