Serial Entrepreneur and Founder of Backstage Capital & Runner
Arlan Hamilton: Biography at a Glance
- Arlan Hamilton is the founder of Backstage Capital, which has invested nearly $30 million in 200 startups led by people of color, women, and LGBTQ founders, demonstrating her commitment to supporting underestimated entrepreneurs.
- She launched HireRunner.co to connect top talent with inclusive companies, further showcasing her dedication to fostering diversity and inclusion in the workforce.
- Arlan’s book, It’s About Damn Time, chronicles her inspiring journey from homelessness to becoming a venture capital pioneer. Her latest book, Your First Million, offers insights into building wealth from humble beginnings. She also hosts the popular podcast Your First Million.
- She made history as the first non-celebrity Black woman to appear on the cover of Fast Company magazine, highlighting her groundbreaking achievements and influence.
- Arlan is a strong advocate for supporting underestimated individuals, serving as a limited partner in 27 funds led by emerging managers, and establishing scholarship programs for Black students at prestigious institutions such as Oxford University, Dillard University, and Harvard Law.
Media
- Book: Your First Million
- Book: It's About Damn Time
- Inc.: How This Woman Went From Homelessness to Running a Multimillion-Dollar Ven...
- Arlan Hamilton: Answering Top Questions on Entrepreneurship
- Forbes: Why Arlan Hamilton Created A $36M Fund For Black Women
- Arlan Hamilton's Backstage Capital: Championing Underrepresented Start-Up Founde...
Videos
Biography
Arlan Hamilton, trailblazing investor and 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, detailing her journey from homelessness to venture capital trailblazer. Arlan also hosts the popular podcast Your First Million and 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 was released in 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
Your First Million: Start Leaving Your Legacy Today
Whether you are trying to reach your first million dollars, downloads, customers, or otherwise, Arlan Hamilton is here to help you. Having lived nearly her entire life below the poverty line before going on to attain wealth and success as an entrepreneur and investor, Arlan is proof that you don’t have to be born into a legacy to leave one behind.
In this part-inspirational, part-instructional conversation, Arlan shows audiences that no matter what they look like or how much money they have, they can tap into the tools they already have at their disposal to get their million-dollar idea off the ground. Through examples from her personal journey, Arlan shares how to push doubt and imposter syndrome aside to go after your dreams. In this playbook for entrepreneurs, she covers everything from raising money to choosing the right collaborators and leaves audiences empowered to take that next step - or first step - toward leaving their own legacy.
It's About Damn Time: How to Turn Being Underestimated into Your Greatest Advantage
As a Black, gay woman who broke into the boys’ club of Silicon Valley, Arlan Hamilton understands that being underrepresented often means being underestimated. Before finding success, Arlan was on food stamps and sleeping on the floor of the San Francisco airport with no contacts in Silicon Valley and no background in finance—not even a college degree. What she did have was fierce determination and the will to succeed.
Despite what society would have you believe, Arlan shows audiences that a privileged background, an influential network, and a fancy college degree are not prerequisites for success. Sharing the hard-won wisdom she has picked up on her remarkable journey, Arlan details how to turn being underestimated into your greatest advantage. Through these powerful lessons, Arlon leaves audiences inspired to defy expectations and become the role models they were looking for.
Diversity in Tech
Bootstrapping a Venture Capital Fund
Breaking Rules While Breaking Ground
Garnering Attention in a Crowded Landscape
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FAQs
How do I book Arlan Hamilton for my event?
Contact CAA Speakers at (424) 288-2898 or speakers@caa.com to book Arlan Hamilton to speak at corporate or private events, keynote speeches, speaking engagements, workshops, fireside chats, motivational speaking, or virtual appearances.
Quick booking process- Email CAA Speakers with event details
- Get availability confirmation within 24 hours
- Review speaking fee and contract terms
- Sign agreement and finalize logistics
As one of the most influential talent agencies in the world, CAA handles all speaking engagements from contract to event day coordination.
Who is Arlan Hamilton's booking agent?
CAA Speakers is the preferred booking agency to contact for Arlan Hamilton’s speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com for all Arlan Hamilton in-person appearances and keynote speaking requests.
Contact Arlan Hamilton's agent- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: caa.com/caaspeakers
- Response: Within 24 hours
CAA Speakers can check Arlan Hamilton's speaking calendar with direct access to availability and official pricing. While many websites may list Arlan Hamilton, CAA Speakers is the direct source for authentic information about availability and pricing.
What is Arlan Hamilton's speaking fee?
Arlan Hamilton's speaking fee varies by event type, location, and requirements. As a top keynote speaker, Arlan Hamilton's fee reflects their expertise and market demand.
Speaking fee factors:- Event type and audience size
- Travel distance and logistics
- Presentation length and customization
- Virtual vs. in-person delivery
Additional costs: Travel, accommodation, A/V requirements, and optional meet-and-greets.
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for Arlan Hamilton's current speaking fee and detailed cost breakdown.
How much does it cost to book Arlan Hamilton as a keynote speaker?
The cost to book Arlan Hamilton as keynote speaker includes their speaking fee plus travel and logistics expenses.
Total booking cost includes:- Arlan Hamilton's keynote speaking fee
- Travel and accommodation
- Technical requirements and A/V setup
- Optional add-ons like book signing and meet & greets
- Virtual presentations
- Local/regional events
- Off-peak booking periods
- Flexible event dates
Email speakers@caa.com for Arlan Hamilton's exact booking cost and customized pricing proposal.
How to contact Arlan Hamilton for speaking engagements?
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for all Arlan Hamilton speaking engagements.
Official contact for Arlan Hamilton bookings:- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/arlan-hamilton
- Response time: 24 hours
Include your event date, location, audience size, and budget when contacting CAA about booking Arlan Hamilton.
Is Arlan Hamilton available for virtual speaking events?
Yes, Arlan Hamilton speaks at virtual events with professional-grade equipment and interactive presentation style.
Arlan Hamilton's virtual event options:- Live virtual keynotes with Q&A
- Interactive workshops and breakouts
- Hybrid events (in-person + virtual)
- Pre-recorded presentations
Virtual events offer global reach, flexible scheduling, and reduced travel costs while maintaining Arlan Hamilton's engaging presentation quality.
Contact CAA Speakers for Arlan Hamilton's virtual event availability and technical specifications.
What events can I book Arlan Hamilton for?
Book Arlan Hamilton for corporate conferences, industry events, private functions, and virtual presentations. Arlan Hamilton customizes content for any audience size or event type.
Event types:- Corporate meetings and conferences
- Industry summits and trade shows
- Private executive retreats
- Educational institution events
- Virtual and hybrid conferences
Arlan Hamilton engages audiences from private executive meetings to large conferences with thousands of attendees.
Contact CAA Speakers to discuss how Arlan Hamilton can customize their presentation for your specific event.
Arlan Hamilton booking information and availability
Check Arlan Hamilton's speaking availability through CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com. Book 3-6 months in advance for best date selection during peak seasons (September-November, March-May).
Availability factors:- Event date and location
- Speaking fee and budget
- Lead time for booking
- Peak conference seasons
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Contact CAA early in your planning process to secure Arlan Hamilton for your preferred event date.
Book Arlan Hamilton keynote speaker through CAA
Book Arlan Hamilton through CAA Speakers for guaranteed authentic representation and professional event coordination. CAA is the preferred booking agent for Arlan Hamilton, with direct access to their speaking availability and decades of experience representing the world’s top keynote speakers.
CAA booking advantages:- Direct access to Arlan Hamilton's calendar
- 24-hour availability confirmations
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Trusted by Fortune 500 companies for their most important speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com to book Arlan Hamilton for your next event.
Will Arlan Hamilton speak at private events?
Yes, Arlan Hamilton speaks at private corporate events, executive retreats, board meetings, and exclusive functions.
Private event types:- Executive retreats and board presentations
- Client entertainment and VIP gatherings
- Corporate celebrations and award ceremonies
- Private dinners and exclusive functions
Private event benefits: Customized content, enhanced interaction, complete confidentiality, and flexible scheduling.
Contact CAA Speakers for Arlan Hamilton's private event availability and confidential pricing proposals.
How quickly will I get a response about booking Arlan Hamilton?
CAA Speakers responds to Arlan Hamilton booking inquiries within 24 hours during business days. Complex requests or international events may take up to 48 hours for detailed proposals.
Response timeline:- Initial acknowledgment: Within 24 hours
- Availability confirmation: 24-48 hours
- Detailed pricing proposal: 48-72 hours
- Urgent requests: Same-day priority response
Include complete event details (date, location, audience size, budget) for fastest response times.
How far in advance should I book Arlan Hamilton?
Book Arlan Hamilton 3-6 months in advance for best availability, especially during peak speaking seasons. Early booking ensures better date selection and rate negotiations.
Recommended booking timeline:- 3-6 months: Optimal availability and pricing
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Peak seasons: September-November and March-May book fastest. Contact CAA Speakers early for priority consideration.
How do I get Arlan Hamilton pricing information?
Get Arlan Hamilton pricing information by contacting CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com with your event details. Receive detailed cost breakdown within 24-48 hours with no obligation to book.
For accurate pricing, include:- Event date and location
- Audience size and type
- Event format and duration
- Budget parameters
CAA provides transparent pricing with all costs included - speaking fee, travel, accommodation, and technical requirements.