Visible News
February 14, 2025
Happy Friday, Visionaries! Following Super Bowl weekend, our timelines have been filled with Kendrick memes, jeans deets (who knew bell-bottoms would go viral in 2025?), and more, and while we love the fun takes on this stellar performance, we also want to acknowledge the powerful messages in Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show. His artistry and lyrics have long served as anthems of resilience, truth, and empowerment—echoing the lived experiences of Black communities and the relentless pursuit of justice and change.
We recognize that the fight for economic equity and generational wealth is deeply intertwined with this spirit of resilience. The road to building a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem is not without its challenges, but just as Kendrick’s music reminds us, progress is made through persistence, unity, and unwavering belief in the change we seek to create.
As we continue to support overlooked founders, we encourage you to embrace this moment as inspiration—to push boundaries, amplify your voice, and build the future you envision. Change doesn’t happen overnight, but together, we have the power to shape a world where opportunity and success are accessible to all.Be well,The Visible Hands Team
VISIONARY UPDATES
Portfolio Founders
Shannon Morales of Tribaja is currently looking for exhibitors for her upcoming Diversitech event! Learn more and apply here!
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Calling All Founders!
Register for Caroline Fay's upcoming Early Sales Cohort Program, starting February 19th, to help you win your first 50 repeatable sales. This will:
teach you proven sales tactics, in detail, that are designed to work for early-stage startups, from customer definition all the way through closing
provide the long-term accountability needed to build a successful sales practice
help you build a sales-positive mindset so you can make real progress towards revenue daily without wanting to throw your laptop out a window
Learn more here, and if you're interested, sign up for a quick call with Caroline. VH Founders are eligible for a 30% discount!
WHAT WE HAVE OUR EYES ON
💸 Funding Opportunities
Boundless Futures Foundation EmpowHer GrantFor: US-based female founders$$$: $25KDeadline: February 15Main Street Ventures Grant FundingFor: early-stage founders in Ohio, Kentucky, or Indiana$$$: $5K-$10KDeadline: February 16Lenovo Evolve Small AI GrantFor: small businesses$$$: $25KDeadline: February 17TSF Community GrantsFor: community-led LGBTQ+ organizations$$$: $1K-$5KDeadline: February 21Black History Makers GrantFor: Black founders$$$: $5KDeadline: February 28Sengo Sprint February GrantFor: BIPOC founders based in Dallas, LA or NYC$$$: $3KDeadline: February 28Start.Pivot.Grow. GrantFor: any founder$$$: $2.5KDeadline: March 31Her Culture Micro GrantFor: African and Caribbean women $$$: $500Deadline: rolling deadlineWomensNet Amber Grant for WomenFor: women founders$$$: $25KDeadline: rolling deadlineWish Local Empowerment ProgramFor: Black-owned brick-and-mortart businesses$$$: $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$$$: $1KDeadline:
rolling deadline
⚡️ Accelerators, Programs & Competitions
Halycon Climate FellowshipFor: climate tech startups$$$: $10KDeadline: February 16Halycon Future Builders FellowshipFor: climate tech, health tech, and equity tech startups$$$: $5KDeadline: February 16Latitud FellowshipFor: Brazilian/Latino founders$$$: $25KDeadline: February 17UPS Store Small Biz ChallengeFor: any founder$$$: $35K prize poolDeadline: February 19Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan CompetitionFor: EdTech startupsDeadline: February 19LearnLaunch Breakthrough to Scale AcceleratorFor: early-stage companies building products for K-12, higher ed, and workforce upskillingDeadline: February 21Wells Fargo Equitable Access Boot CampFor: any founderDeadline: February 21Bronze Valley Investment AcceleratorFor: female or BIPOC founders$$$: $100K investmentDeadline: February 23CTIA Wireless Foundation Catalyst CompetitionFor: early-stage social founders$$$: up to $100KDeadline: March 4Orlando Magic Venture ChallengeFor: early-stage sports, health and wellness startups$$$: $50K-$100KDeadline: March 5Venture for ClimateTechFor: ClimateTech startups based in New YorkDeadline: March 7FoundersBoost SoCal B2B AcceleratorFor: B2B pre-seed and seed startups based in SoCalDeadline: March 12FoundersBoost LA Pre-Seed AcceleratorFor: pre-seed startups Deadline: March 12Money Moves Summit Pitch CompetitionFor: Black female founders in Texas$$$: $10K prize poolDeadline: March 14Headstream AcceleratorFor: mental-health focused startups$$$: $30KDeadline: March 16Offshore Wind Innovation Hub AcceleratorFor: startups with solutions connected to the offshore wind industryDeadline: March 21MSP Equity AcceleratorFor: Black, Brown and women founders$$$: $100K investmentDeadline: April 25
🎪 Events
Diversitech 2025For: mid-west based overlooked leadersDate & Time: March 20, Philidelphia, PARenaissance Venture Capital Spring UnDemo DayFor: underrepresented job seekers, founders, and/or tech enthusiasts Date & Time: April 9, Virtual
💼 Featured Jobs
VH Portfolio Company Aura Finance is hiring a Senior Front-End Developer!
VH Portfolio Company Tribaja is hiring for multiple roles!
VH Portfolio Company Hearth is hiring a Project Proposal Strategist and a Social Strategist/Community Manager!
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
Reading: The 1619 Project, Nikole Hannah-Jones
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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