![Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx, is shown in a new episode of Shark Tank this fall. The Clearwater native is among the billionaires investing in a new $150 million fund to spur start-ups outside of Silicon Valley. [Courtesy of ABC]](https://www.tampabay.com/resizer//8Aqq1j6F4fyZe_IP9vNUEX1BEWA=/2280x1282/smart/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-tbt.s3.amazonaws.com/public/EBCDAPWJB4I6TAOPPAY4DVT77I.jpg "Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx, is shown in a new episode of Shark Tank this fall. The Clearwater native is among the billionaires investing in a new $150 million fund to spur start-ups outside of Silicon Valley. [Courtesy of ABC]")
Steve Case's campaign to promote entrepreneurship outside of Silicon Valley is getting the backing of some big-name investors, including Clearwater native/Spanx entrepreneur Sara Blakely.
Blakely, who built an empire selling Spanx shapewear, hosiery and bras, is among three dozen business leaders investing in Case's "Rise of the Rest" Seed Fund, Forbes reported Tuesday. Other investors in the $150 million fund include Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and Starbucks' chairman Howard Schultz.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:Spanx founder Sara Blakely celebrates opening of store in Tampa
Case, best-known as the founder and former CEO of America Online (AOL), is currently CEO of Revolution. Backed by the fund, the Rise of the Rest campaign intends to make investments of less than $1 million in promising start-ups. It isn't looking to be a lead investor nor take board seats in the companies.
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