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Although the venture capital world statistically excludes Black women, that didn’t stop Arlan Hamilton from breaking into the field.
The founder of Los Angeles-based VC firm Backstage Capital first learned about Silicon Valley while working as a tour manager. She heard about musicians' and celebrities' fascinations with the tech world as she roamed the back halls of concert venues, and was interested immediately. "I saw a world that felt like I did on the inside," Hamilton said on Tuesday during an exclusive Inc. stream event. "I saw passion, moonshot thinking, optimism that was unbridled, and creativity that couldn't be measured."
Backstage focuses on investing in companies with “underestimated” founders, a term Hamilton prefers over “underrepresented.” The latter, she said, has a connotation of “less than”--while the former connotes challenge and untapped potential. Her example: You may enter the boxing ring against opponents who think they are stronger than you. And sure, they may be taller or bigger. But if you know that you have a great right hook, let them underestimate you.
Read our story to learn how Hamilton leveraged being underestimated to raising and making millions of dollars in the past five years, and how she’s working to redefine what success looks like. |
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