How to raise startup capital

    Payment Options

        • Free
        About Course

        Arlan Hamilton will show you how to raise startup capital as she did with millions of dollars as the founder of investment fund Backstage Capital, and have generated millions of dollars in revenue as the founder of three companies — Backstage, Runner, & Arlan Was Here LLC — all for a combined $20+ million in the past 5+ years!

        Since 2015, I have invested in nearly 200 companies led by women, people of color, and LGBTQ founders! I have reviewed THOUSANDS of companies and their pitches, and NEGOTIATED with hundreds of millionaires and billionaires.

        How to raise startup capital

        Let me save you hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars by teaching you fundamental lessons, rules of the road, tips, and hacks to skip the mistakes many entrepreneurs make.

        For the more advanced entrepreneur, let’s unstick you and open up even more potential for you to raise and earn capital for your company.

        Contact us at Speakers Inc and follow us on  LinkedIn

        Arlan Hamilton is a remarkable entrepreneur who built a venture capital fund from the ground up, while homeless.

        She is the Founder and Managing Partner of Backstage Capital, a venture capital firm dedicated to minimizing funding disparities in tech by investing in high-potential founders who are people of color, women, and/or LGBT.

        Started in 2015, Backstage has now invested over $15M into 175 startups led by underestimated founders and has been featured in Forbes, Fortune, Wall Street Journal, CNN Money, Inc., Entrepreneur, and Quartz.

        Arlan made history by making the cover of Fast Company as the first Black woman non-celebrity to do so, and her book “It’s About Damn Time” is out on Penguin Random House’s business imprint Currency.

        Learning Points

        • How to get “in the room” — even virtually…
        • Where to find your “edge”
        • When to quit your day job
        • The huge mistake 99% of all entrepreneurs make while pitching
        • The 3 takeaways that will help you negotiate with any millionaire with confidence
        • How to get your first (or 100th) “yes” from an investor
        • The hack that will help you skip the investor route altogether
          and much more.

        • Arlan’s intro & what you’ll learn (required)
        • Student introductions! [welcome]
        • Course reading list [highly recommended]
        • Arlan’s incredible journey
        • Portfolio company testimonials: Curlmix & Uncharted Power
        • Portfolio company testimonial: Haute Hijab
        • Portfolio company testimonial: Sunhouse
        • Portfolio company short film: Haute Hijab
        • Download my 65-page action guide to complement this masterclass

        Videos

        Instructor Speaking Profiles

            Arlan Hamilton - Image 06 (March 10, 2026)
            • Inspiring Innovation

            Arlan Hamilton is a trailblazing entrepreneur who defies the odds and inspires countless individuals with her remarkable journey. Rising from homelessness to becoming a prominent figure in the venture capital industry, she is the epitome of resilience, determination, and unwavering belief in her vision. As the Founder and Managing Partner of Backstage Capital, Arlan has […]

            • (25)

            User Reviews

            View other courses available

                • Speaker Coach

                When you become an inspiring and thought-provoking person to Speak Like a Pro, I promise you the word will spread. People will track you down, asking you to share your message and tell your stories! Before you spend any time or money on marketing to an unidentified audience, it’s critical that you identify your message. […]

                • Instructor: Dan Clark
                • Online Course
                    Ramsey Bergeron
                    • Emotional Intelligence

                    Emotional Mastery for Men is a 5-Part Workshop designed specifically for the unique challenges facing men to help stop their emotions from overpowering their intellect. Whether you prefer virtual or in-person sessions, Ramsey Bergeron can tailor his workshops to meet your needs. From half-day sessions to intensive 2-day executive workshops, he provides practical tools and […]

                    • Instructor: Ramsey Bergeron
                    • One-Time Payment

                        You have the degree(s), you do great work, you work your ars off…and you want to advance your career and b brilliant. But you’re not quite sure how to get there. Or (gasp) if you even want to try. It can be a struggle The working world feels really complicated and convoluted…and often filled with […]

                        • Instructor: Erin Hatzikostas
                        • Online Course
                            Alden Mills
                            • Growth Mindset

                            Enroll in this 5-module UNSTOPPABLE MINDSET interactive training program for supercharging your personal and workplace achievement skills. (Total learning time: 4.5 hours) This course is based on our popular UNSTOPPABLE book series and Fortune 500 workshop series taught by former Navy SEAL and serial entrepreneur Alden Mills, which has helped executives from companies and government […]

                            • Instructor: Alden Mills
                            • Online Course
                                The Pie Pop-Up
                                • Cooking Courses

                                The Pie Pop-Up is my online baking course for everyday bakers (and even non-bakers!) who are ready to learn the art and joy of pie making. Create my signature Fail Proof, All Butter Pie Crust AND my Flaky Gluten Free Pie Crust by hand (from scratch!) and with a food processor Rock, roll, and transfer dough […]

                                • Instructor: Candace Nelson
                                • Online Course

                                    DO YOU WANT MORE FROM LIFE through Free Abundance Training? More money. More love. More adventure. More health. More spiritual connection. More acceptance of yourself. It can all be yours … anything you dream of and desire. In fact, it’s meant to be yours. Abundance in all areas of life is your birthright. Free Abundance […]

                                    • Instructor: Lis Nichols
                                    • Free
                                        Marci Shimoff
                                        • Growth Mindset

                                        Happy for No Reason personal learning course – CDs or MP3 Edition This means that no matter what happens in your life — no matter what stress plows into you — no matter how dire the circumstances might turn — you can AUTOMATICALLY return to a higher level of happiness than you have today. Happy for No […]

                                        • Instructor: Marci Shimoff
                                        • Online Course
                                            Shane Snow
                                            • Storytelling Courses

                                            Powerful Storyteller is a way to make people care about products, brands, and causes. It can facilitate sales, marketing, presentations, and about any other task that requires a human connection. LinkedIn Influencer and best-selling business author Shane Snow shares his approach to crafting compelling stories. Learn how to make people care with personal stories, brand […]

                                            • Instructor: Shane Snow
                                            • Free

                                            The profiles and artwork embedded on these pages are from various speakers and talent.

                                            WeSpeak Global provides costs that are accurate at time of publishing.

                                            These remain the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by WeSpeak Global.

                                            Course Fees listed on this website are intended to serve as a guideline only.

                                            Speakers Inc.

                                            Connecting you with the perfect speaker.

                                            We connect you with world-class speakers to create impactful, memorable events.

                                            Find the Perfect Speaker

                                            Tell us about your event and we’ll match you with the right speaker.

                                            © All rights reserved 2026.  Designed using Voxel

                                            AI Assistant
                                            Speakers Inc Logo 2024
                                            Privacy Overview

                                            This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.