February 13, 2026

View this email in your browser

Visible News

February 13, 2026

Happy Friday (the13th!), Visionaries!This week gave us a few moments worth pausing for — from culture-shifting representation on one of the world’s biggest stages, to reminders that even in uncertain times, we still get to create our own momentum and opportunity.A Super Bowl Moment That Meant MoreLike many of you, we were tuned in this past weekend — and we loved seeing the cultural energy and representation brought to the spotlight with Bad Bunny's halftime show, a record-making, history-shaping moment. Performances like these are more than entertainment; they’re reminders of how powerful visibility can be when global platforms celebrate diverse voices, languages, and stories.Seeing culture celebrated at that scale reinforces why we believe overlooked founders deserve not only access to capital — but recognition, amplification, and space to lead.

Friday the 13th… But Make It Lucky

Today might come with a reputation for bad luck, but we’re flipping that narrative. In times that can feel chaotic or unpredictable, we’re choosing to treat today as a reminder that luck is often something we create through preparation, persistence, and community support.Founders build in uncertainty every day. And if there’s anything this ecosystem has shown us, it’s that resilience, creativity, and collaboration create their own version of good fortune.Feeling extra lucky? Forward this newsletter to a founder-friend, cc'ing our Marketing Director ([email protected]) for a chance to win a giftcard from us!

Team Spotlight: Our Chief of Staff and Investor, Monica Roman

We’re also excited to share that our Chief of Staff, Monica Roman, will be leading an entrepreneurship workshop at the upcoming Winning Women Conference. Monica’s work continues to empower founders and emerging leaders with the tools, strategy, and confidence to step fully into their entrepreneurial journeys. RSVP today so you don't miss it!As we close out the week, we’re feeling grateful for the culture that inspires us, the community that supports us, and the founders who continue to build boldly — no matter the obstacles or climate.Wishing you momentum, creativity, and a little extra good luck today.Be well,The Visible Hands Team

Portfolio Founders

VHNYC Founders

Operational Clarity for Growing Teams

Maybe you're scaling product fast, but operations feel chaotic? Hiring quickly, but roles aren't clear? Processes live in someone's head, not in documentation? Financial visibility means checking your bank account?You're hearing "use AI to scale," but research shows 80-95% of AI projects fail because operational foundations aren't solid.Work Smarter Studio's Operational Clarity VIP Day helps 5-15 person teams or departments build the operational foundation that makes scaling possible—before chaos becomes culture.Before the VIP Day, your team completes comprehensive assessments that map your operational foundation, team dynamics, and system gaps. We arrive with diagnostics in hand—no discovery needed. The 7 hours focus entirely on solutions.You walk away with:

$3.2K. Remote or in-person. Taking 3 clients this quarter. Spots are filling.Learn more and apply here.

Forget About Your Life PlanForget About Your Life Plan is a memoir about building startups, building community, and navigating profound loss. Co-written with the late Pava LaPere, Kevin Carter explores what happens when work, friendship, and grief collide — and how the entrepreneurial ecosystems that Pava touched will never be the same. Pre-orders are now open for the community-supported first edition.

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

Intuit Quickbooks x Mailchimp Small Business Hero GrantFor: small business founders$$$: $20K Deadline: February 14Glo Legacy GrantFor: Black founders$$$: $1K Deadline: February 14Unity for Humanity GrantFor: any founder$$$: up to $100K Deadline: February 20Catalyst 2026For: social impact founders$$$: $200K prize poolDeadline: February 24

Women Founders GrantFor: women founders$$$: $5K Deadline: February 28

Founders Pool Boost GrantFor: small business founders$$$: $1K Deadline: February 28

Ebay Circular Fashion FundFor: fashion founders$$$: $5KDeadline: March 8Meta AI Glasses Impact GrantsFor: wearable AI-tech founders$$$: $25K-$200KDeadline: March 9Outta ExcusesFor: any founder$$$: $3KDeadline: March 31Shophand Small Business Boost GrantFor: small business founders$$$: $5KDeadline: April 1LA2050 Grants Challenge For: LA impact founders$$$: up to $75K Deadline: April 22The Philadelphia Small Business Catalyst FundFor:  small businesses in Philly$$$: $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

Catalyze Fund FellowshipFor: any founderDeadline: February 14Shipt LadderUp ProgramFor: any founder$$$: $5KDeadline: February 20UPS Small Biz ChallengeFor: any founder$$$: $35K prize poolDeadline: February 22Amazon Devices Climate Tech AcceleratorFor: climate tech foundersDeadline: February 24HerGenius Pitch CompetitionFor: women founders in North Texas$$$: $10KDeadline: February 27Massachusetts Applied AI Models Innovation ChallengeFor: AI foundersDeadline: February 27Forum Ventures AcceleratorFor: B2B pre-seed founders$$$: $100K investmentDeadline: February 28Make It In Brooklyn Pitch ContestFor: AG tech founders$$$: $5KDeadline: February 28

Queens Startup Org Tech and Innovation ChallengeFor: NYC-based founders$$$: $5K-$20KDeadline: March 2

Arch Grants Startup CompetitionFor: early-stage founders$$$: $75KDeadline: March 31Neurodiverse Entrepreneurship ProgramFor: neurodivergent founders$$$: $19KDeadline: April 15

 🎪 Featured Events

Boston Startup Ecosystem MixerFor: Boston founders, investors, and ecosystem operatorsWhen: February 17, 5:30-8pm, Boston, MANY AI Engineers' February Tech TalkFor: AI engineersWhen: February 18, 6-8pm, New York, NYStartup Boston's Mentor Matching for Early Stage FoundersFor: early-stage foundersWhen: February 23, 5:30-7pm, Boston, MAStartup Boston's Founder DinnerFor: any founderWhen: February 24, 6-8pm, Boston, MAWomen Who Network: Beyond the Brand EventFor: women founders, creatives and investorsWhen: March 31, 6-8:30pm, New York, NY

 💼 Featured Jobs

🧑🏽‍💻

What we are loving lately

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

Follow us on our social media channels!