Tech Intersect #20: Arlan Hamilton-How to Turn Being Underestimated into Your Greatest Advantage

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In this episode of Tech Intersect, I speak with Arlan Hamilton, founder and managing partner of the venture capital firm, Backstage Capital. Arlan built this fund from the ground up, while experiencing homelessness. Literally. Backstage Capital addresses funding disparities in tech by investing in high-potential underestimated founders (people of color, women, and/or members of the LGBTQ community. Started from scratch, Backstage has now raised more than $7 million and invested in more than 130 startup companies led by underestimated founders. 

See amazing Arlan’s fireside chat with Shontavia Johnson and me during the Phoenix Rising Summit: Crisis-Proof Your Career & Monday (4/19/2020) with some never-before shared insights, experiences and encouraging words (streaming replay access for the entire event that includes this chat available for purchase at PhoenixRisingSummit.com). 

She also hosts the Your First Million Podcast and recently launched two long-anticipated projects. Her first book, It’s About Damn Time (business/inspiration/self-help), hits the shelves on May 5th. And she recently launched her informative and invaluable course, Raising Capital for Your Company from Scratch via Teachable. Tech Intersect listeners receive 50% off the course with the code TECHINTERSECT (now $360, $900 beginning May 5th). 

Some takeaways from this episode and It’s About Damn Time: Decision points matter. And so do relationships, authenticity, a positive intention in everything you do and a dogged determination to see your life beyond your present circumstances. Use Arlan’s journey and book as a source of encouragement, inspiration and information. Please share your thoughts ahas and selahs in the comments. And as you read the book, share your favorite parts and how you plan to turn being underestimated into your greatest advantage! 

Guest social assets:

• Twitter: @ArlanWasHere
• Web: https://backstagecapital.com/

Links:

• Register for Arlan’s class [affiliate link] with code TECHINTERSECT for 50% discount off early access price of $360 ($900 beginning May 5th)
• Buy It’s About Damn Time (Amazon)
• Backstage capital’s Arlan Hamilton Brings Diversity to Venture Capital
• Just 0.2% of VC funding goes to black women founders. Backstage Capital founder Arlan Hamilton wants to close that gap 

Contact: 

• Questions and requests: [email protected] 
• Follow: Twitter @AtTechIntersect Instagram @TechIntersect 
• Web:

Regulate & The Rabbit Hole by Notty Prod licensed via Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Produced by Tonya M. Evans for Advantage Evans, LLC