Mark Cuban helps Arlan Hamilton’s firm invest in underrepresented company founders

Photo courtesy of Backstage Capital.

Last year, Mark Cuban invested $1 million into Lake Highlands High School alumna Arlan Hamilton’s capital firm.

Backstage Capital invests in people of color, women and those who identify as LGBTQ+. The company has raised more than $7 million and invested in more than 130 startups.

“He [Cuban] said, ‘Just invest in whatever you want to invest in,'” Hamilton told the Advocate. “We co-manage. We’ve invested in 12 companies.”

Hamilton said that their goal is to work together “and think of ways that we can add value to Dallas.”

Hamilton has worked as a tour manager for Norwegian pop punk band goldenboy. She has also served as production coordinator for big names like Jason Derulo, Toni Braxton and Kirk Franklin.

“It’s About Damn Time” is Hamilton’s new book, which she labels part memoir, part self-help and part business.

“The main audience is people who want to start companies or who are starting companies already,” she said. “They feel like they are overlooked, so a lot of people who read the book are women of color.”