50+ Tech Companies Founded by Celebrities & Creators

Two weeks ago, Steven Bartlett launched Flightcast, an all-in-one podcast management platform. Last week, MrBeast dropped Vyro, connecting video editors with creators at scale. Two of the world's biggest creators, launching tech companies within days of each other.

This isn't a coincidence. It's a signal of what I call the Second Wave of creator companies, and it looks nothing like the beauty brands and alcohol ventures that came before.

Before I show you 52 examples of celebrities and creators who've made this leap into tech, let me explain why this shift is happening now and why it changes everything.

The First Wave Is Dead

To understand where we're going, we need to look at where we've been.

The First Wave dominated the last decade. The playbook was simple: leverage your fame to launch a beauty brand, a tequila, or an apparel line. SKIMS, Casamigos, Fenty, these success stories inspired thousands of copycats. 

The result? A graveyard of "me too" celebrity brands.

Another celebrity tequila? Another influencer vitamin? The market is saturated. The margins are brutal. The consumer has seen this movie before.

The world doesn't need another celebrity-branded anything.

The Second Wave: Building What's Actually Needed

What the world needs, and what smart creators and celebrities are building, are real solutions to real problems. The Second Wave isn't about slapping your name on a product. It's about leveraging your unique insights to build innovative products and services that solve actual customer pain points.

This is where creators have an unfair advantage. They understand their audiences at a cellular level. They've experienced the problems firsthand. And now, they're building the solutions.

And increasingly, these Second Wave celebrities and creators are choosing code over cosmetics and tech over tequila. This is one of the key trends we're actively investing in at HotStart VC.

Why Celebrities & Creators Are Choosing Code Over Cosmetics

The shift from consumer goods to technology isn't just a trend; it's a rational response to dramatically different business models. When celebrities and creators run the numbers, the choice becomes obvious. The economics are undeniable:

Traditional CPG Reality: 

• 40% margins (if you’re lucky) 

• 3-5x revenue multiples

• $1B ceiling on exits

• Cash tied up in inventory

• Distribution nightmares

Tech Company Universe:

• 70-90% software margins

• 15-20 revenue multiples

• $10B exit potential

• Zero inventory

• Infinite, instant scale

But here's what changed everything: the barriers to building tech have collapsed.

What once required millions in funding and teams of developers can now be built in weeks. AI coding assistants write production-ready code. No-code platforms handle complex applications. Cloud infrastructure eliminates upfront costs. 

The moat that protected incumbent software companies? Gone.

The Movement Is Already Here

To showcase this transformation and inspire more celebrities and creators to explore tech, we've compiled an exclusive list of 50+ celebrities & creators who have already made the leap—from MrBeast's analytics platform to Kayla Itsines' fitness empire, from Colin Kaepernick's AI storytelling tools to Alexandra Hirschi's global supercar marketplace.

These aren't just endorsements or passive investments. These are celebrities & creators rolling up their sleeves, identifying problems in their industries, and building the future. Let me show you what this looks like in practice:

Xiaoma (11M followers) built his following by learning 10+ languages and sharing the journey. He experienced firsthand the anxiety of practicing with native speakers, the cost of tutors, the scheduling nightmares. Teacher AI solves all of this with AI tutors available 24/7 at a fraction of traditional costs. 

Sophia Smith Galer (900k followers) generated 180 million views by turning complex journalism into viral social content. She realized other experts struggled to translate their research and articles into engaging videos that actually get watched. That’s why she launched Sophiana, a scriptwriting and teleprompter tool that helps anyone transform their existing work into algorithm-ready content, trained on her viral storytelling techniques that slice production time in half.

Grace Beverley (2.3M followers) spent years juggling brand deals, agency relationships, and campaign negotiations as a creator. She knew firsthand how broken the talent management industry was: agencies taking 20% for outdated services, creators getting terrible deals, brands struggling to find the right partnerships. Her solution? Retrograde, an AI-powered talent manager that handles everything from outreach to negotiation at a fraction of traditional costs. 

JeromeASF (8M followers) has been streaming for 16 years. He's watched the entire ecosystem evolve, seen brands struggle to advertise effectively on streams, witnessed the massive gap between billions of hours watched and actual ad dollars flowing to creators. NexTide isn't just another ad tech company; it's infrastructure built by someone who understands streaming at a cellular level. Patent-pending AI for brand safety. 

Hank Green (13M followers) has spent over a decade creating educational content and building online communities. He noticed how impossible it was for creators to maintain focus while working from home with constant digital distractions. Focus Friend is a productivity app that gamifies focus time with an adorable bean companion who knits while you work, turning productivity into a cozy, guilt-free experience that topped the App Store charts.

MrBeast (700M followers) built the world's largest YouTube channel by obsessing over every metric that drives views. But he couldn't find analytics software that actually helped creators understand what makes content successful. So he built ViewStats himself, creating the professional-grade analytics platform with thumbnail A/B testing and viewer insights that creators actually need.

Jake Paul (80M followers) leveraged his massive reach to enter the sports betting world. He saw how traditional betting apps ignored younger audiences who wanted faster, more engaging experiences. BETR is a micro-betting and sports entertainment platform that allows fans to place real-time wagers on live sporting events, with quick payouts and gamified features designed for the next generation.

RuPaul Charles (6M followers) built a global empire in entertainment and understands how creators struggle to monetize their audiences effectively. After decades of building loyal fanbases, he saw the disconnect between creators and commerce. Allstora is building an AI-powered community sales engine that enables retailers and creators to connect, understand, and sell to their followers more effectively.

David Sinclair (1.2M followers) is a Harvard professor who popularized longevity science through social media. He saw how people struggled to track their biological age and health metrics in one place. Tally Health combines at-home testing with AI analysis to give users actionable insights about their aging process and personalized recommendations.

Natalie Barbu (400K followers) spent years juggling content creation across multiple platforms and struggling with the chaos of social media management. She experienced firsthand how creators waste hours on repetitive tasks instead of creating. Rella combines the automation of content planning with the power of project management, powered by Ella, an AI content partner that streamlines social media collaboration.

Aris Yeager (1.5M followers) built his following through comedy sketches as @theEuropeanKid. He saw how local businesses desperately needed influencer marketing but couldn't afford traditional campaigns. That’s why he launched Storytime, offering a scalable solution where creators discover neighborhood spots and get perks like free meals in exchange for authentic posts, making influencer marketing accessible for every coffee shop and restaurant.

Ben Guez (800K followers) built his audience creating comedic content about the cultural differences between French and American life. Through his humor, he noticed how people connected with language through entertainment rather than textbooks. That's why he launched Canary, a platform that helps people learn languages through music, turning songs into powerful learning tools that make language acquisition fun and memorable.

Ghita El Haitmy (800K followers) built her following by making tech accessible to everyone through simple explanations as @techbible. She discovered that companies were drowning in software subscriptions with no effective way to manage their tech stack. That's why she launched Techbible AI, a platform that auto-finds, tracks, and manages your entire software stack in one place, giving businesses complete visibility and control over their software spend.

Ali Abdaal (8M followers) built his brand teaching productivity to students and professionals. After testing hundreds of productivity tools, he realized they all focused on features rather than forming lasting habits. That's why he launched Momentum, a platform that uses behavioral psychology and AI to create personalized productivity systems that adapt to how you actually work, not how apps think you should work.

Marques Brownlee (23M followers) built the world's most trusted tech review channel as @MKBHD. For years, viewers constantly asked about the stunning wallpapers in his videos, but he couldn't point them to a quality source since existing wallpaper apps were filled with ads, low-res images, and poor curation. That's why he launched Panels, a platform that transforms your screen into an art gallery with curated wallpapers designed by artists, giving people access to the same intentional, high-quality backgrounds that make devices look amazing in his videos.

Mari Llewellyn (2M followers) transformed her life through fitness and shared her 90-pound weight loss journey with millions. She experienced firsthand how overwhelming and confusing fitness could be for beginners without proper guidance and support. That's why she launched Strength by Mari, a fitness app featuring her exact workout guides, meal plans, and training methods that helped her transform, making it easy for anyone to follow a proven path without feeling lost in the gym.

Alexandra Hirschi (115M followers) became the world's most followed female car influencer as @supercarblondie, showcasing rare supercars to millions globally. Through her travels, she discovered how difficult it was for collectors to find and purchase exclusive vehicles across different countries and continents. That's why she launched SBX Cars, the premier online auction platform that connects buyers and sellers of premium vehicles worldwide, specializing in rare supercars, classic cars, and collectibles from every corner of the globe.

Doug DeMuro (5.5M followers) reviewed thousands of cars and understood exactly what buyers actually care about. He watched enthusiasts struggle to find quality platforms for buying and selling special vehicles, dealing with spammy sites and unreliable marketplaces. That's why he launched Cars & Bids, an enthusiast car auction platform that brings transparency, community features, and his trusted commentary to every transaction.

Hannah Williams (1.5M followers) went viral asking strangers about their salaries to promote pay transparency as @salarytransparentstreet. She discovered that scattered salary data across websites and the lack of accessible information left workers unable to negotiate effectively. That's why she launched Salary Transparent Street, a platform with a searchable database of over 9,000 verified salaries and resources that empower workers to advocate for fair compensation.

Cassey Ho (19M followers) pioneered Pilates content on YouTube and built a fitness empire as @blogilates. She experienced firsthand how traditional fitness tracking focused only on weight and measurements, missing the full picture of progress and wellness. That's why she launched Body by Blogilates, an app that combines her signature workouts with comprehensive tracking for mood, energy, water intake, and fitness achievements, celebrating all types of wins beyond just the scale.

Tom Brady (27M followers) leveraged his legendary sports career to enter the digital collectibles space. He recognized that despite social media, fans still felt disconnected from their sports heroes and lacked meaningful ways to own authentic memorabilia in the digital age. That's why he launched Autograph, a platform that creates authenticated NFTs and digital experiences, giving fans direct access to exclusive content and collectibles from their favorite athletes and entertainers.

Alex Rodriguez (6M followers) transitioned from baseball superstar to business mogul and tech entrepreneur. As co-owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves, he experienced firsthand how broken the fan experience was with 15+ different platforms for tickets, merch, and concessions. That's why he launched Jump with Marc Lore and Jordy Leiser, a unified platform that consolidates everything into one seamless experience, saving teams millions while charging just 1-5% instead of traditional ticketing's 20-30% fees.

Kevin Noparvar (5M followers) built his following creating innovative recipe content as @how.kev.eats, discovering hidden food gems across LA and beyond. He noticed how people would save restaurant videos across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube but had no way to organize them or remember where they were. That's why he launched Biter, an app that lets you save food content from any platform to your personal hitlist, see all your saved restaurants on a map, and discover where your favorite creators recommend eating.

Grace Beverley (2.3M followers) built a fitness empire while studying at Oxford and running multiple businesses. She experienced firsthand how generic fitness apps failed busy young professionals who couldn't follow rigid 6-day workout schedules or spend hours meal prepping. That's why she launched Shreddy, an app that creates genuinely flexible workout and nutrition plans that adapt to real life, missed workouts, busy weeks, and actual schedules.

Nuseir Yassin (45M followers) built one of the world's largest educational content platforms as @nasdaily. He saw talented creators with valuable knowledge struggling to monetize beyond unreliable ad revenue and brand deals. That's why he launched Nas.io, a platform that helps creators build sustainable businesses through online courses, paid communities, and direct monetization tools, turning their expertise into recurring income.

Phoebe Gates & Sophia Kianni (1,1M combined) were Stanford roommates who discovered they shared the same shopping frustration. Like millions of online shoppers, they'd have 47 browser tabs open just to compare prices and find the best deal on one item. That's why they launched Phia, an AI-powered shopping tool that instantly compares prices across 40,000+ retail and resale sites, showing users whether they're getting a fair deal and finding better alternatives in one click.

Sherry Wong (100K followers) built her following helping other creators grow on social media. She experienced firsthand the chaos of managing multiple creators and freelancers without proper tools, endless DMs, scattered portfolios, and no way to track who worked on what. That's why she launched Roster, an AI-powered hiring platform that helps creators find qualified editors, thumbnail designers, and other specialists who match their content style and aesthetic.

Paddy Galloway (500K followers) became YouTube's go-to growth strategist, analyzing what makes channels succeed for clients like MrBeast. Through his consulting work helping creators get 700M+ views monthly, he noticed the massive talent gap in the creator economy, creators struggling to find qualified help. That's why he launched YT Jobs, the first specialized job board connecting YouTube creators with editors, thumbnail designers, scriptwriters and other professionals who understand the unique demands of content creation.

Emily Skye (12M followers) shared her complete transformation from party girl to fitness entrepreneur, documenting every step of her journey. She experienced how isolating fitness journeys could be without proper support, especially during pregnancy and postpartum. That's why she launched Emily Skye FIT, combining 600+ workouts with a supportive community, mental health resources, meditations, and expert advice, recognizing that true transformation requires nurturing both body and mind.

Lauren & Lincoln (330k followers) turned house flipping into engaging content as @austinflipsters. They noticed how inaccessible real estate investing seemed to most people. That's why they launched Homemade's Atrium platform, institutional-grade real estate software for everyday investors, offering professional underwriting tools, automated deal sourcing, and instant comp analysis to help anyone compete with big institutions.

Zachary Dereniowski (44M followers) built his following creating positive content and supporting charitable causes as @mdmotivator. He experienced how difficult it was to verify charities and track impact. That's why he launched Standard Giving Co, a platform that uses technology to make giving effortless, transparent, and direct, with fast verification, real-time outcome tracking, and scalable impact.

Steven Bartlett (25M followers) built The Diary Of A CEO into one of the world's fastest-growing podcasts. He experienced the fragmented workflow of managing a video podcast across multiple platforms. That's why he launched Flightcast with ex-MrBeast engineer Rox Codes, creating an all-in-one platform that handles distribution to YouTube, Spotify, and Apple, while providing unified analytics and AI-powered tools in a single dashboard.

Adam Fard (130K followers) built his following as a UX design expert running a successful agency. He noticed the gap between learning UX principles and applying them effectively in real projects. That's why he launched UX Pilot, an AI-powered design platform that generates high-fidelity wireframes and UI designs, helping designers, product teams, and founders create professional designs quickly while learning best practices.

Jubilee (18M followers) built their following creating videos that explore human connection across divides. They noticed how broken modern dating culture had become, with young people dissatisfied with swipe-based apps. That's why they launched Nectar, a relationship app featuring their "Loveprint" personality test, focusing on understanding compatibility and self-discovery rather than just matching based on photos.

Chris Hemsworth (90M followers) transformed from Marvel superhero to wellness entrepreneur. He realized that achieving peak fitness required more than just workouts, it needed nutrition, mindfulness, and expert guidance all working together. That's why he launched Centr, an all-in-one fitness app combining personalized workouts, meal plans, and meditation sessions from his team of world-class trainers, chefs, and wellness experts.

Riley Brown (550K followers) built his following teaching AI and "vibe coding" to non-technical creators. He saw how AI could democratize app creation but existing tools were too technical for most people. That's why he co-founded Vibecode, a mobile app that lets anyone create their own apps using plain language, no coding required, just describe what you want and AI builds it for you.

Tim Schäecker (9.3M followers) built his following as a member of the Elevator Boys on TikTok. He noticed how social media had become paradoxically anti-social, with people consuming more content while connecting less. That's why he launched CNDO, a challenge-based social network where creators host private clubs for fans to complete challenges together, turning followers into friends through shared goals and experiences.

will.i.am (15M followers) built his following as a member of the Black Eyed Peas. He saw how creatives were struggling to manage their digital assets and collaborate effectively, often losing important ideas in fast-moving conversations. That's why he launched FYI, a collaborative messaging platform with AI at its core, featuring FYI.AI as a creative co-pilot that drafts content, turns ideas into organized projects, and helps teams collaborate seamlessly while protecting their work with advanced encryption.

Dylan Huey (4M followers) helps college creators balance their studies with content creation. Supporting thousands of student influencers, he saw how creators struggled to monetize their engagement beyond traditional sponsorships. That's why he co-founded Daisy Pay, a creator-powered ad network that lets influencers boost brand content through authentic engagement, creators share, comment, and repost content to help it go viral, earning money for amplifying rather than creating.

Young Pueblo (4M followers) built his following sharing poetry and wisdom about healing, self-awareness, and love. After a decade of writing about inner work, he kept hearing the same question: "Why is dating still so hard when I've done so much healing?" That's why he co-founded Ready, a relationship platform that helps people grow while dating, featuring daily reflections, conscious matching, growth curriculum, and live workshops to build meaningful connections rooted in self-awareness and emotional maturity.

Ryan Serhant (4.5M followers) built a real estate empire while teaching sales through content. Working alongside agents daily, he saw how they were drowning in busywork instead of closing deals. That's why he launched S.MPLE, an AI-powered productivity service that acts like having a full team in your pocket, agents simply speak or text their requests, and SERHANT. Advisors handle everything from CMAs to newsletters to transaction management, giving agents back hours of their day.

Tyler Blevins (50M followers) built his following as @Ninja, becoming one of gaming's biggest creators. Recognizing the wellness challenges gamers face from extended screen time, he partnered with Swiss health startup Vivior to launch 4SIGHT, a wellness platform that integrates with wearable devices to help gamers maintain healthy lifestyles. The platform rewards users for wellness activities and uses Vivior's eye-tracking technology to help improve gaming performance while reducing digital eye strain.

Katie Austin (1.6M followers) grew her fitness following with accessible, apartment-friendly workouts. She noticed how generic most fitness apps were, ignoring individual goals and limitations. That's why she launched KA Daily, an all-in-one wellness platform featuring 450+ personalized workouts, 300+ simple recipes, habit tracking, and guided meditations - all designed to help people build realistic, sustainable daily habits that fit seamlessly into their lives.

Colin Kaepernick (5M followers) built his following as an NFL quarterback and civil rights activist. Having experienced firsthand how difficult it is to control your own narrative and get stories published, he saw how traditional gatekeepers limited which voices could be heard. That's why he co-founded Lumi, an AI-powered storytelling platform that helps creators develop, illustrate, publish, and sell comic books and manga - handling everything from character development to merchandise sales so creators can focus on their stories while retaining full ownership.

Carrie Underwood (27M followers) wanted to share her fitness journey beyond just posting workout videos. She noticed how most fitness apps ignored the holistic aspects of wellness. That's why she launched fit52, a fitness platform that gamifies workouts through a virtual card deck system - each card reveals different exercises and reps, making every workout unique while building community through a 500,000+ member support network.

Krissy Cela (7M followers) built a global fitness community through authentic, educational content. She saw how women needed more than just workouts - they needed structure, confidence, and understanding of their bodies. That's why she co-founded EvolveYou, combining strength training programs with nutrition tracking, cycle-syncing workouts, and educational content about women's wellness, all backed by a supportive community forum.

Crystal Jackson (1M followers) built her following as @the.real.mrs.poindexter while juggling life as a content creator and former Intel engineer. After struggling to find health insurance and business services that actually worked for creators, she realized traditional providers didn't understand the creator economy. That's why she co-founded essentL Creator, the first Professional Employer Organization (PEO) built specifically for creators - providing Fortune 500-level health benefits, payroll services, and HR compliance at creator-friendly prices.

Kayla Itsines (43M followers) created the BBG movement that transformed how women approach fitness. After experiencing firsthand how pregnancy and childbirth affected her core strength following a C-section, she realized traditional fitness programs didn't address women's specific needs across different life stages. That's why she built Sweat, a fitness platform designed specifically for women - featuring programs that adapt to pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and various fitness levels, with workouts ranging from 15-28 minutes that can be done at home or in the gym.

Megan Roup (1M followers) developed The Sculpt Society method combining dance cardio with sculpting. She noticed how intimidating dance fitness could be for people without dance backgrounds. That's why she created The Sculpt Society, offering 1,000+ on-demand classes that break down dance moves into simple, easy-to-follow progressions - making dance fitness accessible whether you're a beginner doing 10-minute quickies or advanced doing 45-minute full-body workouts.

Tezza Barton (1.6M followers) built her brand teaching photo editing and aesthetic curation. She saw creators spending hours editing when they should be creating. That's why she co-founded Tezza app, providing 40+ one-tap presets, vintage film effects, and editorial templates designed specifically for content creators - plus batch editing features that let you copy and paste edits across multiple photos and videos in seconds.

Bri Wilburn (1.5M followers) experienced firsthand the frustration of inaccessible academic support at UC Berkeley, waiting hours for office hours, expensive tutoring she couldn't afford, and TAs overwhelmed by 1,200-student classes. As a student juggling loans and limited resources, she knew millions faced the same barriers to getting help when stuck on problems. That's why she co-founded AnswersAI, an AI-powered platform that delivers instant, personalized academic support in under 5 seconds, making quality tutoring accessible to students who previously had nowhere to turn when struggling with coursework at 2 AM.

Missing someone on the list? Let me know, and I'll add them to the list.

About HotStart VC

HotStart VC is launching a new fund to invest in brands founded by celebrities and creators. We’re building the go-to platform for creators and celebrities launching brands, providing capital, strategic support, and the infrastructure to scale.