Kerry Washington has expanded her portfolio of angel investments by leading the pre-seed funding round for Cheersy, a wedding marketplace platform.

Founded in 2024 by Amy Shack Egan, Cheersy connects couples with day-of service wedding coordinators. The platform has raised a total of $550,000 in funding from investors, including Christina Tosi, founder of Milk Bar, Jennifer Gilbert, founder of Save the Date, and Joanna Rosholm, former press secretary to First Lady Michelle Obama.

Washington was unavailable for comment at the time of request.

According to Shack Egan, she met Washington through the actress’s director of social impact at a dinner party in Los Angeles. By the end of the evening, Shack Egan had been introduced to Washington as a potential angel investor. Washington has been making a name for herself as an angel investor, joining the ranks of other Hollywood celebrities who are venturing into the startup world.

Washington has also invested in the social website Spill, a Black-owned alternative to X, as well as Equip, a startup focused on treating eating disorders. According to Pitchbook, her investment portfolio includes Omaze, a charity fundraising platform, Solv, a healthcare company, and The Wing, a former investment.

Shack Egan recounted the story of how she met Washington, saying, “The dinner was a few days after I was supposed to fly home, but I knew I needed to be in that room of power players. I extended my trip and went to the dinner.”

Shack Egan described the fundraising process as challenging, stating, “I didn’t know what I didn’t know. I said yes to everything. Jumped on a flight. Got strung along, told no, and put my foot in my mouth more times than I can count.”

Cheersy is Shack Egan’s second business venture, following the launch of her wedding planning company, Modern Rebel, in 2015. She created Cheersy in response to the high demand for day-of wedding coordination services, which she realized could be built into a marketplace platform similar to Airbnb.

On Cheersy, couples can search for vetted matches that fit their budget, vision, and vibe, filtering by date, price, and specialty. They can then book a call with their preferred match and, if it’s a good fit, book the talent.

Shack Egan acknowledged that her small business background was seen as a strength, but also noted that it wasn’t the most appealing aspect to investors who were looking for Big Tech experience on her resume.

She noted that the fundraising journey can be lonely and take a toll on mental health, saying, “The fundraising journey can be so lonely and a real knock on your mental health.”

Shack Egan joined the Power to Pitch program, which helped her connect with more people in the startup world. With the fresh capital, Cheersy plans to enhance its booking platform, make key hires, such as a user experience designer, and increase its marketing budget. The company aims to expand into six new cities in the coming months, currently operating in New York City and Hudson Valley.

Shack Egan reflected on her experience, saying, “I started in this industry in 2015 as an event freelancer. I know the pain points of this job personally. I love the idea that we’re making the experience of being someone that works in the wedding industry, in such a tough — and often, thankless job — more supported and more fun.”