Visible News
May 8, 2026
Happy Friday, Visionaries!As we head further into May, we want to take a moment to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month and recognize the countless Asian American and Pacific Islander founders, operators, creatives, and community leaders who continue shaping the future of tech, entrepreneurship, and innovation!At Visible Hands, we know ecosystems become stronger when more stories, perspectives, and lived experiences are represented at the table. This month is an opportunity not only to celebrate the achievements and cultural impact of AAPI communities, but also to continue supporting founders who are building boldly across industries and creating pathways for others to do the same.We’re grateful for the many AAPI founders and partners in our own community who inspire us every day through their leadership, resilience, and creativity. Also: ICYMI - Boston Tech Week Is Almost Here!
Quick reminder: our Boston Tech Week events are coming up soon, and we’d love to see you there!We’re bringing together founders, funders, operators, and ecosystem builders for conversations and connections that go beyond surface-level networking; the kind of rooms where real relationships and opportunities can happen.Whether you’re actively building, investing, exploring ideas, or simply looking to connect with others in the ecosystem, come join us.👉 RSVP for our upcoming events below:Boston Tech Week Wakeup Run on May 26Our Gender HealthTech Panel on May 27The Experiment Women Founders Retreat on May 29
As always, thank you for being part of this community and for helping us continue building a more connected, inclusive, and ambitious future for founders everywhere.See you in Boston! 👋Be well,The Visible Hands Team
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
If your revenue isn't growing the way you want, the Quarterly Revenue Intensive from Caroline Fay at the Extra Group might be worth your time.Caroline's helped startups 70x their ARR, increase ARR from $250K to $1.3M in six months, and reach $50K MRR from zero in six months. The intensive is a six-session live bootcamp for founders who want to clear the blockers standing between them and their next revenue milestone. It covers proven strategies on outbounding, demos, pricing, and more, and runs May 18 to June 5, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3 PM ET.Learn more and register here.
VHNYC Founders
SEEN Founders
Nadya Okamoto of August was recently highlighted by Create & Cultivate!
Alphonzo Terrell of Spill was recently featured by AdExchanger!
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
Intuit Small Business Hero GrantFor: small businessfounders$$$: $20KDeadline: May 15Nearshore Manufacturing GrantFor: small business founders$$$: $1KDeadline: May 15Awesome Foundation GrantFor: small business founders$$$: $1KDeadline: May 31Jobber GrantFor: service-based founders$$$: $100KDeadline: June 11Entreprenista Evolve GrantFor: women founders$$$: $5KDeadline: June 16She Seals The Deal GrantFor: women founders$$$: $5KDeadline: June 30Stanley Changing the Game GrantFor: food and beverage founders$$$: $20KDeadline: July 31Springwell360 Health Equity GrantFor: health founders$$$: $1KDeadline: August 31
The 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
Smile Health AcceleratorFor: oral-health focused founders$$$: $2.5KDeadline: May 13Nucleate 2026 Grand Challenge: Aging Reimagined - New Health FrontiersFor: early-stage biotech founders$$$: $100KDeadline: May 15Grow-NY Food & Agriculture Business CompetitionFor: food and agriculture founders$$$: up to $1MDeadline: May 15ClimateLaunchpad - Global GreenFor: climatetech foundersDeadline: May 15a16z Speedrun AcceleratorFor: early-stage founders$$$: up to $1MDeadline: May 17
Village Capital & Next50 - Future of Aging Accelerator Program For: early-stage, impact-driven founders$$$: $10KDeadline: May 18
MIT Solve 10 Year Anniversary Global ChallengeFor: social impact founders$$$: $100KDeadline: May 21TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200For: early-stage founders$$$: $100KDeadline: May 27Women Founders Network Fast Pitch CompetitionFor: women founders$$$: $25KDeadline: May 31The Cartier Women's Initiative ProgramFor: women founders$$$: $30K-$100KDeadline: June 16
Google for Startups Black Founders FundFor: Black founders$$$: $150KDeadline: June 30
🎪 Featured Events
Females in Funding SummitFor: women foundersWhen: May 21, 2-7pm, Detroit, MIBoston Tech Week Wake Up RunFor: anyoneWhen: May 26, 7:30am, Boston, MASkip the Pitch, Try the ProjectFor: anyoneWhen: May 26, 5:30pm, Boston, MAGender Healthtech: The Next Investment FrontierFor: anyoneWhen: May 27, 4-6pm, Boston, MAThe ExperimentFor: anyoneWhen: May 29, 10am-6pm, Boston, MA
💼 Featured Jobs
VHNYC Team Holly is hiring for multiple positions!
Kinstead is hiring for multiple positions!
Blee is hiring for multiple positions!
Our friends over at Liberty Mutual are hiring for multiple innovation-related positions - learn more about the available roles and apply here!
🧑🏽💻
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