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Kerry Washington Fuels the Rise of Social Media App, Spill, with a Game-Changing Investment

UBJ Staff • October 7, 2024

Kerry Washington Invests in Black-Owned Social Platform, Spill

Kerry Washington is adding tech investor to her already impressive resume by backing Spill, the Black-owned social media platform built to foster inclusivity and real-time cultural conversations.

“In a digital world where marginalized groups, especially Black, Brown, and LGBTQIA folks, rarely feel prioritized, Spill stands out,” Washington told TechCrunch. “I’m proud to be part of this community as both a user and an investor.”

Spill was founded in 2022 by Alphonzo Terrell and DeVaris Brown, both former Twitter execs, with a mission to create a safer, more welcoming space for underrepresented communities. By 2023, they raised a $2.75 million seed extension and have already attracted over 200,000 active users.

But Washington isn’t just behind the scenes—she’s hands-on. Hosting “Tea Parties,” which are live video convos, she engages users in discussions on critical topics like voter registration. This direct engagement reflects her commitment to the platform’s mission of real human connection in digital spaces.

“She’s incredibly accessible and knowledgeable,” Terrell told TechCrunch. “She’s not afraid to engage with people directly, which is exactly the environment we want on Spill. We’re all about building real, human connections.”

Beyond her role as an investor, Washington has been a cultural powerhouse. From her iconic role as Olivia Pope on Scandal to her activism, she’s always been a voice for equity and inclusion. Washington has consistently used her platform to speak on systemic issues affecting Black Americans, especially in moments of heightened social unrest like 2020.

“This is not new—this level of danger and fear has been the reality for Black Americans since there were Black Americans,” she shared with PEOPLE, as reported by AFROTECH™.

Washington’s diverse career as an actress, director, producer, and investor has helped her amass an estimated $50 million fortune. In 2022, she teamed up with Carta for their Equity 101 campaign to help demystify investment opportunities for underrepresented communities.

“When I was younger, I didn’t know much about investing,” she said. “But over time, I realized it’s like producing—being at the table is one thing, but making the decisions changes the whole game.”

Kerry Washington continues to prove that her influence stretches far beyond Hollywood, impacting the tech world and beyond, where she’s shaping the future of representation and wealth-building for Black communities.

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