We are excited to welcome Arlan Hamilton, founder of Backstage Capital, for her first-ever fireside chat in New Zealand, in conversation with Kaye-Maree Dunn, Founder of Āhau to talk about diversity and inclusion in tech startup ecosystems.

Arlan Hamilton - Our idol!

Arlan Hamilton built a venture capital fund from the ground up, while homeless. She is the Founder and Managing Partner of Backstage Capital, a fund that is dedicated to minimizing funding disparities in tech by investing in high-potential founders who are people of colour, women, and/or LGBT.

Started from scratch in 2015, Backstage has now raised more than $10 million and invested in more than 130 startup companies led by underestimated founders. In 2018 Arlan co-founded Backstage Studio which launched four accelerator programs for underestimated founders in Detroit, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and London. Arlan was featured on the cover of Fast Company magazine in October 2018 as the first Black woman non-celebrity to do so.

Arlan's released her new book "It's About Damn Time" which is available to purchase on Amazon Books. We are gifting 10 free digital copies of her book to 10 lucky attendees, which will be drawn at random after the event (note: you will need a Kindle account to be eligible for the book).

This chat will be hosted by Kaye-Maree Dunn

Kaye-Maree, our host for the event, is a tech entrepreneur from Te Rarawa, Ngā Puhi, Ngāi Te Rangikoianaake, Ngāti Mahanga me Ngāi Tāmanuhiri and resides in Wainuiomata Wellington. She is the current Managing Director of Making Everything Achievable, Indigital Blockchain Limited and digital identity and Traditional Knowledge platform Āhau. She is on the Board of NZ Tech, Te Paepae Arahi, a kaupapa Māori mental health provider in Lower Hutt, Para Kore Charitable Trust, the North Hokianga Development Trust and a current Sir Edmond Hillary Fellow. Kaye-Maree was previously one of the Wellington Representatives on the New-Zealand Māori Council for three years.

Woo hoo! Can't wait!

This event is brought to you in partnership with TechWomen.