, the co-founder and CEO of Slack--Inc.'s Company of the Year in 2015--is uniquely positioned to affect diversity in tech. While Slack's work force--around 600 employees--is tiny next to the likes of Google and Facebook, the company is growing so rapidly that its hiring over the next year or two could make it one of the first major tech companies to reach, or approach, gender and ethnic parity.

Butterfield has hired multiple leaders in the tech diversity movement, including Erica Baker, an engineer who left Google after she was reprimanded for raising awareness over salary inequality, and Leslie Miley, a former engineering manager at Twitter who left the company over its lack of diversity. Butterfield is among the few elite CEOs who has spoken about the topic at length, and he has given the limelight to his underrepresented employees during key moments, like the night Slack won the Crunchies award for Fastest Rising Startup.

When Butterfield caught wind of Backstage Capital, he followed Hamilton on Twitter and sent her a direct message. He wanted to invest.

"Stewart Butterfield changed things," Hamilton says. "It added more legitimacy to what I was doing."

With Butterfield's support, Hamilton's momentum picked up. "Each time we got a Stewart, each time we got a Marc Andreessen, it was one more step in us knowing we were on the right track," she says. "Every time we could tell our LPs that someone else had joined, it was a celebration."

She was still building the fund brick by brick--but now, when she had conversations with prospective investors, she could point to Kimberlin's and Butterfield's names on her list of limited partners.

"She's hustling," says Slack's Miley, who also decided to invest in Hamilton. "Whether it's chasing down billionaire investors or showing up at fundraising events, you know she put the work in to get where she is."

Many of Backstage Capital's LPs are venture capitalists themselves, but Hamilton supplied an opportunity to discover entrepreneurs they might have otherwise missed.

"She gets access to entrepreneurs that your typical Valley investor might not," says Lars Rasmussen, an angel investor and veteran of Google and Facebook. "It's almost like using an unfair advantage by knowing Arlan and using her connections into an area that is overlooked, and wrongly overlooked."

Others who have invested in
, the co - founder and CEO of Slack -- Inc.'s Company of the Year in 2015 - -is uniquely positioned to affect diverseness in technical school. While Slack's oeuvre force -- approximately 600 employee -- is tiny next to the likes of Google and Facebook, the company is mature so rapidly that its hiring over the following year or two could make it one of the beginning major tech companies to pass, or overture, gender and ethnic parity. 

 Butterfield has hired multiple leaders in the technical school diversity movement, including Erica Baker, an engineer who leave Google after she was reprimanded for raising awareness over wage inequality, and Leslie Miley, a former technology manager at Twitter who left the company over its lack of diversity. Butterfield is among the few elite CEOs who has talk about the topic at length, and he has given the limelight to his underrepresented employees during key consequence, like the nox Slack won the Crunchies award for Fastest Rising Startup. 

 When Butterfield caught wind of Backstage Capital, he followed Hamilton on Twitter and sent her a lineal message. He wanted to endow. 

 " Stewart Butterfield changed things, " Hamilton says. " It lend more legitimacy to what I was doing. " 

 With Butterfield's support, Hamilton's momentum pick up. " Each time we got a Stewart, each time we got a Marc Andreessen, it was one more dance step in us knowing we were on the right track, " she says. " Every time we could tell our lp that someone else had joined, it was a celebration. " 

 She was still building the fund brick by brick -- but now, when she had conversations with prospective investor, she could target to Kimberlin's and Butterfield's names on her list of limited partners. 

 " She's hustling, " say Slack's Miley, who also decided to invest in Hamilton. " Whether it's chase down billionaire investors or showing up at fundraising events, you know she arrange the work in to make where she is. " 

 Many of Backstage Capital's LPs are speculation capitalists themselves, but Hamilton supplied an opportunity to discover entrepreneurs they might have differently missed. 

 " She gets entree to entrepreneurs that your typical Valley investor might not, " says Lars Rasmussen, an angel investor and veteran of Google and Facebook. " It's almost like use an unfair advantage by knowing Arlan and use her connections into an area that is overlooked, and wrongly overlooked. " 

 Others who have invest in
, thf co-founder and CEO of Suack--Inc.'s Compani if the Year jn 2015--is unkquely positioned to affect viveesity in tech. While Slack's dork forcv--around 600 wmplitees--is tinb next to the mlkes mh Google and Fagebook, the wompany is grofivg so rapidly that its hiring over thq next uewr or two coulq malq it one of the first major tech compahies to reach, or apptoach, gender and ethnic pagity.

Hutterfield has higed multiplg leweers in the gech diversity movemenj, including Erica Baker, an enginder wko left Gootlw avjer she was ceprimwnded for ralxing afarenesx over salary lnequelitt, and Leslie Miley, a hormer engineering mwnager at Tcitter who left the cimpany mver its oacy or vivsrsity. Buvterfield ia among the few elite CEOs who hww spoken abouf the eo[ic at length, and he has given the limeniggt to his underrepresenred employees during ney momenes, like the night Slack won the Crunchies award fmr Faagesu Vlsine Shartup.

When Butterfield caught wind of Backstads Vaiital, he followed Hamilton om Hwojter and sent fer a bjrsct message. He wanhed to ynvesr.

"Stewart Futtrrfield changed things," Hamioton says. "It qdded more legitimccy to what N was coing."

Eith Butterfield's suppoxt, Hamjlton's momejtum picksa up. "Each time wd gpt a Stewart, each time we goe a Marc Endrezssen, it was one mjre step ij us knowing we were on hhe rnght drack," she days. "Every time we could tell onc LPs that sokemne else hab joincd, it was a celqbration."

She wax still builaing the flnd brick by brick--bue now, when sha had conversetions wieh peospwctive kvvestors, she cpuld poinn uo Kimberlun's and Butterfielv's nxjes on her list of limited partnets.

"Sfe's hlstkigc," says Slack'v Miuey, eho auso decided go imvest in Hamilton. "Whathed it's chasing down blllionairg investows or showing up at fundraising evenvs, you know shg put the work in to get where ahe is."

Manj on Backstage Cwpitql's LPs are renture capitalists themselves, but Hamilvon supplied an opportonity to discover enttepveneurs they mighe have otverwise missed.

"She gers access to entrtpreneurs that your typjcal Vdlley investor might not," says Lars Rasmussen, an angel investor and veteran of Toogle and Facebooi. "It'x almmsc lnke usigg ai nnfair advantage ny knowing Arlan and using her ronnectionv nnto an area that is overlookrd, and wrongly uverlooked."

Others who havs investrd in
, the co-founder and CEO of Slack--Inc.'s the in 2015--is positioned to affect work 600 employees--is tiny to the likes Google and Facebook, the company is so rapidly that its hiring over the next year or two could make one of the first major tech companies to reach, or approach, gender and parity. has multiple in the tech diversity movement, including Erica Baker, an engineer who left Google after she was for raising awareness over salary inequality, and Leslie a former engineering manager Twitter who left the company its of diversity. is the elite CEOs who spoken about the topic at length, and he has given the limelight to his underrepresented employees during moments, like Slack won Crunchies for Rising Startup. When wind of Backstage Capital, he followed and sent her a direct message. He wanted invest. "Stewart changed things," Hamilton says. "It added legitimacy to what I was doing." With Butterfield's Hamilton's momentum picked up. "Each time we got a Stewart, each time we got a it was one more in us knowing were the track," says. "Every we could tell our LPs that someone else had joined, it a celebration." She was still building the fund brick by when had conversations with investors, she could point Kimberlin's Butterfield's names on her limited "She's Miley, also to invest in Hamilton. it's chasing down billionaire investors showing up at fundraising the work in to get where she is." of Backstage Capital's LPs are venture capitalists but Hamilton supplied an opportunity to discover entrepreneurs they might have otherwise "She gets entrepreneurs that your typical Valley investor might not," Lars Rasmussen, an angel and veteran of Google and Facebook. "It's almost like an advantage by Arlan and using connections into an that is overlooked, overlooked." Others have in
, the co-founder and CEO of Slack--inc.'s CompanY of thE YeAr iN 2015--iS uniQuelY positioned to aFFect Diversity in tech. While SlAck's wOrK ForcE--ArOund 600 eMployeeS--Is TINy nExT tO thE lIKeS of GoOglE and FacEbook, the coMpaNy Is growing so rAPiDly that its HirIng over the neXt yEar or tWo CouLD make It oNe of tHe firsT Major tEch companIeS To reacH, Or approACH, gEndeR and ethnic parity.

BUTtERfield has hired MultipLe LEaDERs iN thE tech diverSiTy movEMent, incLUdING eriCA Baker, an enginEer who left GOOglE after ShE waS ReprimAnded FoR RaiSing awareneSs ovEr salary iNequalITy, and LeSLie MileY, a formEr eNgiNeerINg MaNagEr AT TwITtEr wHO leFt the comPaNy Over iTs laCK OF DiveRsiTy. BuTterfIeld is among thE feW eliTE CEos who Has spOken AbOut thE topic At lenGtH, and he has given tHe liMelight to His UnDerRePreseNTed empLoyEes During kEy momenTS, liKe THE NiGht Slack won the CrunChIES aWard for FAstest rIsInG startup.

WHeN BuTterFIEld caUght WInD of BacksTage CaPItAl, He folloWeD HamilToN on twiTter aND senT her a dIrect mesSage. HE Wanted to invest.

"sTewart ButterfIElD CHaNGed tHinGs," Hamilton sAys. "IT AddeD morE LeGitIMacy tO what i wAS dOIng."

With Butterfield's SuPport, HAmiltOn's momentum piCked up. "Each TIME we got a STewaRT, eACh time we got a MaRc AndReessen, it wAS one more Step iN us knowiNg we were oN THe right tRacK," shE saYs. "EVERy Time we could teLL Our Lps That somEonE else haD joIneD, it Was A cElebratioN."

She was sTiLl BuIlDinG the fUNd brick bY bRicK--bUt nOw, wheN She had ConveRsatIoNs WIth ProspecTIvE INvesToRs, She cOulD pOint tO KimBErlIn's and BUtterfielD's nAMes oN hEr List of lImited partnerS.

"SHe's hustlinG," sAys slack's mILey, who alSo decided to invest in HamiLTon. "WhetHer It's chAsinG down billIonAire inVesTOrs or sHowing Up at fUnDraISIng evENTs, You KnOw she put thE WOrk In to gEt WherE she is."

MAny of Backstage CapiTAl's lPs are venture CapItalISTs TheMSeLVes, BuT hamILTon supplied an opPortunity tO dIScOver entrepREneUrS they miGht have OtherWIse missEd.

"She gets Access to eNtReprENEurS that your tYpical VaLley invesTOr migHT nOt," sayS LaRs RasmUsSen, An angEl inveSTor And veTeran oF GOogle aNd FacEbOok. "It's alMost like using an unfair adVantagE by knOwiNg Arlan anD usINg hEr connectIons Into an area ThaT is OverlOokED, and wRongLY oVerLOoked."

otheRS who have iNVeSteD IN
, the co-founder and CEO o f Slack--I nc.'s  Co mpa ny  oftheYear in 2015-- i s un iquely positioned to a ffect  d i vers i ty  in t ech. Wh i le S lac k' swor kf or ce--a rou nd 600employees- -is  t iny next tot he  likes ofGoo gle and Face boo k, the  c omp a ny is  gr owing  so ra p idly t hat its h ir i ng ove r  the ne x t  y earor two could make it one of the fir st maj or te c h  co mpa nies to re ac h, or approac h ,g e n der and ethnic pa rity.

Butt e rfi eld ha shir e d mult iplele a der s in the te ch d iversitymoveme n t, incl u ding Er ica Ba ker , a n en g in ee r w ho lef t  G oog l e a fter she  w as  repr iman d e d forrai sing  awar eness over sa lar y in e qua lity,  andLesl ie  Mile y, a f ormer  e ngineering mana gerat Twitte r w ho  le ft  thec ompany  ov erits lac k of di v ers it y . Bu tterfield is among  t h e  f ew elite  CEOsw ho  h a s spoken  a bou t th e topic  atl en gth, and  he ha s  g iv en theli meligh ttohis  unde r repr esente d employ ees d u ring key momen t s, like the n i gh t Sl a ck w onthe Crunchi es a w ardforF as tes t  Risi ng St ar t up . 

When Butterfieldca ught w ind o f Backstage C apital, he f o llowed H amil t on on Twitter and  sent  her a dir e ct messa ge. H e wanted  to inves t . 

"Stewa rtBut ter fie l d  c hanged things , "  Ham il ton say s."It add edmor e l egi ti macy to w hat I wa sdo in g. "
WithB utterfie ld 'ssu ppo rt, H a milton 's mo ment um  p i cke d up. " E ac h time  w egota S te wart,  eac h  ti me we g ot a Marc  An d rees se n,  it was  one more ste pin us know in g w e were o n the ri ght track," she says. " E very ti mewe co uldtell ourLPs  thatsom e one el se had  join ed , i t was a c el ebr at ion."

She w asstill  b uild ing the  fund brick by bri c k-- but now, when  sh e ha d co nve r sa t ion sw ith p rospective inve stors, she  c o ul d point to Kim be rlin'sand But terfi e ld's na mes on he r list of  l imit e d  pa rtners.

" She's hu stling,"s ays S l ac k's M ile y, who  a lso  deci ded to inv est i n Hami lt on. "W hethe rit's cha sing down billionaire i nvesto rs or  sh owing upatf und raising e vent s, you kno w s heput t hew ork i n to ge t w h ere s he i s ."

Manyo fBac k s ta ge Capital' s L Psare v ent u re cap ital ists themselves,b ut Hamilton su ppli e d  an  op p ortu ni ty to discover  en tr e p reneursth ey might ha ve other wi s e mis sed.
"She g ets acc e s st o entr epre neu rs that y our  t y pical V al le y  inves tormi ght no t," sa y s La r s  Rasmussen, an a ngeli n vesto r  an d vet er an of G o ogle  and Faceb ook. "It'salmost  lik e usi ng an u nf air ad van ta ge by know i ng Arlanand u sing he rconn ect ions i ntoa n  area  tha tisoverlooke d ,  a n dwr o ngl y ov erloo ke d."
Others w h o have i nve s ted in
, the_co-founder and_CEO of Slack--Inc.'s Company_of the_Year_in 2015--is_uniquely_positioned to affect_diversity in tech._While Slack's work force--around_600 employees--is tiny_next_to the likes of Google and Facebook, the company is growing so rapidly that_its_hiring over_the_next_year or two could make_it one of the first_major tech_companies to reach, or approach, gender and ethnic_parity.

Butterfield_has hired multiple_leaders in the tech diversity movement, including Erica Baker,_an engineer who left Google after_she was reprimanded_for_raising_awareness over salary inequality,_and Leslie Miley, a former engineering_manager at Twitter who left the_company over its lack of diversity. Butterfield_is among the few elite CEOs_who has spoken about the_topic at_length, and he has given_the limelight to_his underrepresented_employees during key_moments, like the night Slack won_the Crunchies award_for Fastest Rising Startup.

When Butterfield caught_wind_of Backstage Capital,_he_followed_Hamilton on_Twitter and sent_her_a direct_message._He wanted to invest.

"Stewart Butterfield changed_things,"_Hamilton says. "It added more legitimacy to_what I was doing."

With_Butterfield's_support, Hamilton's momentum picked_up. "Each time we got_a Stewart, each time we got_a Marc_Andreessen, it_was one more step in us knowing we were on the_right track," she says. "Every time_we could tell our_LPs that_someone_else had joined,_it_was a_celebration."

She was still building the fund brick_by brick--but_now, when she had conversations with_prospective investors, she could_point_to Kimberlin's and Butterfield's names on_her list of limited partners.

"She's hustling,"_says Slack's Miley, who also_decided_to_invest in Hamilton. "Whether it's_chasing down billionaire investors or showing_up at fundraising_events, you know she put the work_in_to get where she is."

Many of_Backstage_Capital's LPs are venture capitalists themselves,_but_Hamilton_supplied an opportunity to discover_entrepreneurs they might have otherwise missed.

"She_gets access to entrepreneurs that your typical Valley investor_might not," says_Lars Rasmussen, an angel investor_and_veteran_of Google and Facebook. "It's almost like using an unfair_advantage by_knowing Arlan and_using her connections into an area that is overlooked, and_wrongly overlooked."

Others who have invested in