Arlan Hamilton facts for kids

Arlan Hamilton is an American investor who started her own company called Backstage Capital. An investor is someone who gives money to new businesses hoping they will grow and succeed. Her company helps people who are often overlooked get the funding they need to start their own businesses.

In 2020, she wrote a book called It's About ... Time: How to Turn Being Underestimated into Your Greatest Advantage. The book shares lessons from her life and career in venture capital, which is a type of investing in new companies.

Career Journey

Early Career

Before becoming a successful investor, Arlan Hamilton had other interesting jobs. She started her own magazine called Interlude. She also worked as a tour manager for the singer Janine, who was with Atlantic Records. This job involved organizing and managing the singer's concert tours.

Founding Backstage Capital

Hamilton is best known for creating Backstage Capital. Her goal was to invest in companies started by women, people of color, and other groups who often find it hard to get money for their ideas.

In 2018, Hamilton announced a special plan to raise $36 million just for businesses founded by Black women. This showed her commitment to supporting entrepreneurs who are often underestimated.

Recent Work

In June 2022, Backstage Capital changed its strategy. The company paused making new investments to focus on supporting the companies it had already funded.

In March 2024, Hamilton took on a new role as a strategic advisor for a platform called Inpink. She works alongside famous people like musician Melissa Etheridge and the company Live Nation to help the platform grow.

Achievements and Recognition

Hamilton's work has earned her a lot of praise. In June 2019, Business Insider magazine named her one of the most powerful people in the technology industry.

She has also used her success to help others. Hamilton created a scholarship to help Black women become pilots. She also started another scholarship for Black students to study at the famous University of Oxford in England.

Personal Life

In 2019, Hamilton married Anna Eichenauer, who is a composer and actress from Germany.

Hamilton is a big fan of the singer Janet Jackson. In 2021, she bought a 1956 Chevy truck that used to belong to Jackson for $112,500.

Awards

• 2018 – Fortune magazine's "40 Under 40" list
• 2021 – Fast Company magazine's "Queer 50" list
• 2022 – Fast Company magazine's "Queer 50" list