Investor profile

Arlan Hamilton

Founder & Managing Partner, Backstage Capital

Built a venture fund from scratch while homeless and sleeping in an airport.

Before venture capital, Arlan Hamilton worked in live music production, touring with artists including Toni Braxton. In 2015, while homeless and sleeping on the floor of San Francisco International Airport, she received the first check that set Backstage Capital in motion.

Backstage Capital invests in founders who are women, people of color, and/or LGBT+ — groups Hamilton calls "underestimated." The fund has raised more than $15M and backed over 170 startups.

Notable

Built a VC fund from scratch while sleeping in an airport.

Visit Backstage Capital ↗

Facts here reflect public reporting at time of writing — roles and fund affiliations change; verify current details directly with Backstage Capital.

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