February 20, 2026

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Visible News

February 20, 2026

Happy Friday, Visionaries!There’s a lot of exciting momentum building across the Visible Hands ecosystem right now — new team members, new partnerships, and new ways we’re amplifying founders. We’re excited to share a few updates with you!Welcome Michelene Wilkerson — Our New Platform Network ManagerWe’re thrilled to introduce Michelene Wilkerson, the newest member of the Visible Hands team, joining us as our Platform Network Manager!Michelene will be focused on strengthening our founder community, deepening ecosystem partnerships, and creating meaningful touchpoints across our programs. Her work will help ensure founders aren’t just supported during their cohort — but connected to a long-term network that grows with them.If you see her at an upcoming event (or in your inbox), be sure to say hello!

We Want Your Founder QuestionsWe’re cooking up a cool new project and want it to be shaped by the real questions founders are asking right now.Are you thinking about fundraising strategy? Early traction? AI integration? Hiring? Founder burnout? Something completely different?Send us the questions you wish someone would answer — or the ones you’re currently wrestling with.👉TEXT OR CALL IN your questions to the hotline: 617-500-8284 or email them here!Justin’s Recent Podcast Feature with Inside the FundIf you haven’t heard it yet, check out VH Co-Founder and General Partner Justin Kang’s recent podcast episode with Inside the Fund, where he breaks down the truth about venture valuations and what founders consistently misunderstand about how capital actually gets deployed. It’s a thoughtful conversation about conviction, access, and what it really takes to build durable companies.🎧 Watch/Listen to the episode here! 

Frontiers: Gen-AI Hackathon — March 7We’re also excited to share that VH Co-Founder and General Partner Daniel Acheampong is partnering with Google DeepMind and the Changemakers Convening to put cutting-edge AI tools directly into the hands of 250+ student builders.On March 7, they're hosting Frontiers: Gen-AI Hackathon — a 12-hour build sprint bringing together engineers, researchers, and operators across campuses.This event is built for students who want to ship fast and test real ideas — not just theorize about them. We’re excited to see what this next generation of builders creates.

From growing our team to expanding knowledge and access, we’re continuing to invest in people, ideas, and platforms that move the ecosystem forward.Thanks for building with us!Read on for this week's latest compilation of founder wins, resources, and funding opportunities in our community.With momentum,The Visible Hands Team

Portfolio Founders

VHNYC Founders

VHBOS 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

Catalyst 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

UPS 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

Morgan Stanley Inclusive & Sustainable Ventures Regional Pitch Competition in PhillyFor: Philly-based early-stage foundersDeadline: March 6Morgan Stanley Inclusive & Sustainable Ventures Regional Pitch Competition in PhoenixFor: AZ-based early-stage foundersDeadline: March 20

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

 🎪 Featured Events

Startup 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

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