Arlan Hamilton
Born 1980 · Age 45
Founder and managing partner of Backstage Capital; investor focused on 'underestimated' founders (women, people of color, LGBTQ+). Former music-tour manager and indie-publisher; author of It's About Damn Time (2020) and Your First Million (2024).
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in/near Dallas, Texas
Arlan Hamilton was born on October 30, 1980 in the Dallas, Texas area.
First childhood business: reselling candy
As a child she started reselling candy bought in bulk from Costco to classmates — an early entrepreneurial sign.
High-school recognition: 'Most likely to succeed'
Voted 'most likely to succeed' at her high school graduation.
Began blogging: 'Your Daily Lesbian Moment' & other blogs
Gained notoriety as a blogger on 'Your Daily Lesbian Moment' and ran 'Arlan Was Here Productions' — early online audience-building.
TV production/director's assistant roles
Worked as production and director's assistant on TV programs including BET's Sunday's Best, Lifetime’s One Born Every Minute, and NBC's The Biggest Loser (dates span 2000s).
Worked as tour manager for Goldenboy
Served as tour manager to the Norwegian pop/punk group Goldenboy — an early professional music-industry role.
Tour manager/booking agent for Terra Naomi (2002–2009)
Worked as tour manager and booking agent for singer-songwriter Terra Naomi over several years.
Tour-managed major artists (ongoing 2000s)
Worked with artists including Kirk Franklin & The King's Men, CeeLo Green, Amanda Palmer, Pharrell Williams, Jason Derulo, Toni Braxton, Floetry and others.
Founded Interlude (indie music magazine)
Launched Interlude, an online music and entertainment magazine she founded and published.
Put career on hold to pursue funding & began financial hardship
Paused her music/production career to focus on raising capital for a fund; lived off savings and began periods of housing insecurity.
Founded Backstage Capital
Launched Backstage Capital, a venture firm investing in 'underestimated' founders (women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ founders).
Experienced homelessness while pursuing VC career
Suffered severe housing insecurity — including sleeping on friends' couches, in motels and reportedly on the floor of the San Francisco airport — while trying to break into venture capital.
Met Susan Kimberlin and received first investor check
Met angel investor/startup advisor Susan Kimberlin, who became an early/backing investor and early champion of her VC idea.
Received early loan/support from Sam Altman
Received a loan from Sam Altman (Y Combinator president at the time) that helped her stay afloat during early fund-raising days.
Backstage invests across initial portfolio
Began making many seed investments in startups led by underestimated founders; early portfolio companies included Tinsel and Radial among others.
Early high-profile investors joined Backstage
Early supporters included notable Silicon Valley angels such as Chris Sacca and Aaron Levie, providing validation and capital in Backstage's early stages.
Mark Cuban invested in Backstage (reported)
Reported early investment from Mark Cuban (variously reported as a sizable early commitment that boosted Backstage growth).
Featured in Gimlet Media's StartUp podcast (multi-episode)
Backstage Capital and Hamilton were the subject of a six-episode arc on Gimlet Media's StartUp podcast, bringing national attention to her story.
Co-founded Backstage Studio with Christie Pitts
Launched Backstage Studio (a venture studio) with Christie Pitts to build products and services aligned with Backstage's mission.
Reached 100 investments (goal met early)
Reached the milestone of investing in 100 startups ahead of a previously stated 2020 target; demonstrated rapid dealflow.
Named to Fortune 40 Under 40
Recognized by Fortune as one of the 40 Under 40 for 2018, elevating her public profile.
Announced effort to raise $36M fund for Black female founders
Publicly announced intent to raise a $36M fund targeted to Black female founders; an anchor investor later withdrew and the plan changed.
Launched Backstage Accelerator
Started a 3-month Backstage Accelerator to help founders reach critical milestones with mentorship and support.
Featured on Fast Company cover
Made the cover of Fast Company — noted as the first Black woman on the cover who was not an entertainer or athlete.
Stepped down as CEO of Backstage Capital (role transition)
Announced stepping down as CEO of Backstage Capital and transitioning some operational leadership to General Partner Christie Pitts to focus on branding and mission work.
Married Anna Eichenauer
Married Anna Eichenauer, a German composer and actress.
Named one of 23 most powerful LGBTQ+ people in tech (Business Insider)
Business Insider included Hamilton among the 23 most powerful LGBTQ+ people in tech.
Backstage portfolio and AUM early milestone
Backstage had invested multiple millions and was operating with limited assets under management—reported as never having more than ~$20M AUM at a given time.
Funded scholarship for Black British female pilot (Wings Alliance)
Funded a scholarship to encourage black British women to train as pilots (reported Feb 10, 2020).
Published 'It's About Damn Time' (Penguin Random House)
Released her first book It's About Damn Time: How to Turn Being Underestimated into Your Greatest Advantage (co-written with Rachel L. Nelson).
Paid $112,500 for Janet Jackson's 1956 Chevy truck
Purchased a 1956 Chevy truck once owned by Janet Jackson for $112,500 (reported 2021).
Launched Regulation Crowdfunding ownership of management company
Structured and executed a Regulation Crowdfunding raise (via Republic.co) that sold ownership in Backstage Management Co. to non-accredited investors—a regulatory first for a private venture fund manager.
Raised ~$5M from ~6,500 investors in 8 days (Q1 2021)
Approximately 6,500 people invested roughly $5M in Backstage's management company over an eight-day Regulation Crowdfunding offering in Q1 2021.
Named in Fast Company's Queer 50 (2021 list)
Included among Fast Company's Queer 50 list (2021), recognizing influential LGBTQ+ business leaders.
Backstage invested in ~200 startups; ~$20M invested (by ~2021)
By roughly 2021, Backstage had invested about $20M across nearly 200 companies led by underestimated founders (per media reports).
Named to Fast Company's Queer 50 (2022 list)
Ranked No. 17 on Fast Company's 2022 Queer 50 list, a repeat recognition for influence in business/tech.
Funded Oxford-Arlan Hamilton & Earline Butler Sims Scholar
Oxford University Student Spotlight reported a scholarship funded for Black students at the University of Oxford associated with Arlan Hamilton.
Backstage laid off majority of staff; paused net new investments
TechCrunch reported in June 2022 that Backstage had cut most of its staff and paused net-new investments to focus on existing portfolio and fundraising.
Documenting work and expanded content (YourFirstMillion.tv)
Began documenting Backstage's work and her wealth-education initiatives on film and via the YourFirstMillion.tv platform/YouTube channel.
Personal investing in emerging managers (30+ out-of-pocket)
Reported she had personally invested out-of-pocket in roughly 30 emerging managers (mostly BIPOC, women, LGBTQ+), seeding future fund managers.
Backstage reported as having raised nearly $30M and invested in ~200 startups (ongoing)
By early 2024 media reported Backstage had raised nearly $30M and invested in roughly 200 startups led by underestimated founders.
Public speaker and high-profile media presence (ongoing)
Became a highly requested speaker across tech and finance events, with frequent coverage/interviews in Time, Forbes, Fast Company and others.
Published 'Your First Million' (new book release/public campaign)
Released a follow-up book Your First Million: Why You Don't Have To Be Born Into A Legacy of Wealth To Leave One Behind (reported Jan 2024 coverage).
Named Strategic Advisor for Inpink/Gritty In Pink
Announced as a strategic advisor for the Inpink platform by Gritty In Pink alongside Melissa Etheridge and Live Nation (March 2024).
Hosted 'Your First Million LIVE' event in Los Angeles (planned/held Apr 2024)
Launched an event intended to build wealth education and create new millionaires, featuring notable speakers (Forbes reported April 2024).
Key Achievement Ages
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