Moj Mahdara

Moj Mahdara is an Iranian-American entrepreneur and investor. They are the co-founder and managing partner of Kinship Ventures, a venture capital firm launched with Gwyneth Paltrow.

Before launching Kinship Ventures, Mahdara served as chief executive officer of Beautycon Media, a global festival and media company centered on beauty and popular culture.

Mahdara lives in Los Angeles with their spouse Roya Rastegar and their children.

Early life

Mahdara is a first-generation Iranian-American

In her early career, Mahdara worked with Goldenvoice on sponsorship and brand partnerships related to the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Mahdara has said that experiences in music and art culture—including Coachella and artists such as Nine Inch Nails and Banksy—influenced her thinking about community-driven brands and contributed to the creation of Beautycon.

Mahdara has said that her paternal grandmother, Afat Mahdara (born Moluk Anghoz), was a singer in Iran in the 1960s. In interviews, Mahdara has described learning about her grandmother’s public musical career as an influence on her views about risk-taking and self-expression.

Career

Beautycon Media

Beautycon began as a meetup event bringing together beauty enthusiasts and online creators. Prior to Mahdara becoming CEO and co-founder in 2015, Beautycon began as small gatherings of beauty creators held at YouTube’s Los Angeles studios. Beautycon events have drawn large audiences and appearances by beauty influencers and celebrities.

Following this expansion, Beautycon expanded beyond its original events to include digital content, influencer marketing, and retail initiatives.

Beautycon partnered with Shopify on programming aimed at supporting beauty entrepreneurs at the Beautycon Festival. Mahdara also appeared with Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke at Shopify’s Commerce+ event, where they discussed building consumer brands.

The New York Times described Beautycon as “the Super Bowl of the beauty industry,” while Women’s Wear Daily called it “a mecca for beauty fans.”

Beautycon released a research report titled FOMO Vol. 1 examining Generation Z consumer behavior.

In 2016, Fast Company named Mahdara to its “Most Creative People in Business” list, and The Hollywood Reporter listed them among its “Top 25 Most Powerful Digital Players.”

In 2016, Beautycon organized a "Creator Town Hall" in Los Angeles where Hillary Clinton met with YouTube creators.

In 2019, some influencers publicly criticized their treatment at Beautycon, including YouTuber Sierra Schultzzie, who said she and a friend were “treated like absolute garbage” at the event; Beautycon representatives disputed the account and defended the company’s commitment to inclusivity.

In 2020, Women’s Wear Daily reported that an anonymous Instagram account created by individuals identifying themselves as former Beautycon employees called for Mahdara to resign and posted criticism of the company’s leadership and workplace culture.

Beautycon’s operations declined during the COVID-19 pandemic, which halted its live events and exacerbated financial difficulties at the company. Reporting in TheWrap described ongoing financial challenges at the company, including layoffs, unpaid bills, and legal disputes with vendors in the years preceding the foreclosure sale. In 2021, Beautycon Media’s assets were acquired in a foreclosure sale by an affiliate of Essence Ventures, the company founded by Richelieu Dennis. Mahdara had stepped down as chief executive earlier that year.

Venture Capital and Kinship Ventures

Mahdara later co-founded Kinship Ventures with actress and entrepreneur Gwyneth Paltrow. The Los Angeles–based venture capital firm began raising approximately $75 million for its debut fund in 2023 and focuses on early-stage investments in consumer goods and technology The firm has backed digital payments platform MoonPay and other startups in the consumer and Web3 sectors.

Public Speaking

Mahdara has spoken at conferences including the Milken Institute Global Conference and Vanity Fair's New Establishment Summit, where they have discussed topics such as digital culture and political communication.

Mahdara has also participated in public discussions on beauty, culture, and media through Beautycon events. Panels and conversations organized under her leadership featured public figures such as Pamela Anderson and Yara Shahidi discussing issues including misogyny, representation, and inclusivity in the beauty industry. Coverage of Beautycon in The New York Times described the events as forums where celebrities and creators discussed beauty, celebrity culture, and digital influence.

Advocacy and Nonprofit Work

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mahdara and entrepreneur Kendra Bracken-Ferguson co-founded BeautyUnited, an initiative created to mobilize beauty industry brands in support of relief efforts. BeautyUnited coordinated participation from dozens of beauty brands to donate products and raise funds for hospitals and frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BeautyUnited also organized weekly calls for founders and executives in the beauty industry to share information and discuss challenges faced by businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

By late 2020 and into 2021, BeautyUnited expanded its activities to include a fellowship and mentorship program supporting emerging founders and entrepreneurs in the beauty industry and providing guidance on business development and funding opportunities.

Mahdara and BeautyUnited have also promoted networking and mentorship between founders and investors in the beauty industry. Mahdara has spoken about the need for greater diversity and inclusion within the sector and has advocated for expanded opportunities for emerging founders.

Activism and Iranian diaspora advocacy

Iranian Diaspora Collective

Mahdara is a founding member of the Iranian Diaspora Collective (IDC), an advocacy group formed in 2022 by members of the Iranian diaspora following the death of Mahsa Amini and the subsequent Woman, Life, Freedom protests in Iran. The organization seeks to raise international awareness of the protests and amplify information from activists and journalists inside Iran. Members of the collective have also advocated for democratic reforms and political change in Iran.

Campaigns and initiatives

In September 2022, the Iranian Diaspora Collective launched a billboard campaign in response to internet shutdowns during the Mahsa Amini protests. Billboards in Times Square in New York City displayed the slogan “Woman, Life, Freedom” and images referencing the protests, aiming to draw international attention to events in Iran.

To mark the first anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death in September 2023, Mahdara and the Iranian Diaspora Collective organized digital billboards in Times Square featuring Amini and other victims of the protests, including Nika Shakarami, Sarina Esmailzadeh, and Kian Pirfalak.

The Iranian Diaspora Collective also supported efforts to expand internet connectivity for activists in Iran during government-imposed shutdowns associated with the protests.

Media Commentary

Mahdara has also appeared in media interviews discussing the Woman, Life, Freedom movement and broader political developments in Iran. In coverage by CNN, Mahdara spoke about the challenges facing Iranian activists and the mixed reactions among members of the Iranian diaspora regarding the country’s political future.

In 2026, Mahdara also commented publicly on U.S. political responses to escalating tensions between the United States and Iran. In an interview reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Mahdara criticized some Democratic leaders for what they described as insufficient support for actions taken against the Iranian government. Mahdara argued that political change in Iran could have broader global implications, comparing it to historical geopolitical turning points such as the end of the Soviet Union.

Recognition and affiliations

Mahdara is a Henry Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute, an elite program that selects accomplished entrepreneurs and executives to engage in leadership development, ethics, and social impact while designing ventures for public good.

Mahdara has also participated in the Goldman Sachs Builders and Innovators Summit, an annual program that convenes entrepreneurs and business leaders.

Mahdara and their work with Beautycon have been covered in publications including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, and Forbes.

Awards and nominations

External links