Arlan Hamilton

Arlan Hamilton, founder at Backstage Capital, is a serial entrepreneur, author, and prolific speaker.
She founded Backstage Capital in 2015 to invest in founders who are people of color, women and/or LGBTQ. Since its founding, Backstage has raised $30 million and invested in more than 200 startups led by underestimated founders.
Arlan published her debut book, “It’s About Damn Time,” in 2020, detailing her journey from homelessness to venture capital trailblazer. Arlan was the first non-celebrity Black woman to grace the cover of Fast Company magazine. Her latest book, "Your First Million: Why You Don't Have To Be Born Into A Legacy Of Wealth To Leave One Behind", shows how anyone can tap into new tools, platforms, and funding sources to get their million-dollar idea off the ground.
Arlan is a big proponent of paying it forward and supporting other underestimated people in the tech industry and beyond. She and her mother, Mrs. Earline Butler-Sims, have established scholarship programs for Black students at Oxford University, HBCU Dillard University, and Harvard Law, as well as establishing scholarships for Black pilots and inventors.