Visible Hands Founder Fellowships (VHNYC / VHBOS)
Generalist & Demographic · Run by Visible Hands · Boston, MA
Every field is checked against a primary source where we can. How we verify.
The facts
All fields verified Oct 1, 2026- Terms model
- MixedA blend of the models above. Read the terms notes for the specifics.
- Investment
- $10,000 non-dilutive grant (VHNYC; 2026 funding granted by NYCEDC); $5,000 non-dilutive grant at the end of the program (VHBOS); potential future investment from Visible Hands
- Equity taken
- Not publishedFollow-on investment terms are not published. The 2026 VHNYC fellowship, Visible Hands' fourth VHNYC cohort, ran 14 weeks from March through June 2026 per the program page and cohort announcement, with $10,000 per founder granted by NYCEDC; the Visible Hands homepage still describes VHNYC as a 10-week fellowship. VHBOS, the Boston fellowship, is 13 weeks of hybrid programming with a $5,000 non-dilutive grant at the end of the program; its 2026 cohort runs September through November 2026 and was announced September 15, 2026. program_length_weeks and cohort_size describe VHNYC.
- Program length
- 14 weeks
- Format
- Hybrid
- Location
- Boston, MA
- Cohorts per year
- Not published
- Cohort size
- 15
- Stage focus
- pre-seed
- Sub-vertical
- pre-seed tech and tech-enabled businesses
- Demographic focus
- underrepresented founders (racial and gender diversity focus)
- Backers
- Not published
- Notable alumni
- Not published
Terms notes: Follow-on investment terms are not published. The 2026 VHNYC fellowship, Visible Hands' fourth VHNYC cohort, ran 14 weeks from March through June 2026 per the program page and cohort announcement, with $10,000 per founder granted by NYCEDC; the Visible Hands homepage still describes VHNYC as a 10-week fellowship. VHBOS, the Boston fellowship, is 13 weeks of hybrid programming with a $5,000 non-dilutive grant at the end of the program; its 2026 cohort runs September through November 2026 and was announced September 15, 2026. program_length_weeks and cohort_size describe VHNYC.
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Terms in plain English
The VHNYC Founder Fellowship provides $10,000 in non-dilutive funding, granted to each founder in the 2026 cohort by NYCEDC through its partnership with Visible Hands, along with company-building support and the potential for future investment from Visible Hands after the program. Terms for any follow-on investment are not published. The 2026 fellowship was a 14-week hybrid program for a cohort of 15 New York City founders, and applications are currently marked closed. Visible Hands also runs VHBOS, a 13-week hybrid Boston fellowship that gives each participating company a $5,000 non-dilutive grant at the end of the program; its 2026 cohort runs September through November 2026.
Who this is actually for
Early-stage, underrepresented founders building tech or tech-enabled startups, with fellowships serving New York City founders (VHNYC) and Greater Boston founders (VHBOS). VHNYC requires at least one co-founder living in one of New York City's five boroughs and a commitment of about 2 hours per week.
Visible Hands Founder Fellowships (VHNYC / VHBOS) application deadlines
VHNYC 2027, expected based on annual spring cohorts in 2024, 2025, and 2026; not yet announced: Timing expected, exact dates not yet confirmed.
Verified Oct 1, 2026
Frequently asked questions
- When is the next Visible Hands Founder Fellowships (VHNYC / VHBOS) application deadline?
- A specific application window for Visible Hands Founder Fellowships (VHNYC / VHBOS) is not yet published. Timing is expected but not confirmed.
- How much does Visible Hands Founder Fellowships (VHNYC / VHBOS) invest?
- Visible Hands Founder Fellowships (VHNYC / VHBOS) lists an investment of $10,000 non-dilutive grant (VHNYC; 2026 funding granted by NYCEDC); $5,000 non-dilutive grant at the end of the program (VHBOS); potential future investment from Visible Hands.
- How much equity does Visible Hands Founder Fellowships (VHNYC / VHBOS) take?
- Visible Hands Founder Fellowships (VHNYC / VHBOS) does not publish the equity it takes, so we record it as not published.
- Where is Visible Hands Founder Fellowships (VHNYC / VHBOS) located and is it in person?
- Visible Hands Founder Fellowships (VHNYC / VHBOS) is based in Boston, MA and runs a hybrid program.
- Is Visible Hands Founder Fellowships (VHNYC / VHBOS) still active?
- As of our last check on Oct 1, 2026, Visible Hands Founder Fellowships (VHNYC / VHBOS) is active.
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Sources
Everything above was checked against these, verified Oct 1, 2026.