By Karsten Strauss, Forbes Staff

Adding yet another layer to the enterprise that is Tyra Banks, the former model turned television personality is taking to the startup game with an investment in a new social shopping platform. Ashton Kutcher, who has made a name for himself as a tech-centric venture investor through his own firm, A-Grade Investments, has also laid down cash. Called The Hunt, Banks and Kutcher’s latest venture helps people track down things they want to buy using Pinterest, Instagram, Tumblr or any website with a photo of a product. While surfing the web, when you find something that appeals to you – a gadget, a piece of furniture, a pair of shoes you saw a celebrity wear –  you can upload the URL or just post a picture of it, which lets everyone else browsing the site know that you’re trying to find out where to get that product. As you browse what items other users are seeking, you can “follow” their searches so that when they find out where to get their coveted handbag, dress or pair of shoes, you will be notified as well. If you see a product that you recognize and know where it can be purchased, you can let the seeker (or ‘hunter’) know all about it. The San Francisco-based company was founded by Tim Weingarten, who’d previously headed Visage Mobile. Other investors in the company include A-Grade Investments’ Guy Oseary, Coca-Cola executive Rohan Oza, DesiHits! CEO Anjula Acharia-Bath, and Luminari Capital director Michael Banks. I tried it myself, setting up a profile and posting a “hunt” for a hooded blazer I’d briefly mentioned in a previous article about Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s penchant for hoodies. As I browsed it became clear that its early days for the new venture, as the categories for which people search are limited to mostly women’s fashion. We can probably expect more categories for men’s products in the future, as well as electronic gadgets and maybe even apps or games that people have seen pictures of but haven’t been able to identify. That said, it may well be that women are the focus users for The Hunt, as a Pinterest-style of platform has been known to really connect with female users. The Hunt is the first investment Ms. Banks has made through the newest arm of her Tyra Banks Company enterprise, Fierce Capital LLC. The fund will focus on early-stage companies, including women-led startups, according to the company. Ms. Banks first came to public attention as a model, sauntering down the runway wearing hip and sexy outfits from top international fashion designers. A career in television followed, with Banks at the helm of “The Tyra Banks Show” and “America’s Next Top Model.” She’s even written a children’s book called Modelland. Kutcher, a former male model turned TV and film actor, is currently starring alongside Jon Cryer in the hit CBS show Two and a Half Men. His venture investments have included Spotify, Uber, Foursquare, Getaround and YPlan, among others. He also …read more

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