Cameo

Cameo is an online marketplace where fans can book personalized video shoutouts from celebrities and other entertainers. The Chicago-based company was founded in 2017 by CEO Steven Galanis, CPO Devon Spinnler Townsend, and Martin Blencowe. In 2021, the company received a valuation of $1 billion after closing a $100 million Series C funding round.

Cameo gives users the ability to book personalized videos from a wide variety of entertainers. Celebrities on the platform can set their own rates for videos, with prices ranging from $1 to as high as $15,000 for a single video. To purchase a video, Cameo users first look up their desired entertainer on the Cameo app marketplace and then message them a few details outlining who the shoutout is for and what they would like the talent to say. If the request is accepted by the celebrity, users are then charged and their video shoutout is delivered within a week of purchase. In addition to video shoutouts, some celebrities offer live video calls. Cameo, which pulled in $100 million of gross revenue in 2020, advertises that 75 percent of its revenue is paid out to the talent that records videos on the platform.

In addition to its standard video shoutouts, Cameo also offers Cameo Business, which allows companies to purchase celebrity videos for virtual events or promotional purposes. In 2022, Cameo partnered with Candle Media to announce Cameo Kids, a service that will allow parents to purchase video shoutouts from Candle Media's library of animated characters.