Cameo is joining the fight against AIDS through a new partnership with the charity (RED), and is asking its users to make a donation to the cause by requesting video shout outs from celebrities like Lance Bass and CeeLo Green.
Cameo, founded in 2017, is a VC-backed Chicago startup that’s created a marketplace for users to book personalized video messages from actors, professional athletes, influencers and other types of celebrities.
The company announced Tuesday that a percentage of proceeds from Cameo talent participating in the (RED) campaign will be donated to efforts to end AIDS. The donation period runs between now and Dec. 15., and Cameo says it will also make additional donations for every (RED) Cameo booking.
Besides Bass and Green, more than 300 Cameo personalities are participating in the campaign, including Carson Kressly and Chris Harrison. Other celebrities, such as Bobby Berk, the design and lifestyle expert and member of Netflix's “Queer Eye,” as well as “Pose” stars Billy Porter, Dyllón Burnside and Ryan Jamaal Swain, are joining Cameo specifically for the campaign.
"This partnership with (RED) offers a great opportunity for them to use the Cameo platform to contribute to building a world without AIDS," said Cameo CEO Steven Galanis in a statement. "Every Cameo fulfilled through this campaign will have twice the impact: as a one-of-a-kind gift that connects the recipient directly with his or her favorite VIP, and as a vehicle for raising funds to save lives."
Cameo, which was recently named one of Chicago Inno’s 50 on Fire, has more than 20,000 people on its talent roster. Fees are set by the talent and range from $5 to $2,500.
Over the summer, Cameo raised $50 million in a Series B round led by Kleiner Perkins. At the time of the funding, Cameo was reportedly valued at $300 million. To date, the startup has raised more than $65 million.
The capital and increasing interest in Cameo has allowed it to grow its staff. Cameo currently employs 125 people and just yesterday was recognized as one of 15 companies collectively bringing more than 2,000 jobs to the city.
According to World Business Chicago, a nonprofit aimed at fostering economic growth, Cameo will bring 80 new jobs to Chicago by the end of 2020.
