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 […]

  • (17)

User Reviews

View other courses available

Liz Brunner

In today’s digital age, mastering the art of virtual communication is essential for personal and professional success to Stand Out Well in a Virtual World. Our comprehensive webinar course, “Stand Out Well in a Virtual World,” is designed to equip you with the skills and techniques needed to excel in online interactions, meetings, and presentations. […]

  • Instructor: Liz Brunner
  • Free
People School
  • Life Coaching

People School is designed to help you advance your career, stand out from your peers, and give you the communication foundation you need. People School by Vanessa Van Edwards: Mastering the Art of Communication for Career Success Introduction In today’s competitive professional landscape, effective communication is not just a skill—it’s a crucial asset that can […]

  • Instructor: Vanessa Van Edwards
  • One-Time Payment
Rock Star Speaker Coaching
  • Public Speaking

Take your growth to the next level. This Rock Star Speaker Coaching package includes our premier public speaking course – How to be a “Rock Star” Public Speaker – as well as three, 45 minute customized one-on-one communication coaching sessions. “Rock Star Speaker Coaching” Public speaking is a learned skill. And, becoming a better speaker […]

  • Instructor: Liz Brunner
  • One-Time Payment
  • 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
Debbie Millman
  • Creativity Courses

When you look at the choices you’ve made in your life to REINVENTING YOU, or when you consider your future, do you base your decisions on what’s possible, or on what you believe to be more realistic? There’s a lot to be said for making choices based on safety and stability, but that often comes […]

  • Instructor: Debbie Millman
  • Linkedin Learning
speakers inc logo 2023
  • Growth Mindset

OVERCOME YOUR HARSHEST CRITIC. YOU. Silence Your Self Doubt & Embrace Your Inner Badass. It is time to eliminate the things standing in your way… and smash goals that have escaped your grasp until now. Badass Masterclass Imposter Syndrome. Performance Anxiety. Self-Doubt. It’s easy to feel like you aren’t good enough. That you aren’t worthy of […]

  • Instructor: Michelle Curran
  • Join Waiting List
Truth Telling Online Course

This 6-week Truth Telling Online Course is designed to help people do their inner work. The most important work we can do. To learn to honor ourselves and our truth. We all have a truth to tell, some of them more serious or private than others but when we block ourselves from owning our truth, […]

  • Instructor: Kirsty Spraggon
  • Online Course
Masters Course in Public Speaking

Public speaking is a learned skill. And, becoming a better speaker is about becoming a better communicator. This comprehensive Masters Course in Public Speaking has been designed to take place over four weeks, allowing you, as the student, to garner the most knowledge and value from the lessons. As modules and topics unfold over weekly […]

  • Instructor: Liz Brunner
  • One-Time Payment

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.