Visible News
August 22, 2025
Happy Friday, Visionaries! In the last few weeks, our team has been taking deeper dives into/discussing the user habits of folks using AI.What has intrigued us most recently has been the cases of people using AI for forms of companionship (beyond the Kendra x Her Psychiatrist X AI lore we keep seeing on our TikTok FYPs - if you know, you know...)Even in Sam Altman’s Reddit AMA about the release of GPT-5, what stood out wasn’t just the tech updates—it was how many people said they missed the personality of GPT-4o.
According to recent data, AI companion apps are on track to generate $120M in revenue this year (TechCrunch). People are increasingly forming emotional bonds with these tools, anthropomorphizing them—sometimes as love interests, sometimes as therapy substitutes, sometimes simply as trusted listeners.
It may feel easy to dismiss. But underneath the surface is a deeper insight: people are hungry for connection, empathy, and personalization—even from technology. And for founders, that shift signals opportunity.
Companion apps today may center on romance or mental health. But what happens if we expand that lens? Could anthropomorphized AI play a role in coaching, financial literacy, community-building, or founder support?
At Visible Hands, we’re always curious about how emerging consumer behaviors shape the opportunities our founders pursue.
What do you think—where else could AI companions create meaningful business opportunities? Respond to this email with your thoughts and we'll share some in our next newsletter!
Be well,The Visible Hands TeamP.S. ICYMI, we're extending our opportunity for Boston-based founders to find their own entrepreneur-companions through our VHBOS 2025 cohort with an extended application deadline for August 24! Learn more and apply here.
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Running a business while navigating systemic barriers? Equip Advisory is with you—and that financial anxiety you're feeling isn't your fault.
Kerrie Carden, CFP and founder of Equip Advisory, works with QTBIPOC+ entrepreneurs who are tired of financial advice that ignores the reality of what they're up against and who they're building for.
We're all doing our best, and you deserve a financial plan that works with your values. Whether it's business cash flow, intergenerational wealth building, or paying yourself sustainably, Kerrie Carden can help you design your money around how you want to live.
Ready to turn your income into choices and time? Book a free 25-minute chat with Kerrie to talk about you, your goals and see where she can help.
The Path to Repeatable Sales Program with Caroline Fay is a three-month cohort course starting September 16 that gives early-stage B2B founders everything they need to accelerate their sales traction.
This isn’t a program that shares tactics and disappears. Instead, founders will work together through implementation. You’ll learn proven tactics that yield results, and apply those tactics consistently, overcome any mental blockers, and iterate until the sales flywheel is spinning.
Over 12 weeks, you’ll learn how to:
Clarify your ideal buyer and their needs (even if you're working with limited data) Learn proven outreach methods designed for 2025 that cut through the noise and generate a steady pipeline
Run sales cycles that feel natural, close deals, and generate crucial market insights all at once
Build and maintain a consistent sales practice by tackling any mental blockers and ruthlessly prioritizing
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
Texas StartHer GrantFor: women founders$$$: $5KDeadline: August 26Hey Helen MicrograntFor: women founders$$$: $5KDeadline: August 29Carolinas Beyond Open Small Business GrantFor: small businesses$$$: $10K-$150KDeadline: August 30Founders No BS, No Strings Attached Women's GrantFor: women founders$$$: $5KDeadline: August 31Chasm GrantFor: women founders$$$: $50KDeadline: August 31Blueprint Breakthrough GrantFor: any founder$$$: $5KDeadline: September 1Poker Power x IFW Power Play Small Business GrantFor: women founders$$$: $100KDeadline: September 26DoorDash Local Business Disaster GrantFor: any founder$$$: $15KDeadline: September 29She's Connected by AT&TFor: small businesses$$$: $50KDeadline: September 30Operation SecretSOS Small Business GrantFor: small businesses$$$: $2.5KDeadline: September 30Galaxy GrantFor: small businesses$$$: $2KDeadline: September 30NAACP Powershift Entrepreneur GrantFor: Black founders$$$: $25KDeadline: November 1Power 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 $$$: $1KDeadline:
rolling deadline
Idea Cafe Small Business GrantFor: women founders$$$: $1KDeadline:
rolling deadline
⚡️ Accelerators, Programs & Competitions
Communitas Ventures AcceleratorFor: NYC founders$$$: $25KDeadline: August 25AWS Impact BootcampFor: underrepresented founders$$$: $50KDeadline: August 25
SVB and StartupOS Hispanic Heritage Month Pitch EventFor: pre-seed and seed founders$$$: $6K-$10Deadline: August 27BGV Pitch Philly CompetitionFor: Philly-based Black, women founders$$$: $30KDeadline: August 28
Carbon 2 Value Initiative AcceleratorFor: carbontech startupsDeadline: August 29Mass Tech Adoption ChallengeFor: Detroit-based founders$$$: $25KDeadline: August 31Halogen Ventures "Meet the Drapers" Alabama Pitch CompetitionFor: Alabama-based founders$$$: $1MDeadline: August 31Camelback Ventures 2026 FellowshipFor: early-stage founders addressing inequities or serving under-resourced communities$$$: $40KDeadline: September 10Catalyst by BeemokFor: Charleston-based founders$$$: up to $1M investmentsDeadline: September 30Mentors + Angels AcceleratorFor: early-stage overlooked foundersDeadline: October 15
🎪 Events
"My Product's Not Ready" and 5 Other Myths About Early-Stage SalesFor: VH founders and communityDate & Time: September 3 at 12pm ET, Virtual
Startup Boston WeekFor: Boston founders and communityDate & Time: September 8-12, Boston
💼 Featured Jobs
VHNYC Company Uncaged Innovations is hiring a Chief of Staff!
VHBOS Company Giving Credit is hiring a Partnership Associate!
Huckleberry Labs is hiring a Principal Growth Product Manager!
Xometry is hiring a Social Media Associate!
Collide Capital is hiring for multiple roles!
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: Your Side Hustle IS a Real Business
Watching: Love is Blind UK Season 2, Netflix
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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