How Did You Become a Venture Capitalist?

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Hou jan: I'm very proud of is that, am there? There's a magazine? Alld, fast company. Ind fast company is like a business magazine, an tect magazine. And not only was i on the cover, but i was the first non celebrity black woman to be on the cover. O ko. To even sleep at night byte odt was the coolest thing ever. Hou Jan: What are some of the really cool things you've been able to do since starting this entire venture capitalist business that you have? Yes, it's nice to ike, take a breath and think about that.

From living in the SFO airport to running $20M in VC funds, Arlan shares her incredible journey

My guest on this episode is an absolute inspiration -- and I don’t say that lightly. Her name is Arlan Hamilton, and she is the managing partner of Backstage Capital, a company that she founded while houseless.

Backstage Capital is a new kind of Venture Capitalism (VC) -- one that invests in founders who are people of color, women, and/or LGBTQ+. Arlan identifies as all three.

And as if running 20 million dollars in VC funds isn’t enough to fill her plate, she’s also an author, speaker, and host of her own podcast, Your First Million. Her other company, Runner, connects inclusive companies with operations talent.

Arlan is doing really big things in a really big way. I admire her so much -- not only is she making the business landscape a heck of a lot better for underrepresented founders and entrepreneurs, but she is creating a legacy for generations to come.

I am SO excited for you to hear this important conversation, sweet friend, because it’s pretty powerful. In our interview, you’ll hear:

Arlan’s journey to becoming an activist entrepreneur
Ways you can support people of color, women, and the LGBTQ+ entrepreneurial communities
How to deal with rejection while still moving forward
What you can do to be a good candidate for gaining an investor

I hope this episode is just as insightful and inspiring for you as it was for me. So if you’re ready to meet Arlan, pop in your Airpods, get comfy, and enjoy!

Here’s a glance at this episode...

[03:07] A decade ago, Arlan Hamilton didn't know what a venture capitalist was. Now, she represents people who aren't traditionally represented in the venture capital space.
[04:03] She had big goals and dreams, but she didn't think that venture capital would get her somewhere.
[10:39] Arlan was on the cover of Fast Company, along with other black women on the cover were Oprah, Beyoncé, and Serena Williams. Her venture capital firm has invested in over 200 companies so far.
[25:53] Before you attempt to fundraise, get dialed in on what you truly need. When making a pitch, lean in to what is great about your company. Investors like it when you can show profit or have a large waiting list.
[33:44] Runner is another company Arlan has that connects talent with great companies. It helps inclusive companies find assistants.
[41:39] Arlan shares the amazing story of how she ended up sitting in the front row of a Janet Jackson concert, and how later in life, she was able to do the same for other concert goers.

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