ARLAN HAMILTON
Founder and Managing Partner,
Backstage Capital
Arlan Hamilton is an investor and the founder and managing partner of Backstage Capital, a venture capital fund she founded while being homeless in Texas. She is the first venture capitalist to invest exclusively in underrepresented founders. Being able to assist others who are often overlooked is a feeling that Hamilton describes as the only “metric” that she “can still feel,” adding that money doesn’t really make a difference but the positive “impact” her resources bring to the founders she helps does.
Backstage Capital’s mission is to increase the amount of funding given to people of color, women and members of the LGBTQIA community. Since its launch in 2015, Backstage Capital has raised more than $15 million and invested in more than 170 startup companies that are led by founders who are overlooked in business. To date, the company has launched four accelerator programs for underrepresented founders in Los Angeles, Detroit, Philadelphia and London.
Launched Backstage Capital to give the underdogs of business an opportunity to succeed.
Creating more access to funding for people of color, members of the LGBTQIA community and women.
Founder and CEO, Telfar
TELFAR CLEMENS
Telfar Clemens is a Liberian-American fashion designer and founder of Telfar, a genderless fashion label known for selling luxury pieces at an affordable price. After designing uniforms for 400 White Castle locations in 2017, he collaborated with the fast-food chain on a capsule collection, the proceeds of which he used as bail funds for teenagers imprisoned on Rikers Island.
STEPHANIE N. MORALES
BLAZING STAR
RISING STAR
In 2015, Stephanie Morales became the first woman elected as Commonwealth’s Attorney in Portsmouth, Virginia. Since then, she’s proposed changes to the criminal justice system, created re-entry programs for formerly incarcerated citizens and served as a mentor to youth in her community. Morales is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, the Links and the Virginia State Child Fatality Review Team, as well as a national board member of the Local Progress Organization.
Bringing awareness to race and social issues and creating resources for communities of color and Black and Brown youth.
Created re-entry programs for formerly incarcerated citizens, as well as youth programs and more.
Creating a luxury fashion brand that sells goods at an affordable price.
Donated proceeds from brand partnerships to pay bail for imprisoned teens at Rikers Island.
Commonwealth Attorney and Author