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 […]

            • (22)

            User Reviews

            View other courses available

                The Establish Your Executive Presence Course is designed to help you become a game-changing leader of hybrid work. Get my proven, step by step, results-focused approach to leading your team in the modern world. Imagine yourself in five years after mastering the skills of a hybrid work executive. You can connect with team members anytime, […]

                • Instructor: Erica Dhawan
                • Online Course
                    • Branding Course

                    The only pitch it perfect program that teaches you how to move from side hustle defeat to paid brand collabs—in less than one week. Build a brand, attract raving followers, land national media, and get paid to work with brands you love! Pitch it Perfect The only proven program for content creators and brand founders who want […]

                    • Instructor: Julie Solomon
                    • Online Course
                        Discover Your Invisible Stories

                        Discover Your Invisible Stories by taking control of the stories you tell others starts with taking control of the stories you tell yourself. Each day, your mind is filtering stories about your abilities and your worth. It’s up to you to make sure they are good ones. Diving deeper into the lessons of Kindra’s book, […]

                        • Instructor: Kindra Hall
                        • Currently Discounted
                            Sarah Aviram

                            Many of today’s companies are finding that offering more flexible Work from Anywhere options—whether it be hybrid, in-office, or entirely remote—can yield immense benefits for their business. And for individual workers ready to take the plunge, these new ways of working can be professionally empowering. In this course, discover strategies that can help you successfully […]

                            • Instructor: Sarah Aviram
                            • Linkedin Learning

                                Every business and industry is facing an unprecedented level of digital, demographic and regulatory disruption. In this turbulent climate, it is vital to stay one step ahead with the Battle for Relevance Masterclass. Winning the Battle for Relevance Masterclass Based on Michael McQueen’s international bestselling book, this deep-dive online masterclass course will help you: Determine your […]

                                • Instructor: Michael McQueen
                                • Online Course
                                  • Featured
                                  • Growth Mindset

                                  Let’s be honest – you want more abundance in your life with my Abundance Mini Course. YOU HAVE NEXT-LEVEL SALES AND FINANCIAL GOALS THAT YOU DREAM OF HITTING, AND YOU ALSO WANT THE EXPERIENCE OF A MORE CONSISTENT FLOW OF MONEY WITHOUT GUILT, HANGUPS OR ANXIETY. And maybe you’ve already done a lot of work […]

                                  • Instructor: Elyse Archer
                                  • Online Course

                                      Are you longing to learn how to become a top-level career coach with Amazing Career Coach Certification and developer of professional women AND take the right marketing and business growth steps to build success, confidence and impact in coaching work you love? The Amazing Career™ Coach Certification with Kathy Caprino is for you! Knowing exactly […]

                                      • Instructor: Kathy Caprino
                                      • Online Course
                                          Components of Extraordinary Teams

                                          With Components of Extraordinary Teams you CAN get the best out of the people you manage…equipping and encouraging them to deliver results that go beyond “good enough.” You CAN affirm and motivate your peers… because they see you as someone who demonstrates a leader’s finest qualities. And…You CAN impress and delight your organization’s customers by anticipating their needs and exceeding their […]

                                          • Instructor: Lee Rubin
                                          • Online Course

                                          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