Wise Startup Blog

After seeing Ashton Kutcher’s presentation yesterday at the TechCrunch50, I had some thoughts on why he would be spending his time launching a site, instead of making movies, or babies with Demi Moore.

Why Ashton Kutcher is Trying to Sell Startups

50 Cent Is Leading the Way

Like everything in Hollywood, it’s about keeping up with the Jones. 50 Cent, the notorious rapper, who last year made a reported $150 million, he’s leading the way as far as celebrity endorsers/founders.

Kutcher wants some of that $150 million action, and after his first startup Ooma tanked, he’s now in constantly flip mode, and I think we’ll see him at TC50 again next year with another startup.

Celebrities as VCs?

Is Ashton worth 20% in equity? How about 10%? What value does Ashton bring to the startup and how much are you willing to pay to have him be a part of your startup?

It might be an interesting experiment to create a site where you can sell celebrity sponsorship (patented) as an equity stake for startups.

But if you’re the CEO, do you want some celebrity pitching your product? Doesn’t it make the CEO weaker. What happens when it comes time to get VC, are you going to have Ashton pitch for you again? It’d be great, however, if Ashton could front the Series A round as well

Ashton Can Pitch

Regardless of your thoughts of Blah Girls, the one thing you had to come away with is that Ashton is a good speaker. He’s a movie “star” and tv celebrity, and knows how to learn lines and deliver them.

At times, however, he seemed a little less polished when pitching the product and more like Billy Mays telling about how it has “customized responses” etc.

Here’s his presentation, and let us know what you think about celebrity pitchmen in the comments.

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