Arlan built a venture capital fund from the ground up, while homeless. She is the Founder and Managing Partner of Backstage Capital, a fund that is dedicated to minimizing funding disparities in tech by investing in high-potential founders who are of color, women, and/or LGBT. Started from scratch in 2015, Backstage has now invested nearly $5m into over 80 startup companies led by underestimated founders.
Arlan is also tour manager to Atlantic Records recording artist Janine. Having founded and published the internationally distributed indie magazine INTERLUDE, and toured extensively as a live music production professional, she enters the venture investing world from an unconventional path.
Backstage Capital & Runner
Managing Partner & Founder
Arlan Hamilton is the Founder and Managing Partner of Backstage Capital, a venture capital firm investing in founders who are people of color, women, and/or LGBT. Backstage Capital has raised more than $20 million and invested in nearly 200 companies. She is the founder of Runner, an operations and HR talent source for inclusive startups. Arlan was on the cover of Fast Company magazine, author…
Arlan Hamilton is the Founder and Managing Partner of Backstage Capital, a venture capital firm investing in founders who are people of color, women, and/or LGBT. Backstage Capital has raised more than $20 million and invested in nearly 200 companies. She is the founder of Runner, an operations and HR talent source for inclusive startups. Arlan was on the cover of Fast Company magazine, authored the book “It’s About Damn Time,” and hosts the podcast “Your First Million”. Arlan and her mother, Mrs. Earline Butler-Sims, also started a scholarship for Black students at Oxford University and HBCU Dillard University.
Startup Grind (Connecticut Chapter)
Chapter Director
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Snyder Group
Community Manager
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