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Featured Arlan Hamilton Keynote Speaker Founder Backstage Capital Gravity Speakers
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* Ranges are presented as a guideline only. Speaker fees vary by engagement type and are subject to change without notice. For an exact quote, please contact Gravity Speakers.

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Los Angeles, California, USA

Tags: Gravity's Exclusives / LGBTQ+ / Activism / Overcoming Adversity / Business / College & University / Diversity & Inclusion / Investing & Venture Capital / Management / Entrepreneurship / Startup / Team Building / Leadership / Motivational / Social Change & Issues / Technology

About

Arlan Hamilton, founder at Backstage Capital and HireRunner.co, 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 nearly $30 million and invested in 200 startups led by underestimated founders. Arlan is also the founder of HireRunner.co, a startup that connects outstanding employee talent with inclusive companies. 

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’s latest book, “Your First Million: Why You Don’t Have To Be Born Into A Legacy Of Wealth To Leave One Behind” is available for preorder and will be out on January 2nd, 2024.

Arlan is a big proponent of paying it forward and supporting other underestimated people in the tech industry and beyond. She’s 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.

Topics

Write Your Own Headlines

Arlan Hamilton, founder at Backstage Capital and HireRunner.co, is a serial entrepreneur, author of “It’s About Damn Time”, and master multi-tasker. Despite not having a background in finance or venture capital, she has raised millions of dollars in funding for over 200 companies and has become a leading advocate for diversity and inclusion. Hear her remarkable journey from homelessness to successful venture capitalist and entrepreneur, and be prepared to be inspired to write your own headlines.

Being the Change You Want to See

Breaking Rules While Breaking Ground

Launching Startups with Humanity

Black Women in Tech

Bootstrapping a Venture Capital Fund

Arlan Hamilton is available for booking directly through Gravity Speakers and is currently represented by CAA.

Videos

  • Arlan Hamilton Speaker Reel

  • Arlan Hamilton: From Homeless to Investing Millions

  • DJG: 5 Questions with Arlan Hamilton

  • Bloomberg Studio 1.0: Backstage Capital’s Arlan Hamilton

  • PBS Amanpour & Co: Arlan Hamilton on the Changing Face of Entrepreneurship

  • SXSW 2019: Arlan Hamilton

  • 2019 MAKERS Conference: Aisha Tyler & Arlan Hamilton

  • CNBC: Backstage Capital Founder Arlan Hamilton wants to Close that gap

  • Inspirefest 2018: Arlan Hamilton: Challenging the Status Quo

Articles

  • TIME: Arlan Hamilton Went From Homeless to Running $20 Million in VC Funds. Here's How She Did It

  • Arlan Hamilton Article Business Insider Purse Strings Venture Capital

    Business Insider: Arlan Hamilton Wants to Change Who Controls the Purse Strings in Venture Capital - Starting With Her Own Firm

  • The Verge: Arlan Hamilton is Building a New Kind of VC

  • Inc.: Arlan Hamilton and Steve Case: 3 Ways for Investors to Support Diverse Startups

  • TechCrunch: Backstage Capital's Arlan Hamilton discusses how to find the next unicorn

  • Arlan Hamilton Article Inc Backstage Capital Founder Eyes Another Milestone Crowdfunding

    Inc.: Backstage Capital Founder Arlan Hamilton Eyes Another Milestone: A $5 Million Crowdfunding Campaign

  • Arlan Hamilton Article Fast Company Queer 50

    Fast Company: Queer 50 - Introducing the first-ever list of LGBTQ women and nonbinary innovators in business and tech

  • Arlan Hamilton Article Entrepreneur Middle East Getting Ahead One Day At A Time

    Entrepreneur Middle East: Getting Ahead (One Day At A Time) - Backstage Capital Founder Arlan Hamilton

  • Link CNN Business Article Arlan Hamilton She Invests in Tech Founders Others Overlook

    CNN Business: She Invests in Tech Founders Others Overlook

  • Link FastCompany Article Arlan Hamilton Cover Story

    Fast Company: Memo to the Silicon Valley boys’ club: Arlan Hamilton has no time for your BS

  • Link Quartz at Work Article Arlan Hamilton Improbable Rise

    Quartz At Work: The improbable rise of America’s hottest VC

  • Link Forbes Article Why Arlan Hamilton Created 36M Fund Black For Women

    Forbes: Why Arlan Hamilton Created A $36M Fund For Black Women

  • Link GeekWire Article Arlan Hamilton turned her hustle and grit into minority-focused VC

    GeekWire: How Arlan Hamilton turned her hustle and grit into a minority-focused VC fund investing millions

  • Link Inc Article Arlan Hamilton How This Woman Went From Homelessness

    INC.com: How This Woman Went From Homelessness to Running a Multimillion-Dollar Venture Fund

  • Link Essense Article Arlan Hamilton About Damn Time Fund

    Essence: With Her 'It's About Damn Time' Fund, Arlan Hamilton Is Bringing $36 Million In V.C. Funding To Black Women

  • Link Business Insider Article Arlan Hamilton About Damn Time Fund

    BusinessInsider: A little-known venture fund is raising $36 million to invest exclusively in black female founders, and the head of the firm is calling it the 'About Damn Time fund'

Books

  • Arlan Hamilton Book Cover Your First Million: Why You Don’t Have To Be Born Into A Legacy Of Wealth To Leave One Behind

    Your First Million: Why You Don’t Have To Be Born Into A Legacy Of Wealth To Leave One Behind

  • Arlan Hamilton Book Its About Damn Time

    It's About Damn Time: How to Turn Being Underestimated Into Your Greatest Advantage

Testimonials

  • “We loved having Arlan. She has an amazing stage presence and asked so many compelling questions to the startups on stage. We were lucky to have her!” Annie Fei Principal Event Marketing Manager, Hubspot INBOUND
  • “Arlan’s challenge and her enthusiasm set the state and the tone for the rest of the Summit, helping to energize attendees and inspire deep conversations about the future of our profession.” Kevin R. Keller CEO at CFP Board
  • “Arlan was great. Obviously very knowledge, honest and candid and challenging in her remarks - while also being inspiring and thought-provoking.“ Tammy Nolen, Development & Communications Coordinator Center for Economic Inclusion
  • “Arlan is what's now, and what's NEXT in entrepreneurship.” Theo Edmonds UofL Center for Creative Placehealing
  • “Arlan Hamilton was amazing. She delivered a great message for our joint Pride/Juneteenth event. She was also very personable at the meet and greet.” Audrey Fernandez-Elliott PayPal, Inc.
  • “Arlan was amazing! The audience would've loved to hear more of her backstory , but everything she said was captivating.” Ki Williams Hubspot Inc.
  • “Arlan's fireside chat was immensely impactful.” Jordan Carlisle Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce
  • “Arlan showed up with enthusiasm, even after a long day of appearances. She was fun, thoughtful, and engaged, volunteering to stay after her talk to chat with members of the audience (over and above her contract.) The audience was thrilled, still talking about the event many days later.” Lisa Durnford Venture Out
  • “We were thrilled! The turnout to hear Arlan's fireside chat was impressive and the audience was very engaged. Arlan is a great speaker - she was articulate, funny, relatable and insightful. We were so glad to have her at our event.” Alana Davicino Village Capital
  • “Everyone one absolutely loved Arlan's fireside chat! Her chat was the highlight of our event.” Charmyse Tillman gener8tor