Visible News
August 8, 2025
Happy Friday, Visionaries! Big news from the Visible Hands team this week!🎉 Introducing the Inaugural Blueprint: Tulsa CohortWe’re proud to officially welcome our very first Blueprint: Tulsa cohort of founders! In partnership with Build in Tulsa, this powerful group of entrepreneurs from across the South is building bold, tech-enabled solutions—and we’re honored to support them on their journey to scale.📍 Boston: This Is Your MomentICYMI - Applications for VHBOS 2025 are now open!This fellowship program supports overlooked founders in the Greater Boston area with:
$5K in non-dilutive funding
Hands-on programming & support
Access to a national community of mentors and investors
If you or someone you know is building something special in Boston, now’s the time to apply.👉 Apply to VHBOS TodayLet’s keep the momentum going on your startup—your next big move might just start here. Be well,The Visible Hands Team
Portfolio Founders
Sharon Obuobi of Alt/Finance was recently featured in Fintech Sandbox's blog!
VHBOS Founders
Ashley Sherwin of Giving Credit announced a partnership with Sunny Day Fund!
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 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
Quickbooks Small Business Hero GrantsFor: any founder$$$: $20KDeadline: August 14California SBDC Small Business GrantFor: small businesses in California$$$: up to $10KDeadline: August 15BankHER GrantFor: women founders in Texas$$$: $5KDeadline: August 15Her Agenda Breakthrough GrantFor: women founders$$$: $5KDeadline: August 17Amika Rooted in Growth Grant ProgramFor: haircare founders$$$: $50KDeadline: August 22Texas StartHer GrantFor: women founders$$$: $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$$$: $5KDeadline: August 31Blueprint Breakthrough GrantFor: any founder$$$: $5KDeadline: September 1She's Connected by AT&TFor: small businesses$$$: $50KDeadline: September 30Operation SecretSOS Small Business GrantFor: small businesses$$$: $2.5KDeadline: September 30Power 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
Small Business Hero ProgramFor: small businesses$$$: $20KDeadline: August 14
Alibaba CoCreate PitchFor: any founder$$$: $1M prize poolDeadline: August 15
Distilled Intelligence Pitch CompetitionFor: any founder$$$: $1MDeadline: August 15PayPal Small Business Impact AwardsFor: small businesses$$$: $25KDeadline: August 15Streets International Global AwardsFor: early-stage social enterprises in hospitality or tourism$$$: $5-50KDeadline: August 15Zendesk Tech for Good Impact AwardsFor: any founder$$$: $10KDeadline: August 15VHBOS 2025 FellowshipFor: Boston-based pre-seed overlooked founders$$$: $5KDeadline: August 22SkyDeck Berkely Acceleration MethodFor: any founder$$$: $200K investmentDeadline: August 22Carbon 2 Value Initiative AcceleratorFor: carbontech startupsDeadline: August 29
🎪 Events
How to Win Early Sales (Even in a Downturn)For: VH founders and communityDate & Time: August 12 at 12pm ET, VirtualVisionaries Backyard BBQFor: VH founders and communityDate & Time: August 17 at 2pm ET, Maiden, MA"My Product's Not Ready" and 5 Other Myths About Early-Stage SalesFor: VH founders and communityDate & Time: September 3 at 12pm ET, Virtual
💼 Featured Jobs
VH Portfolio Company Dollaride is hiring a Fleet Director!
VHNYC Company Uncaged Innovations is hiring a Chief of Staff!
VHBOS Company Giving Credit is hiring a Partnership Associate!
VHBOS Company Groops is hiring a Creative & Marketing Associate!
ClearEdge is hiring an SEO Strategist!
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
Watching: Devil's Plan 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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