Cisco did this with some success (by some measures at least!): http://www.businessinsider.com/why-cisco-showered-three-men-...
Basically, funded the company of their star engineer(s), and had a put/call (for Cisco and funded co) option based on certain milestones being met.
Deal summaries:
Andiamo (2001): cisco funded 180m, paid 750m to buy.
Nuova (2006): funded 70m, paid 678m.
Insieme (2012): funded 135m, paid 863m.
All founded by the same three engineers. This practice fell out of favor under chambers CEO-ship. Other employees (and execs, most importantly probably ha) didn't like for understandable reasons, but interesting to see similar dynamics play out here, with similar reactions.