The Bootstrapped VC - A Backstage Capital Podcast

Hear about some exciting developments at Backstage directly from Arlan herself.

Peter Rojas loves gadgets and made a career around sharing the stories behind the devices, including vintage mobile phones. Christie Pitts worked on the front lines of consumer device sales at Verizon. Today, they're both VCs investing in startups – Peter at Betaworks, and Christie at Backstage Capital. But, while they look toward the future of technology, they can't refrain from reminiscing about the weird and wonderful evolution of phones that many have left behind in the past. Join us in this fun preview of Christie and Peter's new podcast, "0G: A History of Forgotten Phones". Listen to 0G: https://anchor.fm/0g Full show notes: https://backstagecapital.com/podcast/0g/‎ Credits: Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Co-Host: Christie Pitts Co-Host + Editor: Bryan Landers Theme by: Janine Additional Music by: Jeff Kaale

Join a live fireside event that happened November 7, 2018. #MoveTheDial Global Summit in Toronto, Ontario in Canada, brought together incredible tech leaders and influencers dedicated to promoting the participation and leadership of all women in tech. Listen in as Bea Arthur, Founder + CEO at Backstage Headliner The Difference and a Host + Contributor at Forbes, speaks with Arlan about the origins of Backstage Capital, being true to yourself in the face of adversity, and all of us working together to change representation and opportunity for more people. Find out more about #MoveTheNeedle: https://movethedial.com/ Full show notes: https://backstagecapital.com/podcast/arlanwashere-movethedial-2018/

Andrea Barrica shares the story of being raised in a religious, conservative, first-generation Filipino-American family that only taught abstinence to becoming the CEO + Founder of O.school, a non-judgmental source for information on sexuality and dating through medically-accurate videos, articles, and live streams. Greer and Andrea discuss raising venture capital for a Sex Tech company as an LGBTQ woman of color, and Andrea's path to O.school after co-founding inDinero with Jessica Ma and working as a Venture Partner at 500 Startups. Full show notes: https://backstagecapital.com/podcast/oschool/ Credits: Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Host: Greer Engonga Producer: Bryan Landers Editor: Chris Keene Theme by: Janine Additional Music by: Lakey Inspired

Greer interviews Headliner Damola Ogundipe, CEO + Co-founder of Civic Eagle, a political technology company that helps organizations win their policy campaigns with a SaaS platform that's powered by artificial intelligence — legislative intelligence made simple. Full show notes: https://backstagecapital.com/podcast/civic-eagle/ Credits: Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Host: Greer Engonga Producer: Bryan Landers Theme by: Janine Additional Music by: Lumenbeats.

Listen in on Arlan's keynote talk from Vision 2018, the small business innovation symposium held October 19 in St. Louis, Missouri. It's a charming, hilarious, and inspiring interview that reveals stories you've never heard from Arlan's past — a candid conversation with Dr. Cheryl Watkins-Moore, Director + Lead of the Bioscience Entrepreneurial & Workforce Inclusion Initiative. Full show notes: https://backstagecapital.com/podcast/arlanwashere-vision-2018/ Credits Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Producer: Bryan Landers Theme by: Janine Additional music by: DeKobe

Listen in to another episode of Arlan's notes, an intimate conversation with you. Hear more about what the Fast Company cover means for representation, and how the good and bad things in life go on even while you experience achievements and accolades. Join Arlan as she seeks to shift things to their core, break ground, and make change. Full show notes: https://backstagecapital.com/podcast/arlanwashere-still-here/ Credits: Host + Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Producer + Editor: Bryan Landers Theme by: Janine

Get to know the Directors of Program Development for the recently announced Backstage Accelerator. Melinda Epler and Wayne Sutton have been helping underestimated founders for years through accelerators, conferences, and corporate consulting. Learn more about their amazing career paths as well as their advice to founders interested in applying to Backstage Accelerator. Full show notes: https://backstagecapital.com/podcast/accelerator-2/ Credits: Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Host + Producer: Bryan Landers Theme by: Janine Additional Music by: Lakey Inspired

Arlan, Christie, and Bryan share more about the newly announced Backstage Accelerator! Why now was the right time? What will it be? Who's running the programs? Who's welcome to apply? Find out all the latest details about Accelerator. Also, hear Arlan's reaction to being featured on the October 2018 cover of Fast Company magazine. Full show notes: https://backstagecapital.com/podcast/accelerator/ Credits: Executive Producer + Co-host: Arlan Hamilton Co-Host: Christie Pitts Co-Host + Producer: Bryan Landers Theme by: Janine Additional Music by: Es-K, Ashka

Greer chats with Headliner Mike T. Brown, Founder + CEO of Win Win, the only place where sports fans can compete in games to win epic experiences and amazing prizes from their favorite pro athletes, all while supporting charitable initiatives. Also, learn more about Backstage Crew member Anastasia Tarpeh-Ellis. Full show notes: http://backstagecapital.com/podcast/win-win/ Credits Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Host: Greer Engonga Producer: Bryan Landers Theme by: Janine Additional Music by: Lakey Inspired

Here's an inspiring interview with the talented and driven Yelitsa Jean-Charles, Founder + CEO of Healthy Roots Dolls, a toy company that teaches natural hair care to young girls of color with beautiful black dolls. While at the Rhode Island School of Design studying Illustration, Yelitsa redesigned the fairy tale character Rapunzel as a brown girl with beautiful kinky hair. The exploration quickly gained traction and with a grant from of the Brown University Social Innovation Fellowship, support from the RISD E'Ship Program, the Masschallenge Accelerator program, and 674 dedicated Kickstarter backers, Yelitsa brought Healthy Roots to life. Join us as we discuss entrepreneurship, representation, and finding yourself in the world. Recorded at SXSW 2018 in Austin, Texas. Full show notes: http://backstagecapital.com/podcast/healthy-roots/ Credits: Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Host + Producer/Editor: Bryan Landers Theme by: Janine Additional Music by: Birocratic

In this fun bonus episode, Arlan chats with her LA-based, celebrity hair stylist, Treenie, who works at the renowned studio of Kim Kimble. Listen in as they chat about working with Mary J Blige, Tamar Braxton, Beyonce and crew at Coachella, and even hear a bittersweet story about working with Whitney Houston. Enjoy! Full show notes: http://backstagecapital.com/podcast/arlanwashere-treenie/ Credits: Host + Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Producer + Editor: Bryan Landers Theme by: Janine Additional music by: Birocratic

Meet the co-founders of Backstage Capital Headliner CurlMix, Kim + Tim Lewis. CurlMix started as a DIY hair care products subscription box and through customer demand grew into a whole hair care line. Join us as we discuss mixing family and startups, finding the right business model, building to customer demand, deciding if venture capital is right for your business, and learning to succeed as a startup founder without a network or money. Recorded at SXSW 2018 in Austin, Texas. Special event: Brooklyn Popup Shop with CurlMix – July 21, 2018 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/brooklyn-pop-up-shop-with-curlmix-tickets-47529434819 Full show notes: http://backstagecapital.com/podcast/curlmix/ Credits: Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Host + Producer/Editor: Bryan Landers Theme by: Janine Additional Music by: vbnd

This incredibly special episode is the culmination of a liftime of training and preparation for Arlan Hamilton. By day she's a venture capitalist, but also by day (and sometimes night), she's an avid watcher of the longest-running American soap opera in production and the second longest-running drama on television in American history, General Hospital. Tag along as Arlan lives out one of her life goals to hang out with the GH cast. Listen in as Arlan speaks with 3 delightful stars from of her beloved show and even chats with the Executive Producer. The conversations are wide-ranging — how could they not be — and cover entrepreneurship, representation, leaving and returning to the show, memorizing never-ending scripts, and so much more. Buckle up because this here is a celebration of life, love, and television that you are not gonna want to miss. Full show notes: http://backstagecapital.com/podcast/gh1/ Talent featured: Steve Burton (Actor, Jason Morgan) Tamara Braun (Actor, Kim Nero) Vinessa Antoine (Actor, Jordan Ashford) Frank Valentini (Excecutive Producer) Credits - Host + Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Producer: Bryan Landers Arlan's Audio: Dianne Cherrez Theme by: Janine Additional Music by: DeKobe

This episode is the third and final in a special 3-part podcast mini-series about maternity technology. In Part 3, Greer Engonga from the Backstage Crew is joined by Melissa (CEO) and Linda (Chief Clinical Officer) Hanna, the mother and daughter co-founders of Headliner Mahmee, a HIPAA-secure platform that makes it easy for hospitals, health systems, and their patients to coordinate comprehensive prenatal and postpartum healthcare from anywhere. In this mini-series finale, discover how Mahmee was born, a mission and passion to provide care for women, the frightening statistics regarding the morbidity rate of women of color during childbirth, and a peek into the mother/daughter co-founder dynamic. Thank you for tuning into our Maternity Tech mini-series! Full show notes: http://backstagecapital.com/podcast/maternity-tech-mahmee/ Credits: Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Series Host: Greer Engonga Editor + Producer: Bryan Landers Theme by: Janine Additional Music by: Birocratic

Arlan and Backstage are the subject of Season 7 of Gimlet Media's podcast StartUp. Fair warning: there will be spoilers for the episode discussed, so go listen to the episode before listening to the reaction! We'll be recording our reactions to each StartUp episode as they're released so you can get our take on what really happened and how we felt about it. Here is the reaction to StartUp Season 7 Episode 6 — the series finale! It's been a wild ride. We're so thankful to all of you who have listened to the series and these reaction episodes, and for those who have shared your reactions on Twitter and elsewhere. We've had fun sharing a bit of what the experience was like for us, and we hope you enjoy this last one, our reaction finale. Here's to everyone out there who is underestimated, unabashedly seeking wealth and creating impact, and brave enough to speak your mind and your heart when it matters, because you matter. Full show notes: http://backstagecapital.com/podcast/startup-reaction-6/ Credits: Co-host + Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Co-host: Christie Pitts Co-host + Producer/Editor: Bryan Landers Theme by: Janine Additional Music by: Torrie Vogt, Big Al Beatz

Arlan and Backstage are the subject of Season 7 of Gimlet Media's podcast StartUp. Fair warning: there will be spoilers for the episode discussed, so go listen to the episode before listening to the reaction! We'll be recording our reactions to each StartUp episode as they're released so you can get our take on what really happened and how we felt about it. In this reaction to StartUp Season 7 Episode 5, penultimate in the series, things brighten up a bit. Learn more about Mrs. Simms, what Arlan would do if she were producing StartUp, as well as super geeky VC stuff like returns sustaining impact, angel vs institutional investors, and different types of institutional funds. Oh, and do stick around for a musical finale you will not want to miss…or maybe after you've heard it you'll wish you had missed it, but that's for you to decide. Full show notes: http://backstagecapital.com/podcast/startup-reaction-5/ Credits: Co-host + Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Co-host: Christie Pitts Co-host + Producer/Editor: Bryan Landers Theme by: Janine Additional Music by: Big Al Beatz

Arlan and Backstage are the subject of Season 7 of Gimlet Media's podcast StartUp. Fair warning: there will be spoilers for the episode discussed, so go listen to the episode before listening to the reaction! We'll be recording our reactions to each StartUp episode as they're released so you can get our take on what really happened and how we felt about it. In this reaction to StartUp Season 7 Episode 4, we dive headlong into the difficult subject matter featured by Amy and the StartUp production team. VCs selling GP to cover operating costs, coping with tough personal news in professional settings, VC funds + startup studios vs startups, shooting for the moon, and so much more. We laugh (a lot), we cry (a little), and we shine light on some of the missed story opportunities in this latest episode. Full show notes: http://backstagecapital.com/podcast/startup-reaction-4/ Credits: Co-host + Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Co-host: Christie Pitts Co-host + Producer/Editor: Bryan Landers Theme by: Janine Additional Music by: Big Al Beatz

This episode is the second in a special 3-part podcast mini-series about maternity technology. In Part 2, Greer Engonga from the Backstage Crew is joined by Headliner Phil Martie, the Founder + CEO of Nicolette, a startup that builds empowerment applications for patients fighting acute health battles. Their first product, NicoBoard, gives parents the competence and confidence to participate in their baby's healthcare decisions. Hear more about how a father turned a personal tragedy into an opportunity to better the lives of millions. Full show notes: http://backstagecapital.com/podcast/maternity-tech-nicolette/ Credits: Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Series Host: Greer Engonga Editor + Producer: Bryan Landers Theme by: Janine Additional Music by: Birocratic

Arlan catches us up on the latest news at Backstage and shares more about the recently announced $36M fund to invest in startups led by Black women. We also hear a clip from the 'Techish' podcast where the hosts share their reaction to the new fund. Full show notes: http://backstagecapital.com/podcast/arlanwashere-about-damn-time/ Credits: Host + Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Producer + Editor: Bryan Landers Theme by: Janine Additional music by: DeKobe

This episode is the first in a special 3-part podcast mini-series about maternity technology, fresh on the heels of Mother's Day.

Arlan and Backstage are the subject of Season 7 of Gimlet Media's podcast StartUp. Fair warning: there will be spoilers for the episode discussed, so go listen to the episode before listening to the reaction! We'll be recording our reactions to each StartUp episode as they're released so you can get our take on what really happened and how we felt about it. In this reaction to StartUp Season 7 Episode 3, Arlan debunks rumors of exhorbitant spending habits, shares the only people she'll answer to when it comes to money, debates whether it's riskier to go big and fail or stay small and fail, and much much more. Also, Christie debuts her latest catch phrase, “totes magoats!” OMG. Enjoy! Full show notes: http://backstagecapital.com/podcast/startup-reaction-3/ Credits: Co-host + Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Co-host: Christie Pitts Co-host + Producer/Editor: Bryan Landers Theme by: Janine Additional Music by: Torrie Vogt, Big Al Beatz

Arlan and Backstage are the subject of Season 7 of Gimlet Media's podcast StartUp. Fair warning: there will be spoilers for the episode discussed, so go listen to the episode before listening to the reaction! We'll be recording our reactions to each StartUp episode as they're released so you can get our take on what really happened and how we felt about it. In this reaction to StartUp Season 7 Episode 2, we go deep-er into VCs squandering privilege, the myth of meritocracy, the psychological toll of being underestimated, and so much more. We also keep it silly, going as far as to suggest Gimlet Producer Amy Standen creates a reaction to our reaction episodes.

Arlan and Backstage are the subject of Season 7 of Gimlet Media's podcast StartUp. Fair warning: there will be spoilers for the episode discussed, so go listen to the episode before listening to the reaction! We'll be recording our reactions to each StartUp episode as they're released so you can get our take on what really happened and how we felt about it. Full show notes: http://backstagecapital.com/podcast/startup-reaction-1/ Credits: Co-host + Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Co-host: Christie Pitts Co-host + Producer/Editor: Bryan Landers Theme by: Janine Additional Music by: Big Al Beatz

Hear the story behind the exciting new music technology startup Sunhouse. Siblings Tlacael, Tenoch, and Tonantzin Esparza are the 3 LA-based, Latinx co-founders of Sunhouse. We dive into everything from the Aztec origins of their names, to the influence of thier creative, activist, entrepreneurial parents, to running a successful Kickstarter and later raising money from Backstage Capital, to their ambitious vision to influence culture by creating musical tools to bridge the gap between instrumentalists and electronic music. Recorded at SXSW 2018 in Austin, Texas. Full show notes: http://backstagecapital.com/podcast/sunhouse/ Credits: Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Host + Producer/Editor: Bryan Landers Show Notes Research: Amiah Sheppard Theme by: Janine Additional Music by: Lakey Inspired

Arlan shares her thoughts and feelings as we approach the April 27 release of Season 7 of StartUp, a Gimlet Media podcast featuring the story of Backstage. Full show notes: http://backstagecapital.com/podcast/arlanwashere-gimlet-self-care/ Credits: Host + Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Producer + Editor: Bryan Landers Music by: Janine

Listen in to hear Co-founders Stephanie Cummings + Seany Denson of Please Assist Me, a Nashville-based startup offering apartment residents the most delightful personal assistant service, share their entrepreneurial journey. Hear about their early influences, building a support system, taking inspiration from non-profit experience, and finding traction and a path to scalable growth. Learn more about the Nashville startup scene and how founders need to be able to learn and adapt to deliver excellence and joy to your customers. Full show notes: http://backstagecapital.com/podcast/please-assist-me/ Credits: Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Host + Producer: Bryan Landers Theme by: Janine Additional Music by: DeKobe

Arlan interviews an amazing founder who took her enterprise SaaS business from bootstrapped to a $1.15B IPO, and personal financial freedom. Therese Tucker is the remarkable CEO of BlackLine, an 800-person company that offers a continuous accounting platform to customers around the world including Coca-Cola, Phillips, and eBay. She's also the mother of 2 and sports some wicked pink hair. A former top-level CTO, she risked everything to keep her company alive, and lived to tell the tale you'll hear in this episode. Full show notes: http://backstagecapital.com/podcast/therese-tucker/ Credits: Host + Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Producer + Editor: Bryan Landers Theme by: Janine Additional Music by: Ryan Little

Hear the story behind Backstage Capital Headliner Novoron Bioscience, a San Diego-based biotech company developing novel therapeutic approaches to address disorders of the central nervous system. Bryan and Chacho speak with Novoron's Founder + CEO, Travis Stiles, about his exciting path, from being inspired to take up research after watching medicine fail a friend with an incurable disease, to the early (and lucky!) discovery of a novel approach to nerve regeneration, and finally to learning to become an entrepreneur out of necessity in order to keep his project alive. Full show notes: http://backstagecapital.com/podcast/novoron/ Credits: Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Co-host + Producer: Bryan Landers Co-host: Chacho Valadez Show Notes Research: Amiah Sheppard Theme by: Janine Additional Music by: Ryan Little

Here's a conversation Arlan recorded at SXSW with Jamarlin Martin, the founder and CEO of Nubai Ventures, which invests in leading entrepreneurs of color, and the founder of Moguldom Media Group, a portfolio of digital brands he grew from $6 dollars to $60 million dollars in revenue. In 2017, he sold 3 brands to Nasdaq-listed Urban One. Full show notes: http://backstagecapital.com/podcast/soundcheck-jamarlin/ Credits: Host + Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Producer: Bryan Landers Theme by: Janine Additional Music by: DeKobe

Arlan shares her latest thoughts after visiting the US and UK on a recent mini-tour sharing the mission and work of Backstage. Also, listen in to hear our plans for SXSW 2018 and where you can find us. Stay tuned for our live SXSW podcast episode coming soon. Full show notes: http://backstagecapital.com/podcast/touring-vc/ Credits: Host + Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Co-Host + Producer: Bryan Landers Credits Read by: Amiah Sheppard Theme by: Janine Additional Music by: BigAlBeatz, Kovacs

In January, 2018, Arlan made an appearance at the ‘Live Your Legacy' event hosted by VaynerMedia at Hero City at Draper University in San Mateo, CA. Arlan and VC Monique Woodard spoke with Sequoia Blodgett (blah-git) for the event. After her talk, Arlan and some Backstage Crew met Gary Vaynerchuk and some of his crew. Listen in as GaryVee shares advice about staying true to yourself as you learn to manage growing attention as an influencer, and Arlan asks how GaryVee thinks about privilege and amplifying messages to his audience. Full show notes: http://backstagecapital.com/podcast/bvctv-garyvee/ Credits: Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Producer: Bryan Landers Recorded by: Dianne Cherrez Theme by: Janine Additional Music by: DeKobe

What happens behind the scenes in the merger of two fast-growing startups? Margot Schmorak, the Co-founder + CEO of Hostfully, shares the story about joining forces with another early-stage startup to give vacation rental companies a better way to manage and scale their business. Learn how Margot successfully managed the merging company cultures, CRMs, customer support efforts, and investors. Full show notes: http://backstagecapital.com/podcast/hostfully-merger/ Credits: Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Host + Producer: Bryan Landers Theme by: Janine Additional Music by: Birocratic

Arlan answers your questions! Listen up as Arlan shares her thinking on raising funding outside of Silicon Valley, ideas for angel investors in smaller startup hubs, and how timing and focus are the main reasons for Backstage Capital's current geographic investment constraints. Get in touch if you'd like to invite Arlan and Backstage to an event in your country or local region to explore working together in the future. Full show notes: http://backstagecapital.com/podcast/qa-portland-africa/ Credits: Host + Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Producer: Bryan Landers Theme by: Janine Additional Music by: vbnd

Arlan speaks with actor, comedian, and writer Orlando Jones at the Bay Area home of Heather Hiles, Deputy Director, Solutions for Postsecondary Success at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Backstage Capital LP. Listen in as they discuss adapting to the evolving world of technology as a storyteller, Orlando's involvement in Emmy Award-winning VR experiences and building online communities, and the impact content and representation in the entertainment industry has on us all. Full show notes: http://backstagecapital.com/podcast/sound-check-orlando/ Credits: Host + Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Producer: Bryan Landers Show Notes Research: Amiah Sheppard Theme by: Janine Additional Music by: Joakim Karud

Arlan unpacks a recent tweet about dedicating her efforts in 2019 to doing vs talking when it comes to Diversity & Inclusion.

Bryan chats with 5 Backstage Capital Headliners about their experience attending this year's CES conference in Las Vegas. Dawn Dickson, Founder + CEO of PopCom Sabine Seymour, Founder + CEO of SUPA Lisa Fetterman, Founder + CEO of Nomiku Aneela Idnani Kumar, Co-founder + Designer at HabitAware Kelly D. Shapiro, Outside General Counsel for Thesis Couture Full show notes: http://backstagecapital.com/podcast/ces-2018-recap/ Credits: Host + Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Producer + Editor: Bryan Landers Show Notes Research: Amiah Sheppard Music by: Janine Additional Music by: Biocratic

In this bonus episode, Arlan and the Backstage Capital Crew wish you a happy and prosperous new year in 2018. Wish we could say we got it one take, but the outtakes really are some of the best parts of life, aren't they? Thanks to every one of you who listens to our podcasts, watches our videos, champions our mission with us on Twitter, and knows that underrepresented startup founders are really underestimated founders. The future is diversity. Always bet on the future. We'll see you there. Happy New Year!

This episode is the fourth in a special 4-part podcast mini-series about the transformative technology, blockchain, and how it can be used by innovative startups. In Part 4, Christie is joined by Allison Clift-Jennings, the Co-founder + CEO of Filament, an industrial IoT (Internet of Things) technology startup. Learn more about industrial IoT, asset tracking, bitcoin transactions (opcode receipts, crypto vs traditional currency transactions), and smart contracts. Listen in on this fascinating conversation as Allison shares the story of how Filament began using blockchain technology and how that strategy evolved. Explore a vision for the future that includes a marketplace of devices transacting with each other for use cases like carbon credit trading, and machine-to-machine payments with no human action required. Full show notes: http://backstagecapital.com/podcast/blockchain-for-startups-4/ Credits: Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Series Host + Producer: Christie Pitts Editor + Producer: Bryan Landers Music by: Janine Additional Music by: Breakmaster Cylinder, Podington Bear

This episode is the third in a special 4-part podcast mini-series about the transformative technology, blockchain, and how it can be used by innovative startups. In Part 3, listen in on Christie's conversation with Harold Hughes, Founder + CEO of Bandwagon, a Backstage Capital portfolio company, about the power of distributed ledger technology and how he's using blockchain to bring transparency to the sports ticketing industry. Learn about the value of blockchain solutions in B2B2C markets, the effects of fraud and secondary marketplaces on ticketing, and building on IBM's Hyperledger Fabric. Full show notes: backstagecapital.com/podcast/blockc…or-startups-3/ Credits: Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Series Host + Producer: Christie Pitts Editor + Producer: Bryan Landers Music by: Janine Additional Music by: Breakmaster Cylinder, Podington Bear

This episode is the second in a special 4-part podcast mini-series about the transformative technology, blockchain, and how it can be used by innovative startups. In Part 2, we'll dive deep into the hot topic of ICOs (Initial Coin Offerings) with Rachel Cook, CEO of Seeds, a Backstage Capital portfolio company. Learn about security vs utility tokens, pre-launching a token sale, and leveraging a crowd-funding-style ICO as an alternative funding source — all through the lens of Rachel's fascinating career, discovering gender inequality as a stock trader, breaking down western preconceptions of entrepreneurship in African countries through documentary filmmaking, and overcoming the paradigm of scarcity to embrace a future of abundance. Please note: we are not making any recommendations about ICOs or your participation in them. Full show notes: backstagecapital.com/podcast/blockc…or-startups-2/ Credits: Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Series Host + Producer: Christie Pitts Editor + Producer: Bryan Landers Music by: Janine Additional Music by: Breakmaster Cylinder, Podington Bear

This episode is the first in a special 4-part podcast mini-series about the transformative technology, blockchain, and how it can be used by innovative startups. This series features in-depth conversations with the 3 Backstage portfolio founders about their specific blockchain use cases and the new world of possibilities that enables. In this first part, we'll meet the 3 featured Headliners and cover the basics of blockchain to give our conversations context. Full show notes: http://backstagecapital.com/podcast/blockchain-for-startups-1/ Credits: Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Series Host + Producer: Christie Pitts Editor + Producer: Bryan Landers Music by: Janine Additional Music by: Breakmaster Cylinder, Podington Bear

In this Bonus episode, listen to Episode 6 of the Bootstrapped VC TV video show. This Week Arlan is touring around Southern California. First stop, San Diego, CA teaching people how to Manage Your Portfolio Like A Queen! Followed by a fireside chat in Inglewood, CA! Full show notes: http://backstagecapital.com/podcast/bonus-sip-and-sonder Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Recorded + Edited by: Dianne Cherrez Editor: Bryan Landers

In this episode, Arlan and Christie talk about how to best approach Backstage Capital for funding and which founders are a good fit. Hear about some of Arlan's recent events, Backstage's investment in artist Kehlani's startup Flora, thoughts about mental health and self-care, and even encouragement to enjoy your version of a cupcake. Full show notes: http://backstagecapital.com/podcast/12-fancy-pants/ Credits: Host + Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Co-host: Christie Pitts Editor + Producer: Bryan Landers Music by: Janine Additional Music by: Torrie Vogt, Birocratic

In this all-Q&A bonus episode, Arlan answers questions from you, our listeners. How much revenue should I be generating before attempting to get VC funding? Does hustle matter to VCs? Full show notes: backstagecapital.com/podcast/bonus-hustle-and-dough/ Credits: Host + Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Editor + Producer: Bryan Landers

In this bonus episode, hear excerpts from Arlan and Christie's appearance at Towards Inclusive Tech on the “Investing in Inclusion” panel. Recorded at UC Berkeley on September 15, 2017. Full show notes: http://backstagecapital.com/podcast/bonus-towards-inclusive-tech-2017 Credits: Host + Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Editor + Producer: Bryan Landers Recorded by: Dianne Cherrez Theme song by: Janine Additional Music by: Rheyne

Andrea Guendelman, Co-founder + CEO of BeVisible, takes us inside the company culture of a startup driving change in the Latinx professional community, empowering men and women to embrace the strengths, and transcend the limitations, of their cultural heritage to achieve ambitious career goals. Learn more about the origin and mission of BeVisible. Full show notes: http://backstagecapital.com/missionandvalues/s2e6/

Arlan shares the simple and free, yet powerful, exercise of writing your own headlines, before they happen. This can help you strategize, consider multiple ideas, visualize ambitious outcomes, and set up the foundation for plans to realize your goals. Arlan's segment of this bonus notes episode is a raw clip with very little editing of spontaneous thoughts from Arlan — an intimate, “fly on the wall” look into what's on her mind. These bonus clips dive deeper into the dozens of FAQs Arlan receives regularly, peel apart her thesis, and get REAL about venture capital.

In this bonus episode, Arlan speaks with Ross Baird of Village Capital, author of the latest featured Cover book, 'The Innovation Blind Spot, Why We Back the Wrong Ideas―and What to Do About It'. Also, we're treated to an interview from the road with Crew member Chacho and Headliner Harold Hughes, Founder + CEO of Bandwagon. Full show notes: http://backstagecapital.com/podcast/bonus-cover-vilcap/ Credits: Host + Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Co-host: Christie Pitts, Chacho Valadez Editor + Producer: Bryan Landers Theme song by: Janine Additional Music by: DeKobe

In this episode, Arlan and Christie compete in a high-stakes trivia game of Howdy Partner, and Arlan speaks with the founder of HBCUvc, a not-for-profit organization connecting and equipping the next generation of black and brown tech innovators and investors. Full show notes: http://backstagecapital.com/podcast/11-chipper-as-hell/ Credits: Host + Executive Producer: Arlan Hamilton Editor + Producer: Bryan Landers Music by: Janine Additional Music by: Torrie Vogt, fazerock, Bhasmantam, musicisfreenow, DeKobe, Laurent-Proy

Blendoor is a startup using technology to overcome the disadvantages of unconscious bias in hiring to help employers find the best candidates, independent of race, gender, (dis)ability, military history, or sexual orientation. Learn more about the origin and mission of Blendoor. Full show notes: http://backstagecapital.com/missionandvalues/s2e5/