BETTER TOGETHER 🤝

Greetings 👋 

Hi, how was your weekend? 

This past weekend has been heavy, and it’s been a lot to process for many of us. It feels more important than ever to show up for the immigrant communities who do so much to keep our economy strong, create jobs, and bring so much life to our neighborhoods.

We’re holding some extra space for solidarity this week and making sure we really look out for one another. Let’s keep uplifting the voices around us and remember that we always go much further when we move together.

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

For this 2026 Lunar New Year, we’ve partnered with Notable Capital to honor and celebrate the rich traditions of the AAPI community in New York City.

📅 Event Details

• When: Feb 10, 2026 | 4:00 pm ET

• Where: Notable Capital, NYC

🎉 Event Highlights

• Enjoy a curated menu from a local Asian restaurant.

• Listen to a live performance by Wei-Yang Andy Lin, a Taiwanese-born violist and erhuist (Chinese violin) of the New Asia Chamber Music Society. 

📝 Attendance Note

Please note that due to limited space, this is an invite-only event. After requesting a spot, you will receive a confirmation email only if we are able to accommodate your request.

THIS WEEK: MODERN APPAREL BRANDS

Are you an AAPI founder ready to elevate your brand alongside trailblazers like these? Join the AHN Directory today to increase visibility, connect with partners and customers, and get featured in AHN spotlights and community events.

Liquid I.V. announced its first-ever Super Bowl commercial featuring Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter EJAE, with a 15-second teaser released on social media. The clip shows EJAE singing Phil Collins’ “Against All Odds” at a bathroom vanity, highlighting quiet, personal moments as a time to recharge.

The full commercial will debut during the Super Bowl on February 8, with an extended teaser arriving on February 2. The campaign underscores Liquid I.V. 's hydration science and aligns with EJAE’s demanding schedule, following her recent award wins for KPop Demon Hunters and as she prepares to release new music.

Read the full article here.

The deal to secure TikTok’s long-term future in the United States has officially closed, forming a new majority American-owned joint venture just ahead of the government’s divestment deadline. The move ends years of uncertainty over the app’s status amid national security concerns tied to its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.

The new entity will oversee TikTok’s US data, operations, and content moderation, with Oracle handling data storage and security safeguards. While the platform is expected to look largely the same for its more than 200 million American users, lawmakers continue to raise questions about transparency and the extent of ByteDance’s ongoing influence over the app’s algorithm.

Read the full article here.

A planned performance of Young Dragon: A Bruce Lee Story by Seattle Children’s Theatre has been withdrawn from the Kennedy Center, marking another departure since the venue was renamed under Donald Trump. The theater said the cultural and political landscape had changed significantly, leading to the decision not to transfer the production to Washington, DC.

Shannon Lee, chair of the Bruce Lee Foundation, expressed disappointment but said she supports the move as consistent with her father’s legacy of principled action. The company is now considering extending the show’s run in Seattle, while the Kennedy Center has not publicly responded to the withdrawal.

Read the full article here.

Haruka Nishimatsu challenged the culture of executive excess by cutting his salary to $90,000 when Japan Airlines was buried in debt. By sharing the financial strain with his employees, he made it clear that leadership is about responsibility to people, not personal reward.

That principle showed up in his daily life, as he gave up executive perks and chose to live like the rest of his workforce. Commuting by bus, eating in the staff cafeteria, and working in an open office helped close the gap between leadership and employees, building real trust.

During the 2009 financial crisis, Nishimatsu refused to rely on mass layoffs as a quick solution to the airline’s problems. By prioritizing job security over executive comfort, he earned lasting respect and proved that a company can survive a crisis without losing its moral compass.

Read his full story here.

🚀 Roselle Marisol Belleza Andaya, CEO of MR.D.I.Y. Philippines, took home the Executive of the Year for Retail at the Asian Management Excellence Awards 2026 for her incredible work in making affordable home improvement accessible across the entire Philippine archipelago.

🚀 Yukihiko Onishi, President & CEO of Sumitomo Mitsui Card Company, just kicked off a major push for Japan’s cashless future by partnering with Fiserv to bring the Clover product suite to local small businesses, aiming to modernize how Japan shops.

🚀 Jack Zhang, Co-founder and CEO of Airwallex, successfully expanded his fintech empire into South Korea this week through the acquisition of Paynuri, giving Korean businesses a powerful new way to handle global payments and cross-border trade.

🚀 Neelay Patel officially stepped into his new role as CEO of Aon Malaysia on January 21, where he is now leading the charge to help local companies navigate the complex economic risks and workforce challenges of 2026.

🚀 Dr. Le Nguyen Trung Nguyen, CEO of Victoria School, was recognized as Executive of the Year in Vietnam for her vision in creating "Happy Schools" that blend high-tech learning with student well-being to meet global education standards.

When someone lands on your website, they decide in just a few seconds whether it’s worth their time. Most people leave not because the site is slow or flashy, but because they can’t quickly see why it matters to them.

Try this: look at your homepage for five seconds. Ask yourself if a stranger can immediately tell who it’s for, what problem it solves, and what to do next. If the answer is no, visitors will leave before reading a single word.

The solution is simple. Focus on your visitor’s story first and then show how your solution fits. Asian Hustle Solutions helps AAPI founders turn confusing websites into clear, trustworthy experiences that people actually want to use.

Many entrepreneurs unknowingly leave thousands of dollars on the table by missing out on government incentives designed to support business growth. That’s why AHN is partnering with ADP to help you uncover these hidden savings and reinvest that capital back into your vision.

ADP is a global leader in human capital management, offering simple software and expert support to manage payroll, HR, and taxes without the stress. Here’s why ADP stands out in the industry:

• Tailored Payroll & HR: Simple, intuitive tools that scale with your team at any size.

• Expert Tax Credit Recovery: 300+ specialists who uncover R&D credits you may already qualify for.

• Proven Reliability: 45+ years of experience and over $1B in tax credits claimed annually.

• Guaranteed Compliance Support: Unlimited IRS audit support with a fee refund guarantee.

• Exceptional Retention: A 98% client retention rate built on long-term trust.

Don’t let your hard-earned capital go unclaimed when it could be fueling your next big breakthrough. Fill out our form to connect with an ADP specialist and get a personalized review of your payroll and potential tax credits.

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