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 […]

            • (19)

            User Reviews

            View other courses available

                • Communication

                Viaja en First Class Course conmigo! Todos vamos a llegar al mismo destino, pero con este plan te aseguras de llegar con más confianza, más profundidad, de la mano de Michelle y con una tribu super-poderosa a tu lado ¿Qué es “mentoria grupal”? First Class Course Es un espacio donde voy a estar reunida con […]

                • Instructor: Michelle Poler
                • Online Course
                    Nadia Bilchik

                    Web Camera Confidence is an interactive experience designed to give you on-camera strategies and tools to PROJECT COMPETENCE, CONFIDENCE, AND CREDIBILITY WITH EASE! Do you ever struggle in front of a camera or have moments of panic, discomfort, or anxiety in a virtual meeting? Web Camera Confidence Your brain shuts down….. You can’t find the words […]

                    • Instructor: Nadia Bilchik
                    • Online Course
                        Speaker Resources Rusty Labuschagne

                        Overcoming a decade in Zimbabwe’s Prisons through this gripping keynote, I will take you on a journey through my life as a self-made businessman in the safari industry in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. I’ll share details of an incident that led to my wrongful imprisonment, the emotional impact of my conviction without a body, against police evidence, […]

                        • Instructor: Rusty Labuschagne
                        • UDemy Academy

                            The ZC Social Media Growth Academy is lead by International Social Media Trainer and consultant Zoe Cairns and her team! It’s a training community for small businesses, entrepreneurs, and social media managers. A membership site all about Social media and Digital! ZC Social Media Growth Academy The Academy is full of in-depth training, LIVE Q […]

                            • Instructor: Zoe Cairns
                            • Yearly

                                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
                                    • Motivation

                                    By the end of this transformational Get Unstuck Now journey, you will ADMIT what you truly desire, identify EXACTLY what’s stopping you from HAVING it, and give yourself PERMISSION to live a joyfully happy, fulfilling and rich life. If you don’t GET UNSTUCK NOW, you won’t position yourself the leader you KNOW you’re here to […]

                                    • Instructor: Dr. Noah St. John
                                    • Online Course
                                        • 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
                                            Guy Kawasaki
                                            • Creativity Courses

                                            This course will explain how to use a technique called Art of evangelism to change the hearts, minds, and actions of your customers, colleagues, and employees. Evangelism is an innovative approach to sales, marketing, and management. It means mobilizing your customers and staff into becoming as passionate about a cause as you are. Do you […]

                                            • Instructor: Guy Kawasaki
                                            • UDemy Academy

                                            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