VISIBLE NEWS
February 9, 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 Black History Month, Visionaries!February marks a month dedicated to honoring and celebrating the rich heritage, resilience, and contributions of the Black community, and at VH, this is something we emphasize the importance of honoring year-round.
Black founders and visionaries have had a profound impact on the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The resilience, creativity, and unwavering determination of Black founders have paved the way for progress, innovation, and social change across industries, and we want to take the time to celebrate all of the amazing Black founders in our community. Thank you for the work that you do, and for allowing us to be on this journey with you!We will continue to bring light to the funding disparities Black and brown founders face, as well as share ways in which Black founders can be further supported. Throughout this month, we'll also be highlighting different founders in our portfolio who are not only continuing to grow their startups to new heights but who are doing so while helping to further the Black community (read about this week's featured founders from Visionaries I Team kinkofa here!)
Together, let's create a future where every voice is heard, every dream is nurtured, and every opportunity is accessible to all.
Be well,The VH Team
VH UPDATES
What we've been up to:
We recently announced our partnership with The Engine!
Curious how the Wright Brothers could teach us a thing or two about working as a founder or investor? Read VH Co-Founder and General Partner Daniel Acheampong's insights here. Also, congratulations to Daniel for being featured by Startup Boston as one of the Black Leaders making waves in New England's startup scene!
If you didn't know this already, tech is also for the girlies. 🎀
Congratulations to VH Co-Founder and General Partner Yasmin Cruz Ferrine for being chosen as one of eight recipients of LaFamilia Foundation's Alzar program for emerging Latino Fund Managers. Read more about the program and the importance for uplifting more Latino fund managers here.
VISIONARY UPDATES
Founder Updates, Asks, and Wins:
Congratulations to VHLX Fellow Christy Fernandez-Cull of DaVinci Wearables on her recent features in Yahoo Finance, USAToday and at the JPMorgan Healthcare Conference!
Congratulations to VHLX Fellow Carmen Perez of Much on her recent feature on the Today Show!
Congratulations to Visionaries I Founder Isoken Igbinedion of Parfait on recently having Parfait be worn by Christina Aguilera at the 2024 Grammys!
Congratulations to VHLX Fellow Michelle Addison of Allergood on recently being chosen as one of Poets & Quants Most Disruptive MBA Startups for 2023!
Congratulations to Visionaries II Founder Sarah Spear of Empowered Together on recently launching in New Haven!
Congratulations to Visionaries I Founder Rebecca Kersch of TANGGApp on her recent feature in GoodNewsPilipinas!
Congratulations to VHBOS Founder Sid Desai of Novobeing on recently receiving investment from Impact Assets!
Congratulations to Visionaries II Founder Shannon Morales of Tribaja on recently being featured by HipLATINA!
Congratulations to Visionaries I Founder Dr. Steven Moyo of Welfie on his recent feature in the San Diego Business Journal about being an Anthem Award Recipient from the recent Webby Awards!
WHAT WE HAVE OUR EYES ON
➕ Founder funding, community resources, and events
Applications are open for the 2024 cohort of Larta Institute’s Venture Fellows program, a 9-month, 2-track program with coaching, resource support, and funding opportunities. Learn more and apply here by February 15th.
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.
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 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.
Ganas Ventures is also 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:
Watching: SuperBowl LVIII this Sunday
Reading: The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho
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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