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 download our Mobile App

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 […]

  • (15)

User Reviews

View other courses available

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
Erica Dhawan

Say Hello to Your Guidebook on How to Manage a Hybrid Team. Get my proven, step by step, results-focused approach to leading your team in the modern world. Forget everything you know about managing a team. The world has changed, work has changed, and the way we manage our teams is no exception. How to […]

  • Instructor: Erica Dhawan
  • Online Course
Michelle Poler
  • 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

Unknot your career kinks with this powerful and bite-sized career bootcamp called Unstuck Yourself I get it… You’re a high achiever. Yet you can’t help feeling stuck in your job…in your career (maybe even your life.) That sucks. And I want to be completely clear – you’re totally normal and you’re totally curable. Unstuck Yourself | Free Video […]

  • Instructor: Erin Hatzikostas
  • Free
  • Growth Mindset

BECOME THE BEST YOU. At your own pace. Transformation through workshops and meditations. Nurture strong, trusting relationships with the people in your life. Everyone you meet serves a purpose in your life, just as you serve a purpose in theirs. Allowing your connections to thrive and flourish starts with compassion and understanding. BECOME THE BEST […]

  • Instructor: Jay Shetty
  • 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
JJ DiGeronimo
  • Growth Mindset

Power of No Bundle is if you want to get to the next step in your career and life, you have to change how and where you spend your time each day. The proven strategies inside the Power of No Bundle will quickly help you maximize your time and align you towards your desired goals. […]

  • Instructor: JJ DiGeronimo
  • Free
Dr Graeme Codrington cover
  • Executive Coaching

Survive Disruptive Change For yourself, your team and your business. (Spoiler alert, Covid wasn’t the only deep disruption we’re all going to face in the 2020s). Get Ready to Deep Disruptive Change FREE video mini-series of the 4IR and the implications for you, your career and your industry. Contact us at Speakers Inc and follow us on Twitter

  • Instructor: Dr. Graeme Codrington
  • 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.

Subscribe to our Newsletter and get connected:

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated.

We use Brevo as our marketing platform. By submitting this form you agree that the personal data you provided will be transferred to Brevo for processing in accordance with Brevo's Privacy Policy.

Our Mission:

We are your partner creating memorable and engaging experiences that go beyond the event itself.

© 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.