Welcome to our comprehensive guide on Resources and Support for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Entrepreneurs! Entrepreneurship comes with its unique set of challenges and opportunities. That’s why we decided to celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month by providing a wealth of knowledge, tools, and support specifically tailored to empower and uplift AANHPI entrepreneurs. Throughout this month, we’ve been sharing valuable resources on our social media platforms (Facebook and Instagram). Today we are excited to bring these resources together in one comprehensive post.
Resources
We have curated a collection of resources and support for AANHPI entrepreneurs that encompasses funding opportunities, mentorship programs, networking platforms, educational materials, and more. Whether you are starting a new venture or looking to grow an existing business, these resources are here to help you succeed.
- The National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (National ACE) and their AAPISTRONG program. The primary goal of AAPISTRONG is to convene their network of affiliate Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) business organizations, entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, and stakeholders to advance equity, justice, and opportunity for AAPI communities everywhere.
- The Asian American Chamber of Commerce. The mission of the Asian American Chamber of Commerce (AACC) is to encourage, facilitate and support the economic growth and sustainability of the greater Washington area community by building bridges and serving as a resource for the AAPI business community. AACC achieves this mission through business networking programs, summits, expos, business development workshops, seminars, and other special programs and events.
- Hawai’i FoundHer. FoundHer is an accelerator program that is tailored to the needs of Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and/or Asian women and mothers starting businesses in five core markets of Hawai’ian economy: tech, fashion, health and wellness, food system / restaurants, and keiki / education. They believe in the importance of supporting women entrepreneurs and advocate for equal access to funding opportunities. This is because the fact that investing in women’s education and funding women-owned businesses is beneficial for the economy and society as a whole.
- The Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC) has a resource center that serves as a hub for AANHPI resources and information.
- Pan-Pacific American Leaders and Mentors. The PPALM Mentorship Program connects mentees with experienced professionals who have achieved personal, professional, and career success. Mentors provide advice, encouragement, feedback, performance management, and career guidance towards achieving a mentee’s full potential.
- Asian Women Giving Circle. This group is based in New York City. It is made up entirely of Asian American Women who promote the positive impact of arts and culture on society. By pooling their resources, they support projects led by Asian-American women artists and community organizations. They are committed to investing in emerging and innovative changemakers, and take risks to achieve this goal. Ultimately, they see funding as a means of driving social change.
- US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce (USPAACC). Their mission is to be the gateway to corporate and government contracts. They also connect with Asian American suppliers and provide information about Asian Americans and the Asia and India Subcontinent markets. USPAACC is the most established and largest non-profit organization that represents Pan Asian Americans and their related groups in the fields of business, sciences, the arts, sports, education, and public and community services.
- National ACE’s Small Business Resource Center. Their mission is to help Asian American and Pacific Islander small business owners grow in capacity. They provide virtual training to help AAPI entrepreneurs market their business, use Google tools for their business, gain access to capital, apply for grants, understand government funding opportunities, and network with business owners.
- Asian American Business Development Center. AABDC encourages Asian Americans in business to be more actively involved in issues and policies that directly affect them at the federal, state, and city levels. John Wang established AABDC in New York City in 1994 to promote greater recognition of the contribution made by Asian American businesses and Asian American individuals to the general economy.
- The USPTO Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program offers opportunities for AANHPI independent inventors, entrepreneurs, and small business owners to learn about useful resources and how to use their creative works to reach their full potential.
- Asian Professional Exchange (APEX). The purpose of APEX is to bring increased awareness about and to Asian Americans through community service, fellowship, charitable fundraisers, cultural events, professional networking and educational seminars. Ultimately, APEX hopes to create a unified sense of community among all Asian Americans, here in the United States and abroad.
Making Connections and Fostering Community
As an AANHPI entrepreneur, you are part of a vibrant community with unique strengths and perspectives. We believe in the power of providing resources and support to help you thrive in your entrepreneurial endeavors. Remember, entrepreneurship is not a solitary journey. So, connect with fellow AANHPI entrepreneurs, collaborate, and leverage the support available to you. We hope this guide inspires you to explore the abundant resources and support for AANHPI entrepreneurs.
