Five of Britain’s hottest stars have set up a multi-million-pound investment fund that insiders say could become ‘a cool, sexy version of Dragons’ Den’.
Love Island host Maya Jama, 31, comedian Jack Whitehall, 37, TV presenter Roman Kemp, 32, Oscar-winning actor Daniel Kaluuya, 36, and singer Tom Grennan, 30, have clubbed together as The Artists Collective to back up-and-coming businesses.
They will use TikTok to help them find budding entrepreneurs – and sources claim their clout means they could even kill off the veteran BBC show altogether.
A source said: ‘It’s business investment, but for the TikTok generation – think Dragons’ Den, but without suits and ties. Instead, some cool young stars putting their own money in and attaching their own profiles to new businesses.
‘They’re optimistic they can really build this into something massive.’
Love Island host Maya Jama (pictured) has teamed up with comedian Jack Whitehall and TV presenter Roman Kemp among others to back up-and-coming businesses
The Artists Collective will use TikTok to help them find budding entrepreneurs (Stock Image)
If the venture takes off, they could copy the success of major US sports stars such as tennis champion Serena Williams and basketball hero LeBron James, who have made billions from buying into start-ups.
An insider said: ‘These guys can offer much more than just money – they can also bring their fame and their connections, which is a more appealing for businesses than borrowing from a bank.’
In their first investment, Whitehall has become the face of Seat Unique, a VIP ticketing agency, and the group is said to be finalising deals worth up to £300,000 in 20 early-stage technology firms.
