VISIBLE NEWS
February 16, 2024
Visible Hands is a VC firm that provides exceptional founders from underrepresented backgrounds with the funds, hands-on support, and community they need to thrive at the earliest stages of company building.
Happy Friday, Visionaries!President's Day weekend has arrived, and we wanted to remind you to take a break! While the entrepreneurial journey can be exhilarating and rewarding, it's also demanding and requires a significant amount of dedication and hard work.
We may be a VC firm, but we're a cool VC firm (or so we like to think!) and want to encourage you to prioritize re-filling your cup before finishing up the rest of Q1 even stronger than you started it.
Take this weekend to step back, unwind, and prioritize your well-being. Whether it's spending time with family and loved ones, enjoying outdoor activities, or simply indulging in some much-needed self-care, taking a break is essential for maintaining not only your health, but also your creativity, productivity, and problem-solving abilities. By allowing ourselves the time to recharge, we're better equipped to tackle challenges, make sound decisions, and bring our best selves to the table.If you need some work-life balance inspo, check out our weekly photodumps (like this one) to showcase what our team has been up to! Our community of founders also serve up some great wellness advice, like this week's Spotlighted founder from VHNYC I, Brittany Brathwaite.Wishing you a restful extended weekend!Be well,
The VH Team
VISIONARY UPDATES
Founder Updates, Asks, and Wins:
Congratulations to VH Portfolio team Spill on being chosen as one of Apple's Apps of the Day this week on the Apple App Store!
Congratulations to VHLV Founder Steve Patino of ALES GREY on recently taking on Adam Rodriguez as a new investor!
Congratulations to Visionaries I Founder Isoken Igbinedion of Parfait on recently having Parfait wigs featured by celebrity stylist Lacy Redway at NYFW!
Congratulations to Visionaries I Founder Irene Li of Prepshift and Mei Mei Dumplings on her recent feature in the Boston Globe!
WHAT WE HAVE OUR EYES ON
➕ Founder funding, community resources, and events
Applications are open for the Goodie Nation x Google Tech Equity Collective Impact Fund, created to provide funding to organizations focused on fostering Black technical talent. Learn more and apply here by February 18th.
Applications are open for $125K investments from Character Labs through their four-week spring program for pre-seed, AI founders. Learn more and apply here by February 18th.
Applications are open for the Founders First CDC Vanguard Accelerator, which provides business grants to Latinx and Black women-owned businesses to accelerate their growth. Learn more and apply here by February 21st.
Have you taken advantage of CDFIs? Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs) provide access to capital and support for underserved communities. Join Grid110 for their Funding Pathways panel to learn all about CDFIs! Learn more and register here to attend on February 21st.
US Black Chambers is partnering with Grow with Google to host the 4th annual virtual Black-Owned Business Summit on February 22nd. Register here to learn tips from Google's Digital Coaches and inspiring entrepreneurs.
Applications are open for The Boss Network's Boss Impact Grant, which provides $10K grants to Black women in business. Learn more and apply here by February 23rd.
Camelback Ventures is accepting applications for its 2024 Camelback Fellowship! If you’re a BIPOC, woman, and/or non-binary founder in the education or tech sectors looking to take your venture to the next level, learn more and apply here by February 26th.
Come join our friends at Forum Ventures as they crown the next winner of Forum's $100K Pitch Competition! Watch the presentations, gain invaluable insight into creating a winning pitch, and meet with investors and fellow founders. Learn more and register here to attend on February 28th.
Applications are open for Transit Tech Lab, an accelerated pathway for early to growth-stage startups to solve public transportation challenges for the largest transit agencies in the US. Learn more and apply here by February 28th.
Applications to join Square One Startup School's 8th Cohort this Spring are officially open! The 10-week virtual pre-accelerator program helps first-time tech founders accelerate their startup journey by prepping them to build their first product, land their first customer, and/or secure their first investment. Learn more and apply here by March 1st.
Applications are open for Venture For ClimateTech, which accelerates innovations likely to have substantial climate impact, & have potential for adoption. Learn more and apply here by March 1st.
The CTIA Wireless Foundation is searching for emerging social entrepreneurs using mobile-first wireless technologies to enhance American communities, and this year, up to six applicants will receive unrestricted grants, with a first-place award of $100K. Learn more and apply here by March 5th.
Innovators developing novel technologies applicable to offshore wind are encouraged to apply by March 25th to the 2024 cohort of the Offshore Wind Innovation Hub Accelerator and be part of New York’s emerging industry. Learn more and apply here.
Applications are currently open for Galaxy of Stars' Galaxy Grant for Women and BIPOC founders. Learn more and apply here by March 31st.
Applications are open for YCombinator's Summer 2024 Accelerator program. Learn more and apply here by April 22nd.
Applications are open for Giving Joy grants, which are one-time micro-grants designed to help women establish or improve their businesses and initiatives. Learn more and apply here by April 30th.
🌎 Ecosystem Spotlights:
Applications are open for the HerRise MicroGrant, which provides financial assistance, with the help of corporate sponsors and donors, to Women of Color who are creating innovative solutions that impact their community and are often unable to secure funding for their small businesses. Learn more and apply here.
Applications are open for Wish Local's Empowerment Program, which awards grants to small Black-owned businesses to help them rebuild. Learn more and apply here.
Applications are open for the CCWC Women of Color Entrepreneur Grant, which awards grants to women entrepreneurs with businesses that have been established since January 1, 2020 and have generated more than $25K in lifetime revenue. Learn more and apply here.
Ganas Ventures is hosting an upcoming event in their Ganas Expert Series for Navigating US & LATAM Legal Landmines - learn more and RSVP here to join on February 27th.
Applications are open for the National Black Business Pitch (NBBP), a competition designed to connect Black-owned businesses to corporations who seek to expand and diversify their supply chain with new products and services. Learn more and apply here by June 3rd.
💼 Featured Jobs
Visionaries II Team Plot is currently hiring for a Social Media Intern. Learn more and apply here!
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: 10x Capital Podcast
Watching: Love is Blind Season 6, Netflix
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
"We celebrate the bold, the curious, and the irrational. We applaud those with big dreams, and who choose the harder, riskier path in relentless pursuit of pushing forward what is possible."
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