Arlan Hamilton, founder at Backstage Capital backstagecapital.com and HireRunner.co is a serial entrepreneur, author, and master multi-tasker. 

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 nearly $30 million and invested in 200 startups led by underestimated founders.

Arlan published her book, “It’s About Damn Time in 2020, detailing her journey from homelessness to venture capital trailblazer. Arlan also hosts the popular podcast “Your First Million” and in 2018, was the first non-celebrity Black woman to grace the cover of Fast Company
magazine.

Arlan is a limited partner in 27 funds led by emerging, underestimated managers, and she and her mother, Mrs. Earline Butler-Sims, have established scholarship programs for Black students at Oxford University, HBCU Dillard University, and Harvard Law.