Arlan Hamilton and Alex Banayan to headline PACT’s Capital Conference

Backstage Capital founder Arlan Hamilton and entrepreneurship author Alex Banayan will headline the 25th edition of the PACT Capital Conference, happening Sept. 26 at Xfinity Live!

The venture capital–themed conference has been retooled and condensed to a one-day format, peppered with content around fundraising and growing businesses, and will conclude with the fourth installment of the Lion’s Den pitch competition, which last year led to $1 million in investments for two local companies.

“Obviously it’s a special year,” PACT Chairman Dean Miller said. “We really focus on making our community accessible from entrepreneurs and this will be a real great representation of that.”

Hamilton, who in May announced her firm had raised a $36 million fund to invest in Black female entrepreneurs $1 million at a time, came to town shortly before that announcement as part of Philly Tech Week 2018. In a panel of investors and entrepreneurs, Hamilton made the case that investing in founders from underrepresented groups was both the right thing to do and a big economic opportunity.

“I hope people walk away with energy, excitement and hope,” Miller said. “Philly has more things going for it than most people realizes, and we really try to put a lantern on that.”

(Are you a Technical.ly member who’s interested in attending? Email Jeanette Lloyd at jeanette@technicallymedia.com to be entered into a drawing for a free ticket (that’s a $899 value) to the conference. If you become a member before Sept. 9, you’ll also be entered to win.)