Early-stage founders in the Greater Boston area have an opportunity to access funding, mentorship, and community support through the Visible Hands Founder Fellowship (VHBOS), with applications now open until July 10, 2026.
The fellowship is designed to support overlooked entrepreneurs building tech or tech-enabled startups. Selected founders will receive a $5,000 non-dilutive grant while participating in a structured fellowship program running from September through November 2026.
Visible Hands focuses on creating a more equitable startup ecosystem by supporting founders from racial and gender groups that have historically been underrepresented in technology and venture capital. In addition to funding, participants gain access to mentorship, peer support, and resources aimed at helping early-stage companies reach their next stage of growth.
The program is geared toward founders who are still in the early stages of building their businesses, including post-idea, pre-revenue, and early-revenue startups. Applicants should be prepared to commit approximately two hours per week throughout the fellowship.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the Visible Hands Founder Fellowship, applicants must:
Be building a tech or tech-enabled startup.
Have raised less than $500,000 in dilutive funding.
Have at least one co-founder currently living in Greater Boston.
Be able to commit approximately two hours per week to the fellowship.
Identify with a gender and/or racial group that is underrepresented in technology, including but not limited to women, non-binary and transgender individuals, Black, Latinx, Asian and Pacific Islander, and Indigenous American founders.
Be operating an early-stage company that is post-idea, pre-revenue, or generating early revenue.
Additional Requirements
Accepted founders cannot participate in another Visible Hands fellowship during the program.
Previous participants in other Visible Hands Founder Fellowship cohorts are not eligible.
Applicants who advance beyond the initial application will participate in a 30-minute interview.
Key Details
Program Timeline: September 2026 to November 2026
For underrepresented founders building the next generation of startups in Boston, the Visible Hands Founder Fellowship offers both capital and community at a critical stage of company growth.