As the UK’s startup community continues to expand, securing funding has emerged as a critical factor for new businesses aiming to thrive and compete in today’s market.

A new report by Swoop Funding has discovered the UK's leading celebrity investors, highlighting those who have made the most significant contributions to the investment landscape.

This ranking, based on publicly disclosed investments sourced from Crunchbase, the startup and investment database, highlights the celebrities who are actively shaping the world of business and entrepreneurship. 

Additionally, the experts utilised Brandwatch, an online sentiment analysis tool, to assess public perceptions and ensure that these investments are backed by celebrities with a positive public reputation.

According to the data, Matt Bellamy, the frontman of Muse, leads as the top UK celebrity investor with a total of 19 investments. His most recent investment was in Golden, which successfully raised $40 million in a Series B funding round on October 3, 2022.

While Bellamy's investment strength is clear, his online influence reveals a mixed public perception, with a positive sentiment of 19% and a negative sentiment of 20%. This indicates that, despite his position as a leading investor, British public opinion remains divided.

Taking the second spot is Rio Ferdinand, the former football star, who has also made a significant impact as a celebrity investor with 9 investments. His latest venture is with Sokin, which raised £24 million in a funding round on July 24, 2024. 

Ferdinand’s online presence achieved a positive sentiment of 14%, coupled with a negative sentiment of 15%. This suggests that, while he is actively engaged in the investment sector, challenges are present regarding public perception.

Rounding out the top three is Orlando Bloom, who has made 7 investments, with his latest being in Collectibles.com on June 13, 2023. Bloom has a positive online sentiment of 13%, with a negative sentiment of 11% indicating that public perception of him as a figure is largely favourable.   

Benefits of celebrity investment

As more celebrities are set to enter the investment space in 2025, their influence can extend beyond financial backing. 

Celebrity investors are reshaping the entrepreneurial landscape by:

• Providing mentorship: many celebrities are not only funding startups but also offering mentorship and guidance. Their experience and networks can help open doors for new entrepreneurs, helping them navigate startup challenges and gain strategic advantages
• Enhancing visibility: by aligning their brand with emerging businesses, celebrity investors can significantly boost these companies' visibility, attracting media attention and consumer interest that might otherwise be difficult to achieve
• Driving trends: celebrity endorsements can help set new trends within industries, encouraging other investors and consumers to engage with innovative ideas and products. This can lead to the rapid evolution of sectors like tech, fashion, and health, where new ideas can take off with the right backing