Some people have a hard time recognizing Tony Hawk in public, but he’s a fan favorite on Cameo, an app that allows fans to send and receive personalized messages from celebrities.
The company has seen great success since its launch in 2016, and its parent company Baron App announced this week that it completed a Series C $100 million funding round, putting Cameo at a valuation of over $1 billion. New investors include Hawk, United Talent Agency, and Google Ventures.
Cameo has now raised more than $165 million.
Aside from Tony Hawk, other athletes on the app include Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas, WNBA star Lisa Leslie, NFL Hall of Famer Brett Favre, and Olympic gold medalist Caitlyn Jenner, who asks for $2,500 per video.
While the platform includes more than athletes, the company started with ties to sports. Cameo chief executive and co-founder Steven Galanis had a conversation with Baron App co-founder Martin Blencowe, who was an NFL agent at the time. Blecowe asked client Cassius Marsh, then a linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks, to record a congratulatory video for a friend who had just become a father, and the idea for Cameo was hatched.
Cameo now features more than 40,000 celebrities and generated $100 million sales in 2020, giving its talent 75%. Brian Baumgartner, who plays Kevin Malone on “The Office,” was the app’s top earner for the year, raking in over $1 million.
