BER MONTHS 🎄

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Greetings 👋 

Hi, how’s your weekend?

September has entered the chat, which feels slightly aggressive considering January was about five minutes ago.

We’re officially two-thirds of the way through 2026, and there’s still plenty happening before the year starts winding down. This week, we’ve rounded up a few stories, updates, and finds we think are actually worth your time.

Scroll on. We’ll keep it interesting. 👀

If you find this newsletter interesting, refer it to your friends by sharing this link and receive amazing gifts from AHN!

🤝 Come together for meaningful dialogue, community, and recognition at the Common Ground Conference & Bad Ass Asian Awards Dinner!

Join Asian American and Pacific Islander leaders, advocates, professionals, and community members in San Francisco for thoughtful and respectful conversations on some of today’s most important issues. 

Event Details:

🗓️ Saturday, October 3, 2026
⏰ Conference: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
📍 Chinatown/North Beach Community College Annex, San Francisco
🏆 Awards Reception & Dinner: 5:00 PM
📍 Far East Restaurant, 631 Grant Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94108

Why You Should Attend:

💬 Discuss issues shaping the AAPI community
🤝 Connect with diverse voices from across the AAPI community
🏆 Celebrate honorees Helen Zia, Emil De Guzman, Barnali Ghosh & Anirvan Chatterjee, and Andrew Chau

THIS WEEK: AAPI BRANDS TO SHOP ON CULTR

Building a brand or business?

Join the AHN Directory and get discovered by the community.

The Founder Who Turned His Search for Chinese Food Into Weee!

When Larry Liu moved from Shanghai to Sacramento in 2003, the nearest Chinese supermarket was a two hour drive.

He started networking with people in his area through WeChat to source the ingredients he couldn't find nearby.

That experience helped inspire Liu to build Weee! in 2015, an online grocery platform focused on making Asian and other culturally specific foods easier to access. What started as a WeChat group buy grew into a business serving customers across the U.S.

The takeaway: Your background can help you spot a market others overlook. When an entire community shares the same problem, solving it can become a much bigger opportunity.

Interested in supporting founders building impactful brands?

Join our private investor network and stay connected to future opportunities across the AHN ecosystem.

Yi Hani Makes History as HYBE’s First British-Korean K-Pop Idol

Fifteen-year-old Yi Hani has made history as the first British-Korean K-pop idol to debut under HYBE. The London-raised performer is part of TUIDE, a new seven-member multinational girl group under HYBE’s sub-label ABD. Growing up between the UK and South Korea, she developed a love for music and performing from an early age.

TUIDE officially debuted with their first mini-album Tune & Play, led by the title track “Sun Kiss.” The group introduces a sound they call “Soultronic,” blending R&B vocals with upbeat electronic music. Their debut also reflects K-pop’s growing push toward more globally diverse groups.

Read the full article here.

Singapore Crowned the World’s Best-Governed Country for the Fourth Year in a Row

Singapore has ranked #1 in the 2026 Chandler Good Government Index, marking its fourth consecutive year at the top. The index evaluated 133 countries based on government capabilities and outcomes, with Singapore earning an overall score of 0.884.

Singapore placed first in areas including Leadership & Foresight, Strong Institutions, Financial Stewardship, and Helping People Rise. Norway, Denmark, Finland and Sweden followed, putting Singapore ahead of several Nordic countries known for strong governance.

Read the full article here.

Chinese Animated Film Niu Lai Overtakes Obsession as Most Successful Film by Box Office-to-Budget Ratio

Chinese animated film Niu Lai has reportedly overtaken Obsession as the most profitable film ever based on box office earnings relative to its production budget. Made by mother-and-son duo Sun Lifang and Xin Yumeng over five years, the film was reportedly produced for around $200.

The film initially struggled, earning just over $1,000 during its first 10 days before going viral for its rough animation and homemade style. It has since earned millions at the Chinese box office, turning the tiny reported budget into an extraordinary return.

Read the full article here.

The Editing Trick That Turns Curiosity Into Watch Time

One way editors keep viewers engaged is by creating an “open loop,” where a story, question, or reveal is introduced without immediately giving away the answer.

That gap creates curiosity and gives viewers a reason to keep watching. Editors can use it by teasing an outcome, cutting away before a reveal, or answering a question later in the video.

The timing matters, too. If the payoff takes too long, viewers may lose interest, so the strongest moments should come early enough to keep the story moving.

The takeaway: Give viewers something to anticipate, then deliver the payoff before their curiosity fades.

A $10,000 Grant Opportunity for Eligible Small Businesses

AHN and National ACE are proud to share a valuable opportunity for entrepreneurs looking to invest in the growth of their businesses. 

Through Verizon Small Business Digital Ready, eligible small business owners can apply for a $10,000 grant after completing two Digital Ready learning resources and submitting an application.

The program is designed to help businesses strengthen their digital capabilities while providing access to funding that can support future growth. If your business meets the eligibility requirements, we encourage you to explore this opportunity and apply.

Unlock Payroll Tax Benefits and Savings With ADP’s SMB Solutions

Managing payroll, HR, and tax compliance requires time, accuracy, and constant attention to changing regulations. For many small and mid-sized businesses, these responsibilities can take focus away from strategic growth.

Through our partnership with ADP, SMB leaders gain access to reliable, cloud-based payroll and human capital management solutions designed to simplify operations while maximizing cash flow. 

How ADP supports your growth:

• AI-Enhanced Payroll: Reduce errors and late penalties with automated filings and AI-powered error detection that flags discrepancies before you pay.

• Maximum Tax Credit Recovery: ADP’s specialists use your payroll data to uncover valuable incentives—including R&D credits (now with expanded eligibility) and Work Opportunity Tax Credits (WOTC).

• Built-In Compliance: Stay ahead of 2026 regulatory shifts, including new retirement plan mandates and updated wage bases, with automated system updates.

• Scalable HR Infrastructure: From your first hire to your 500th, access integrated tools for recruitment, benefits administration, and 24/7 HR advisory support.

Strategic payroll management is a reinvestment in your business. Fill out our form to connect with an ADP specialist for a personalized review of your current payroll process or review of potential payroll tax savings.

Stop Paying for 10 Tools. One AI Does It All.

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It doesn't wait for you to ask. It runs 24/7 in the background, so you wake up to a full dashboard instead of a list of things you forgot to check.

Connect your store, and StoreClaw gets to work — no prompts, no complex setup, no six-app stack.

Free to start. No credit card required.

Try it for FREE today

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