Stardom Ventures
About Stardom Ventures
Stardom Ventures is based in Tel Aviv. Its founding year is reported inconsistently. A Herzog law firm announcement says the fund has operated since 2016, and PitchBook also gives 2016, while LinkedIn lists 2021. The same announcement says the fund was formed in cooperation between the Keshet group, the US production company Dick Clark and the Mivtach Shamir group. It reported a final closing with USD 65 million in commitments from institutional entities, media companies and private investors. The announcement is undated, and the firm has not published details of any later funds. Danny Peled manages the fund and is listed as Managing Partner on LinkedIn and General Partner by Bloomberg. LinkedIn shows a team of 2 to 10 people. No other partners leading AI investing are named in the sources I found.
Stardom describes itself as a media-tech investor. It has no stand-alone AI thesis in public materials. Its AI deals come from that base, and in 2026 they sit close to ironSource alumni. In July 2026 it took part in the $27M seed for Velocity, which was co-led by NFX and Red Dot Capital Partners. Velocity was founded by former ironSource and Unity executives and builds monetization infrastructure, including native advertising inside AI conversations, for AI-native apps. In March 2026 it took part in the $58M seed for Zyg, led by Lightspeed Venture Partners. Zyg is an agentic operating system for direct-to-consumer brands. Stardom is a participant in both rounds, not the lead. Zyg's later $60M Series A, led by Accel, also lists Stardom among its existing backers, according to Multiples.
Stardom's recent AI deals are seed rounds, and it invests early in media-tech companies. It has not published a typical check size or ownership target. The round sizes above are total rounds, not Stardom's own checks. PitchBook lists its stake in Velocity as a minority holding.
- Velocity: monetization and distribution infrastructure for AI-native apps, with an AI advertising layer. $27M seed, July 2026, led by NFX and Red Dot Capital Partners.
- Zyg: agentic operating system for direct-to-consumer brand building, founded by ironSource alumni. $58M seed, March 2026, led by Lightspeed Venture Partners. Stardom is also named in its May 2026 $60M Series A.
- herzoglaw.co.il/en/news-and-insights/vc-fund-stardom-ventures-has-rece
- linkedin.com/company/stardom-ventures
- pitchbook.com/profiles/investor/471316-15
- bloomberg.com/profile/company/1918266D:IT
- calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rjbsaioxfl
- pitchbook.com/profiles/company/1405662-67
- siliconangle.com/2026/03/05/agentic-e-commerce-startup-zyg-gets-58m-he
- multiples.vc/private-comps/zyg
Investing activity
Stardom Ventures appears in 2 AI deals tracked by the Lounge deals desk, rounds totalling $85M. The rounds are mostly Seed, with a median round size of $58M. The most recent are Velocity (Seed, $27M, Jul 2026) and Zyg (Seed, $58M, Mar 2026).
Stardom Ventures most often invests alongside Red Dot Capital, NFX, Transcend Capital Partners and Corner Ventures, and the companies it backs on Lounge are mostly in AI.
Deals
Frequently asked questions about Stardom Ventures
Who founded Stardom Ventures?
Public sources do not name a founding partner. Danny Peled manages the fund. It was formed with the Keshet group, Dick Clark and the Mivtach Shamir group. Sources give 2016 and 2021 as the founding year.
How big is Stardom Ventures' fund?
A law firm announcement says a Stardom fund had a final closing with USD 65 million in commitments. The announcement is undated, and no other fund sizes are public.
Does Stardom Ventures lead AI rounds?
In the two recent AI rounds on record, Velocity and Zyg, Stardom participated and other firms led. It did lead a $3.0M seed in Tedooo in 2022, according to Startupintros, though I did not confirm that company's AI focus.
What stage and check size does Stardom Ventures invest at?
Its recent AI deals are seed rounds, and it focuses on early-stage media-tech. It has not published check sizes.
What AI companies has Stardom Ventures invested in?
Confirmed AI investments are Velocity (seed, 2026) and Zyg (seed, 2026, and the Series A). Databases list other portfolio companies, but I could not confirm their AI focus.
What stage does Stardom Ventures invest at?
In the rounds tracked on Lounge, Stardom Ventures has invested at Seed, with a median round of $58M.
Who does Stardom Ventures co-invest with?
Stardom Ventures's most frequent co-investors on Lounge are Red Dot Capital (1 deal), NFX (1 deal), Transcend Capital Partners (1 deal), Corner Ventures (1 deal) and AppLovin (1 deal).
How can founders reach Stardom Ventures?
Founders on Lounge can see Stardom Ventures's contact details in AI Investor Contacts (paid plans), check for a warm introduction through members who worked with the firm under Warm Paths, and add Stardom Ventures to their Investor Pipeline to track the conversation.