VISIBLE NEWS
March 15, 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!"TGIF" always hits different the week after moving our clocks forward. ⏰Despite this week being the ultimate test to finding that balance between hustle and self-care while adjusting to the new schedule, we hope you found it to also be a week of productivity and new successes. For us, we've been solidifying the details for our upcoming VHNYC II orientation (ICYMI: some of our team got to meet up with the new cohort members during the NYCEDC kickoff last week!) Remember, taking care of yourself isn't just important—it's essential for success. So go ahead, hit that snooze button this weekend, and give yourself the gift of some much-needed rest and relaxation. You've earned it!Wishing you all a restful and rejuvenating weekend!Be well,
The VH Team
VISIONARY UPDATES
Founder Updates, Asks, and Wins:
Congratulations to VHLX Fellow Carmen Roman of Dollarito on recently being invited by IBM to participate in its panel at SXSW!
Congratulations to Visionaries I Founder Isoken Igbinedion of Parfait on recently joining Unshackled Ventures as a Venture Partner!
Congratulations to VHNYC II Founder Holly Oh Diamond of Work Onward on being selected for the ADAPT: Social Innovation for Resilient Future Accelerator!
Congratulations to VHNYC II Founder Stephanie Downs and her co-founder Dr. Xiaokun Wang of Uncaged Innovations on their recent feature by Johns Hopkins Medicine!
Congratulations to Visionaries II Founder Brandon Mitchell of WriteSea on his recent feature by Oklahoma 2 News!
Congratulations to BK-XL Fellow Jen Chiang of Opal Wearables on her recent feature on the Allowist Podcast!
Congratulations to BK-XL Fellow Sergio Villasenor of Drooler on hosting an upcoming pop-up shop, this Saturday, March 16th, in NYC!
Congratulations to VHLX Fellow Carmen Perez of Much on being a panelist for the Women In Tech panel for General Assembly on March 20th!
WHAT WE HAVE OUR EYES ON
➕ Founder funding, community resources, and events
Applications are open for the W.E. Build Accelerator by Build in Tulsa, which empowers innovative companies led by diverse women to create and launch scalable ventures in Tulsa. Learn more and apply here by March 16th.
Applications are open for the Pink With Purpose Project, which will award 10 people up to $25K to fund their ideas that help strengthen the community or promote positive mental health. Learn more and apply here by March 17th.
Applications are open for the Rachel’s Network Catalyst Award, which celebrates mid-career women of color and entrepreneurs who are building a healthier, safer, and more just world. Learn more and apply here by March 17th.
LearnLaunch Fund + Accelerator has opened applications for their 2024 accelerator program, a 12-week, hybrid program that helps companies grow with an investment of $150K+, one-on-one mentorship, and great network connections. Learn more and apply here by March 18th.
Black Women Talk Tech and Workday are hosting InnovateHer, an empowering event to help women gain insights into career opportunities, connect with industry leaders, and explore what it's like to be part of the community. Learn more and register here to attend on March 19th.
Cohort VI applications are open for ACT House Accelerator. ACT House’s 6-month accelerator program aims to bolster Black and Latino entrepreneurs and create innovative ecosystems. Learn more and apply here by March 20th.
Applications are open for SOMOS Ventures' Spring 2024 Fellowship program, which is designed to help equip Latino/a candidates with the tools and community that they need to break into the venture capital industry. Learn more and apply here by March 20th.
The Latinas in Tech Startup Competition is aimed at discovering, supporting, and amplifying tech startups with at least one Latina co-founder. Learn more and apply here by March 22nd.
Apply to NETI's Climate Tech Bootcamp Cohort 2.0, a pre-accelerator program for climate tech and new energy entrepreneurs from around the world that have an interest in building in or expanding to South Louisiana. Learn more and apply here by March 22nd.
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 open for the AnitaB.org Advancing Inclusion Scholarship, which provides access to career & academic workshops, networking opportunities, & role models. Learn more and apply by March 25th.
Applications are open for MasterCard's Start Path In Solidarity program, which provides early-stage startups with resources to help grow their business and close the racial wealth and opportunity gap. Learn more and apply here by March 25th.
ORS Hair Care & ORS Cares is looking to grant 10 female founders with funding to help support their business. Learn more and apply here by March 29th.
Applications are open for the Crypto Startup Accelerator (CSX), a 10-week accelerator run by a16z crypto, designed for web3 startups. Learn more and apply here by March 29th.
Applications are open for Samsung Mobile Advance 2024, for those developing unique mobile experiences, cutting-edge tech, or advanced solos to augment healthy lifestyles. Learn more and apply by March 29th.
Applications are currently open for Galaxy of Stars' Galaxy Grant for Women and BIPOC founders. Learn more and apply here by March 31st.
Forum Ventures, in partnership with Canva Developer Fund, is hosting a virtual pitch showcase focused on Women+ founders for the chance to win $100K investment and acceptance into our best-in-class Accelerator Program. Learn more and apply here by April 10th.
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.
The Urban Future Lab’s Urban Future Prize Competition is back with support from MUFG Bank, The New York Community Trust, and the NYU Tandon School of Engineering. Climatetech startups can apply for a chance to win $50k and admittance into the ACRE Incubator. Learn more and apply here by May 1st.
Applications for the 2024 Black Ambition Prize Competition are now open! The Black Ambition Prize competition provides a platform for Black and Hispanic founders across the nation to access growth capital, coaching, and a curated community of innovators/mentors. Learn more and apply here by May 3rd.
🌎 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.
Join our friends at TechCrunch in Boston on April 25th at TechCrunch Early Stage! Learn the nuts-and-bolts essentials every budding early-stage founder needs to build a strong foundation. Whether you have an idea or a product, you’ll get actionable advice in hands-on workshops with expert founders, VCs and subject-matter experts. Topics range from product-market fit and brand-building to finding investors, product-led growth and more. And, thanks to our friends at TechCrunch, we’re offering you a 25% discount. Buy your pass today, and come see us at TC Early Stage!
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
VHNYC II Team Work Onward is hiring team members.
Visionaries I Team Kimoyo Insights is hiring for a Writer/Social Media Manager.
Visionaries II Team Plot is currently hiring for a Social Media Intern.
Hustle Hunters is currently hiring for a Program Associate.
Glasswing VC is hiring an Associate.
Notion is hiring a Social Media Lead.
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:
Sharing: This Startup-Investor Match Tool
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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