logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2020
43m 3s

ZigZag: Arlan Hamilton says capitalism i...

TED
About this episode

"Today we're sharing an episode from another TED podcast: ZigZag, hosted by Manoush Zomorodi.

In 2018, Backstage Capital's Arlan Hamilton was on the cover of Fast Company magazine. The headline was irresistible: homeless, gay, Black woman becomes hot-shot Silicon Valley investor. But the reality is that Black female founders still get token amounts of funding, despite being the fastest growing demographic in the startup world. On this episode, Arlan reflects on whether she's improved the plight of “underestimated and underrepresented” founders and how she explains privilege to white, male investors who don't understand the point of her investment fund. Plus, Manoush's daughter weighs in on entrepreneurship.

Subscribe to ZigZag wherever you're listening to this. "



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Jul 7
How to change careers and reinvent yourself (w/ Dawn Burrell) | from How to Be a Better Human
Dawn Burrell is a celebrated long jumper, an Olympic athlete, and a chef’s whose cooking made her a semifinalist for a James Beard Award — and these are just a sampling of her many accolades. In this episode, Dawn talks about how she navigated the career shift from athlete to che ... Show More
40m 10s
Jun 30
A new vision of healthy masculinity | Davonte Green
What does it actually mean to be a "real man" these days? In a personal talk packed with actionable advice, youth advocate Davonte Green challenges age-old stereotypes about masculinity, showing that emotional intelligence and self-control — not aggression — are the keys to movin ... Show More
15m 11s
Jun 23
The climate movement needs new stories — here's mine | Fenton Lutunatabua
"We are not drowning. We are fighting," says storyteller Fenton Lutunatabua, echoing the mantra of the climate activists he works with across the Pacific. He shares stories of the people and communities at the front lines of the climate crisis, proving they're not waiting to be s ... Show More
11m 13s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2021
Change Maker: Arlan Hamilton, Founder, on How Being Underestimated Can be a Superpower
This week’s change maker Arlan Hamilton is a venture capitalist investor. She’s the founder and managing partner of Backstage Capital, which invests in underestimated founders, including women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ folx. She talks with Nicole about hating the “Homeless to ... Show More
20m 36s
Feb 2021
Venture Capitalism isn’t just for Venture Capitalists, with Arlan Hamilton
Nilay Patel talks with venture capitalist Arlan Hamilton. Arlan founded VC fund Backstage Capital in 2015 and focuses on investing in “underestimated founders,” many of whom are people of color, women and LGBTQ. They discuss the importance of representation in tech and business, ... Show More
55m 42s
Aug 2020
Arlan Hamilton | It's About Damn Time
As a kid, Arlan Hamilton loved music and eventually found her way into the world of live concerts, working as a tour manager. Along the way, she also published a magazine and wrote the popular Your Daily Lesbian Moment blog, that drew a large, devoted community, before pivoting i ... Show More
54m 9s
Oct 2023
BLACK WOMEN LED VC FIRM, FUNDING BLACK WOMEN'S BUSINESSES, FACES LAWSUIT FOR REVERSE DISCRIMINATION
The Fearless Fund, known for its investments in notable businesses like Slutty Vegan and Live Tinted, is now in the spotlight as it faces a lawsuit challenging its grant program aimed at supporting Black women entrepreneurs. Situated in Atlanta, this venture capital firm has dedi ... Show More
17m 55s
Dec 2022
How the Current Hustle Culture Creates Entrepreneurial Poverty for Women
Send us a textCelebrity entrepreneurs don’t do any favors with all their hustle talk, and despite everything you hear about escaping burnout and hustle culture, too many women entrepreneurs still can’t escape. They desperately need the cash flow in their business right now. So if ... Show More
27m 51s
May 2020
From $17k/mo to $200k/mo: The Newest Company I'm Investing In
Investing capital into a business can be the fastest path to growth... if that business is already healthy and profitable. It helps when that business has an audience of incredibly loyal buyers like Courtney Lee's Prymal brand that sells healthy coffee creamers. On this episode w ... Show More
50m 43s
Jan 2021
Arlan Hamilton: The Investor Who's Opening Doors
If you think hard work is enough to guarantee success, you haven’t been listening. All season long, we’ve profiled Black inventors who haven’t quite been given their due. Arlan Hamilton is helping reverse that trend by leveling the playing field—and changing the venture capital g ... Show More
29m 32s
Mar 2024
Centering Women of Color - Arlan & Bridgid’s new podcast!
Help us think of a name:) Reach out on LinkedIn or Instagram — Bridgid Coulter Cheadle is a serial entrepreneur and philanthropist who developed Blackbird House. To schedule a tour, visit https://www.blackbird.house Arlan Hamilton is the founder and managing partner of Backstage ... Show More
1h 4m
Mar 2023
One of venture’s most iconic duos wants to have a word with you
 Natasha interviewed one of venture's most iconic duos: Mitch Kapor and Freada Kapor Klein of Kapor Capital. The investors recently published a book, "Closing the Equity Gap: Creating Wealth and Fostering Justice in Startup Investing," connecting scrappy stories of entrepreneurs ... Show More
38m 54s
May 2024
#78 - Decoding Billion-Dollar Success: Timeless principles.
Welcome to another episode of the Natural Born Leader Podcast! Last night, I stumbled upon an eye-opening podcast featuring a seasoned entrepreneur who's seen it all, from PayPal to Palantir. What struck me the most? Despite his brilliance, building billion-dollar companies ... Show More
3m 8s