• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Gen Zers are arriving at college unable to even read a sentence—professors warn it could lead to a generation of anxious and lonely graduates

2

'We didn’t see this coming': Wall Street eats its forecasts as stocks sell off globally on fear of AI bubble ahead of SpaceX IPO

3

'The golden years are not golden': Boomers are hoarding most of America's wealth and power because they're terrified of outliving their money

1

Gen Zers are arriving at college unable to even read a sentence—professors warn it could lead to a generation of anxious and lonely graduates

2

'We didn’t see this coming': Wall Street eats its forecasts as stocks sell off globally on fear of AI bubble ahead of SpaceX IPO

3

'The golden years are not golden': Boomers are hoarding most of America's wealth and power because they're terrified of outliving their money
FinanceNBA

Exclusive: Leonardo DiCaprio–backed AI startup Qloo clinches $20 million investment from Bluestone Equity Partners

Luisa Beltran
By
Luisa Beltran
Luisa Beltran
Finance Reporter
Down Arrow Button Icon
Luisa Beltran
By
Luisa Beltran
Luisa Beltran
Finance Reporter
Down Arrow Button Icon
July 2, 2024, 7:00 AM ET
Bluestone Equity Partners has invested in Qloo. From left: Robert Mencke, Walker Brumskine, Jake Harris, Bobby Sharma, Jack Ross, and Marella Briones.
Bluestone Equity Partners has invested in Qloo. From left: Robert Mencke, Walker Brumskine, Jake Harris, Bobby Sharma, Jack Ross, and Marella Briones.Courtesy of Bluestone Equity Partners

Bluestone Equity Partners has invested $20 million in Qloo, the cultural AI company backed by Leonardo DiCaprio and Elton John.

Recommended Video

The transaction closed last week. Before the Bluestone investment, Qloo had raised $57 million in funding, according to Crunchbase. Investors include AI Ventures, AXA Venture Partners, as well as DiCaprio and John. Qloo’s valuation was not disclosed, while customers include Netflix, Starbucks, Universal Music Group, and Michelin.

Founded in 2012, Qloo uses a database of more than 575 million touch points, plus a second database of 10 trillion consumer signals, to predict consumer sentiment and taste all over the world. Employees, not including TasteDive, number north of 50, said Alex Elias, Qloo cofounder and CEO.

The $20 million investment from Bluestone is the second time this year that Qloo has raised money. The New York firm collected $25 million in February. “We’re in a strong position from a balance sheet perspective, and this allows us to look at some opportunistic M&A,” Elias told Fortune. In 2019, Qloo scooped up TasteDive, a cultural recommendation engine.

Qloo plans to use part of the funding to release a less technical, self-service interface at the beginning of the third quarter, Elias said. Qloo also expects to grow into new markets, with plans to “expand in a conservative way into sports and live events,” Elias noted. Sports teams can use Qloo to drive more ticket sales, pinpoint who would be interested in their events, and increase merchandising sales, he said. “All the value that could accrue from a much more nuanced understanding of fans tastes and preferences.” Ticketmaster is currently a client, and Qloo soon plans to announce that a large sports team is a customer, he said.

Qloo’s strategy fits right in with Bluestone, a growth equity firm that targets deals in the sports, media, and entertainment sectors.

Bluestone was founded in 2023 by Bobby Sharma, a well-known sports executive who is a former VP and general counsel for the NBA development league, a.k.a. the G League. He is also an ex-SVP, global head of basketball and strategic initiatives, at IMG, the sports, fashion, and media company owned by Endeavor.

Companies can use Qloo to be more efficient. For example, Epic Pictures used Qloo to decide where to distribute niche films based on taste factors. Equinox, the gym franchise, wanted to expand into hospitality and used Qloo to understand the local market and select partnerships with restaurants. Qloo can also discern the music preferences of Yankees fans who drink a certain type of beer, Sharma said. This information would help the Yankees offer home games advertised with that particular music, or provide targeted music-related ads, or sponsor a music festival for that genre, Sharma said.

Qloo’s technology provides “a more detailed profile of a consumer so that you understand more accurately where to find them from a marketing perspective,” Sharma told Fortune.

Qloo is the fourth investment for Bluestone’s first fund, which raised $300 million in February 2023. The pool is more than one-third invested. Bluestone is expected to close its second fund later this year, noted a person familiar with the firm. Bluestone has been busy in its brief, 16-month existence. The firm has looked at over 800 deals, struck letters of intent with 12 companies, and completed investments in four, including Qloo, Sharma said. 

Bluestone has a minority stake in Qloo, Elias said. “They’ve been amazing partners even in leading up to the investment … We almost see them as an extension of the team at this point.”

About the Author
Luisa Beltran
By Luisa BeltranFinance Reporter
LinkedIn icon

Luisa Beltran is a former finance reporter at Fortune where she covers private equity, Wall Street, and fintech M&A.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Finance

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Finance

Best private student loans for grad school in June 2026
Personal FinanceLoans
Best private student loans for grad school in June 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 8, 2026
7 hours ago
AXA launches a new insurance and wealth platform for HNWIs as Hong Kong wealth surges past Switzerland
AsiaAXA
AXA launches a new insurance and wealth platform for HNWIs as Hong Kong wealth surges past Switzerland
By Nicholas GordonJune 8, 2026
7 hours ago
Child struggling with schoolwork
EconomyEducation
70% of fourth-graders aren’t reading proficiently, report finds—one of several areas where education is failing America’s kids
By Tristan BoveJune 8, 2026
8 hours ago
The global airline industry’s profits could be cut in half as it braces for its worst year since the pandemic
EnergyAirline industry
The global airline industry’s profits could be cut in half as it braces for its worst year since the pandemic
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezJune 8, 2026
9 hours ago
A trader works on the floor of the American Stock Exchange (AMEX) at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, US, on Friday, June 5, 2026.
InvestingWall Street
The AI trade’s worst day in a year became a buying opportunity by Monday
By Eva RoytburgJune 8, 2026
11 hours ago
Young people working in an office.
EconomyGen Z
Gen Z might be the flakiest generation when it comes to career and life decisions. They might also be the most intentional
By Tristan BoveJune 8, 2026
11 hours ago

Most Popular

Gen Zers are arriving at college unable to even read a sentence—professors warn it could lead to a generation of anxious and lonely graduates
Success
Gen Zers are arriving at college unable to even read a sentence—professors warn it could lead to a generation of anxious and lonely graduates
By Preston ForeJune 7, 2026
2 days ago
'We didn’t see this coming': Wall Street eats its forecasts as stocks sell off globally on fear of AI bubble ahead of SpaceX IPO
Economy
'We didn’t see this coming': Wall Street eats its forecasts as stocks sell off globally on fear of AI bubble ahead of SpaceX IPO
By Jim EdwardsJune 8, 2026
18 hours ago
'The golden years are not golden': Boomers are hoarding most of America's wealth and power because they're terrified of outliving their money
Economy
'The golden years are not golden': Boomers are hoarding most of America's wealth and power because they're terrified of outliving their money
By Nick LichtenbergJune 7, 2026
2 days ago
Current price of oil as of June 8, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of June 8, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 8, 2026
15 hours ago
Trump, who has repeatedly called climate change fake, is now threatening Brazil with tariffs over the deforestation of the Amazon
Environment
Trump, who has repeatedly called climate change fake, is now threatening Brazil with tariffs over the deforestation of the Amazon
By Sasha RogelbergJune 8, 2026
8 hours ago
SpaceX's IPO will also be a massive selling event triggering big price dislocations across the stock market as investors dump shares to buy SPCX
Investing
SpaceX's IPO will also be a massive selling event triggering big price dislocations across the stock market as investors dump shares to buy SPCX
By Jason MaJune 7, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.