D’Amelio family will invest $25 million through new VC firm

Charli and Dixie D’Amelio have become two of the biggest stars on TikTok by taking a professional approach to their videos and developing a nose for lucrative brand deals. Thanks to their business acumen, they were the two highest-earning TikTokers of 2021, with Charli generating an estimated $17.5 million and Dixie adding another $10 million to that impressive total.

Now, the sisters are channeling their financial know-how into the world of investing. Along with their parents Heidi and Marc, they will lead 444 Capital, a new VC firm that will go to bat with a $25 million war chest.

444 will target companies that are in the “direct-to-consumer space, fintech, edtech, healthcare, insurtech and other B2B2C platforms,” according to TechCrunch. The fund will empower businesses led by women and minorities. Greg Goodfried, the Head of D’Amelio Family Enterprises, said the new firm will look to join funding rounds at the Series A stage or later.

“Our family wants to help a new generation of female and minority entrepreneurs build great companies,” the D’Amelio sisters said in a joint statement. “We hope to play a growing role in leveling the startup playing field over time.”

To get an idea of where 444’s next $25 million will head, we can look at the investments the D’Amelios have already made. The sisters seem to prefer pairing their investments with content partnerships. Charli, for example, invested in Gen Z banking startup Step around the time she became the official face of the brand. More recently, all four D’Amelios scooped up equity in Lightricks while also signing a multi-year advisory deal with the Facetune developer.

The D’Amelios are not the only digital-native creators to build their own VC fund. Jake Paul has pledged up to $20 million annually through his Anti Fund, which launched last year. Like with Paul, the D’Amelios are teaming up with VC industry figures to launch their fund. Other partners involved in 444 include Doug Renert of Tandem Capital and Jeff Beacher of Beacher Media Group.

A more detailed announced about 444’s long-term plans is expected in the coming months.