VISIBLE NEWS:
Special Edition
November 15, 2022
SPECIAL EDITION: Introducing VHNYC
Since launching Visible Hands, we have seen an influx of interest from exceptional, yet historically disenfranchised founders from the New York City entrepreneurial ecosystem.To date, ~30% of our portfolio companies are from this vibrant community. Therefore, we've decided to bet big on supporting pre-seed New York City founders who have been traditionally overlooked and underfunded.Last week, in partnership with the Social Justice Fund, we announced the launch of BK-XL, a new Brooklyn-based, early-stage startup accelerator for BIPOC founders.Today, we are pleased to announce a new Founder Fellowship called VHNYC, in partnership with the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC)! VHNYC is a 14-week hybrid program that targets overlooked founders who are working on scalable tech or tech-enabled solutions reshaping leading industries.We will select 20 NYC-based founders for the initial 2023 cohort, who will each receive $10K in non-dilutive funding upfront and have the potential for future dilutive investments. It will be a hybrid fellowship with both virtual and in-person components across the five NYC boroughs to accommodate the ever-changing schedules of entrepreneurs.We encourage you to apply and share with other founders who are in NYC and are looking to scale their startups!To learn more about this new program and apply, click below. The deadline to apply is 12/16.
What support is being given to teams accepted?
Fellows will get $10,000 in non-dilutive funding and hands-on, business-oriented workshops to 20 founders from the five NYC boroughs whose rich voices and diverse perspectives will elevate the city to higher levels of opportunity and success.When is the deadline to apply? When will this fellowship run?
The application deadline is 12/16. The VHNYC Fellowship will run from March 27, 2023 to June 30, 2023.
Can I apply to this program with a co-founder?Yes! If you would like to go through the program with your co-founder(s), please submit one application and include information about them where prompted.Can I participate in this simultaneously with other Visible Hands programs?If accepted, you cannot participate in any other fellowships or accelerator programs throughout the duration of the VHNYC Founder Fellowship.What are the differences between BK-XL and VHNYC?Our Founder Fellowships, like VHNYC, are designed for founders who are at the earliest stages in the early product (MVP to Beta) and pre-revenue/early-revenue stages. Our Founder Fellowships provide founders with non-dilutive funding ($10K grants), peer mentorship, workshops, and communities with those from similar backgrounds, geographies, or industries. Founders who apply for VHNYC must be residents of one of the NYC boroughs.Our Accelerators, like BK-XL, are designed for founders with some traction and who are fundraising-ready. Our accelerators provide access to dilutive funding (up to $500K for BK-XL), carefully curated communities, expert-led programming, 1:1 coaching, and hands-on company-building support. Founders who apply for BK-XL can apply from anywhere, as long as they have US-based entities and are willing to reside in Brooklyn for the duration of the programming.What program(s) should I apply to BK-XL and/or VHNYC?Please carefully read the eligibility criteria for BK-XL here and VHNYC here.If you believe that you meet the eligibility criteria, we encourage you to apply!
THOUGHTS FROM LEADERSHIP
Yulkendy Valdez, VH Program Manager"
New York City is synonymous with entrepreneurship - a fast-paced and dynamic city where dreams can become a reality at any given point. However, it is a huge and complex ecosystem where local and overlooked entrepreneurs need help navigating resources, capital, and networks. That's where VHNYC comes in, but it doesn't stop there. We are also creating a holistic community where NYC founders feel seen, supported, and surrounded, and their well-being and identities come first."
Nashaira Ofori, VH Vice President & Product Lead
"We're thrilled to partner with NYCEDC to support overlooked founders across the city in growing their businesses. At VH, we see a sizable number of applicants coming from the NY Tech Ecosystem. We know that partnerships like this one that provide funding, resources, and programming can be game-changing and we're excited to help these founders change the face of entrepreneurship."
We believe that investing in women, people of color and other underrepresented groups is key to creating a more prosperous and equitable future for everyone.
