Arlan Hamilton is the Founder and Managing Partner of Backstage Capital, a venture capital firm dedicated to minimizing funding disparities in tech by investing in high-potential founders who are people of color, women, and/or LGBT. Started from scratch in 2015, Backstage has now raised more than $12 million and invested in more than 150startup companies led by underestimated founders. In 2018, they launched a four-city accelerator program in Los Angeles, Detroit, Philadelphia, and London.
Work Experience
- Founder, Managing Partner, Backstage Capital
- Tour Manager, Janine & The Mixtape
- Production Coordinator, Toni Braxton
- Tour Manager's Assistant, Jason Derulo
- Production Coordinator, Chromeo
- Talent Wrangler, Pharrell Williams
- Tour Director, Nico Turner (opening for Cat Power)
- Tour Director (UK/Europe), Amanda Palmer
- Production Coordinator, CeeLo Green
- Production Coordinator, Kirk Franklin / King's Men Live Nation tour
- Blogger, Arlan Was Here Productions
- Production Assistant, Director's Assistant, Various
- Tour Manager / Booking, Terra Naomi - award winning singer/songwriter
- Founder, Publisher & Editor, INTERLUDE magazine
- Tour Manager / Booking, goldenboy' - Norwegian poppunk
Accolades
- Arlan is the author of, It's About Damn Time, an inspirational and tactical business book for budding entrepreneurs and aspiring investors.
- She hosts the popular podcast, Your First Million.
- She has been featured on CNN, PBS, and others.
- In 2019, she became the first Black woman to have an entirely devoted episode of Emily Chang's Bloomberg 1.0.
- In October 2018, Arlan was featured on the cover of Fast Company magazine as the first Black woman non-celebrity to do so (following Oprah, Serena, and Beyonce).
Philanthropy, Community Service and Memberships
- In 2019, Arlan and her mother, Mrs. Earline Butler-Sims, announced their new scholarship program, which kicked off with Oxford University's first-ever undergraduate scholarship for a Black student, as well as a commitment to fund a full-ride scholarship for a Psychology student at Mrs. Sims' alma mater, HBCU Dillard University.
Education
- Pilot Program: Insider's Guide to Silicon Valley Investing, Stanford Continuing Studies
