Visible News
April 3, 2026
Happy Friday, Visionaries!This week was all about coming together to celebrate what's new, from our new team members to new cohorts, launches, and as a growing community of founders and operators building what’s next.From NYC to Tulsa (and even into your podcast feeds... 👀), this last week held a lot of new things we’re excited to share:Team Retreat + VHNYC Orientation
We ended last week in New York City with a full team retreat, followed by orientation for our newest VHNYC cohort, and the energy carried all the way through.Our team took time to align on what we’re building this year, how we’re showing up, and how we continue to evolve our programs and founder opportunities to meet this moment.Then we welcomed our latest cohort of founders, diving into welcome sessions on the startup ecosystem and navigating today’s landscape. We also got to enjoy seeing the early formation of what we know will become a strong, supportive cohort, and one we're excited to add to the broader VH community.
Blueprint: Tulsa Applications Close in 2 Weeks - Apply Today!
Quick reminder: applications for Blueprint: Tulsa are open!If you’re a founder building in the South (or know someone who is), this is an opportunity to access non-dilutive funding, tailored programming, and a powerful network designed to help you move faster.Be sure to apply by 4/12, and share with a founder who should be in the room.
The Check Writers Room — Now Live!
We’re officially entering our podcast era! Visible Hands' Co-Founder and General Partner Yasmin Cruz Ferrine has teamed up with Sydney Thomas of Symphonic Capital and Shalanda Armstrong of 100KM Venturesto launch The Check Writers Room - a new VC podcast for founders to get a peek into the real conversations happening behind the checks.
From fundraising realities to behind-the-scenes decision-making, this is the kind of dialogue we wish more founders had access to.
Introducing the Visionaries NYC Alumni Network
We’re also excited to officially launch the Visionaries NYC Alumni Network, a space for our founder community to stay connected, supported, and resourced long after a programs end.This network is about more than staying in touch; it’s about continuing to build together, share opportunities, and create long-term impact across the ecosystem.You can read more about this new partnership with NYCEDC and Main Street Assembly here.
Weeks like this remind us why we do this work — to build community, create access, and support founders at every stage of their journey.Read on for this week's latest founder updates, funding opportunities, resources and more!Be well,The Visible Hands Team
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
VH Portfolio Company Spill just launched a new report in collaboration with Dr. Marcus Collins titled What’s The Tea: The Cultural Exploration of a Digital Black Renaissance 🍵Spill has always been about creating a space where culture, conversation, and community come first, and this new launch builds on that in a powerful way. What’s The Tea is a research project on the significance of SPILL’s platform and its unique community - a project unlike anything that has been undertaken before. Check it out here!
Portfolio Founders
VHBOS Founders
Piyali Chakraborty of Ashmi Health was recently selected to be part of the Springboard Women's Health Accelerator!
Johar Singh of Astra Wellbeing was recently featured in Healthcare Business Today and announced Astra's acquisition by HomeTeams!
Lanning Ardente of Sorette recently announced a new partnership with Bobbie!
Want to get in front of a highly engaged community of founders, investors, and ecosystem builders? Now’s your chance! We’re offering sponsorship opportunities in upcoming editions of this newsletter.
As a sponsor, your brand will be featured in front of thousands of mission-driven readers who are shaping the future of venture and innovation.
📩 Interested? Check out our sponsorship deck and reach out to Kerry at [email protected] to explore partnership opportunities!
Let’s build something great together. 🚀
WHAT WE HAVE OUR EYES ON
💸 Funding Opportunities
ChatGPT 26For: student/alumni AI founders$$$: $10KDeadline: April 5Makers Mindset GrantFor: women CPG founders$$$: $10KDeadline: April 10The Loan Mantra She Leads SC GrantFor: women founders in South Carolina$$$: $5KDeadline: April 14Lenovo Backing Every Business GrantFor: small business founders$$$: $10K Deadline: April 15LA2050 Grants Challenge For: LA impact founders$$$: up to $75K Deadline: April 22Famous Amos Ingredients for Success GrantFor: Black founders$$$: $50K Deadline: April 23NAACP x L'oreal Inclusive Beauty FundFor: beauty founders & influencers$$$: $25K Deadline: April 23Hey Helen GrantFor: women founders$$$: $10K Deadline: April 30The Philadelphia Small Business Catalyst FundFor: small businesses in Philly$$$: $50KDeadline: rolling deadlineThe McKinney Innovation FundFor: Texas-based founders$$$: $50K-$500KDeadline: rolling deadlinePower Forward Small Business GrantFor: small businesses in New England$$$: $25KDeadline: rolling deadlineiFund Women Universal GrantFor: women foundersDeadline: rolling deadlineYippityDoo Big Idea GrantFor: women founders$$$: $1KDeadline: rolling deadlineHer Culture Micro GrantFor: African and Caribbean women $$$: $500Deadline: rolling deadlineWomensNet Amber Grant for WomenFor: women founders$$$: $25KDeadline: rolling deadlineWish Local Empowerment ProgramFor: Black-owned brick-and-mortar businesses$$$: $500-$2KDeadline: rolling deadlineBoston Celtics United, VistaPrint & NAACP Power Forward GrantFor: Black-owned businesses in New England$$$: $25KDeadline: rolling deadlineHustler's MicrograntFor: small business owners $$$: $1KDeadline: rolling deadlineIdea Cafe Small Business GrantFor: women founders$$$: $1KDeadline: rolling deadline
⚡️ Accelerators, Programs & Competitions
DivInc Innovation & Influence AcceleratorFor: early-stage founders
Deadline: April 5CleanTech Open AcceleratorFor: CleanTech foundersDeadline: April 6Opportunity Fund Open PitchFor: early-stage tech founders$$$: $125K
Deadline: April 10W.E. Build AcceleratorFor: women digital tech, or consumer goods founders$$$: $25K
Deadline: April 10Blueprint: Tulsa ProgramFor: early-stage tech founders$$$: $10K
Deadline: April 12Neurodiverse Entrepreneurship ProgramFor: neurodivergent founders$$$: $19KDeadline: April 15Urban Future Prize CompetitionFor: climatetech founders$$$: up to $50KDeadline: April 27Dreaming Out Loud DREAM ProgramFor: food and beverage founders in the DMV area$$$: $15KDeadline: May 2Blue Ridge Labs 2026 Founder FellowshipFor: early-stage founders$$$: $20KDeadline: May 3TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200For: early-stage founders$$$: $100KDeadline: May 27
🎪 Featured Events
Blueprint: Tulsa Info SessionFor: southern-based early-stage foundersWhen: April 8, 12-1pm CT, VirtualShe Builds Boston: Brewing Bold Ideas Coffee MixerFor: women foundersWhen: April 8, 9:30am, Boston, MAWomen Working Together - Say it so it LandsFor: women foundersWhen: April 8, 5-8:30pm Oakland, CAUptown Baby! Maternal Health Gala (Hosted by VHNYC Fellow Team The Bridge Directory!)For: maternal health communityWhen: April 10, 6-10:30pm, Bronx Museum of Arts, NYAccounting 101 Workshop: Financial Fundamentals for EntrepreneursFor: any founderWhen: April 14, 5:30-7:30pm, Tulsa, OKWin More Grants: Use AI to Strengthen Every ApplicationFor: any founderWhen: April 15, 2-2:30pm ET, VirtualBiT + iCUE Investor Dinner & LearnFor: any founder or VCWhen: April 29, 5:30-7pm, Tulsa, OKFirst Friday Founders MarketFor: any founder or VCWhen: May 1, 6-9pm, Tulsa, OK
May Founders & VCs Masterclass & MixerFor: any founder or VCWhen: May 5, 6-8pm, New York, NY
💼 Featured Jobs
Our friends over at Liberty Mutual are hiring for multiple innovation-related positions - learn more about the available roles and apply here!
🧑🏽💻
What we are loving lately
Listening: 33 Sparks with Laura Schaack
Plus our fave posts of the week...
If you'd like your founder resource or event/conference to be featured in our weekly newsletter, shoot us a message at kerry@visiblehands.vc
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