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Greetings 👋 

Hi, how was your weekend? 

“It’s so metaphorical,” as that line from Parasite goes—and honestly, that’s exactly how this part of April feels. Things finally seem a little lighter, and maybe the morning coffee is actually starting to kick in for once.

So, just keep doing your thing. Progress is usually pretty quiet and honestly a little chaotic, but as long as you’re caffeinated and moving, you’re doing fine.

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THIS WEEK: JEWELRY 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.

Global girl group KATSEYE has released their new single “Pinky Up” just before their debut at Coachella. The song is fast, loud, and easy to get into, with strong beats and a simple message about being confident and doing things your own way.

The music video, directed by Bardia Zeinali, shows the group in everyday places that feel a bit different and more playful. With more festival stages coming up and a sold-out tour already under their belt, the group continues to gain traction on a global scale.

Read the full article here.

Actors Simu Liu and Justin H. Min will take part in Stories from the City of Immigrants on April 20 at Symphony Space in New York. The live show will feature real immigrant stories told through monologues and readings that reflect different journeys to the city.

The program includes stories from as early as the early 1900s to more recent arrivals, brought to life by a group of performers. The event will also be recorded for Selected Shorts, making the stories available to a wider audience across the country.

Read the full article here.

Legendary Hong Kong choreographer Yuen Woo-ping will receive the Golden Mulberry Lifetime Achievement Award at the Far East Film Festival in Udine, Italy. The honor highlights a career that helped shape modern action cinema, with his latest film Blades of the Guardians set to close the festival.

Over more than five decades, Yuen has defined the look and movement of martial arts films through work on Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, The Matrix, and Kill Bill. His influence spans generations and includes launching the career of Jackie Chan, securing his place as one of the most important figures in action filmmaking.

Read the full article here.

Eight-year-old Lucas Ye turned a simple drawing into something far bigger than he imagined. After entering a global NASA contest, his design was chosen from thousands and brought to life as a plush mascot named Rise.

Rise is not just a cute companion; it plays a real role during the mission. Once the spacecraft reaches orbit, the plush will float to signal that the crew has entered zero gravity.

By sending his creation into space, Lucas becomes part of a long tradition of mission mascots. His story shows how a small idea, even from a child, can become part of something historic.

Read the full article here.

🚀 Eric Liu, Founder and CEO of TwinMatrix Technologies, was a featured visionary at the Entrepreneur Asia Summit in Singapore. He was recognized for his leadership in digital twin technology and spatial computing, securing his firm's position as a key player in the region's burgeoning enterprise solutions market.

🚀 Aaron Tan, Co-Founder and CEO of Carro, headlined the Entrepreneur Asia Summit as a premier industry speaker and award recipient. He was honored for his role in transforming the automotive e-commerce landscape in Southeast Asia, specifically for driving Carro's expansion into AI-driven vehicle valuation and cross-border logistics.

🚀 Jacqueline Novogratz, Founder and CEO of Acumen, was named a 2026 Lotus Leadership Awardee by The Asia Foundation. She was celebrated for her pioneering work in patient capital and for expanding economic pathways and entrepreneurial opportunities for women across the Asia-Pacific region.

🚀 Nicole Lim Xui Jhi, CEO of Empire Sushi, was honored by the EY organization on March 30, 2026, for her role in driving the rapid expansion of the Malaysian quick-service restaurant chain. She is recognized for her strategic vision in scaling the business across multiple markets and contributing to the region's vibrant consumer products landscape.

Moving to paperless payroll can save you a lot of time and clutter, but it’s important to make sure you’re following the rules in your state to keep things running smoothly.

What You Need to Know

• Easy Access:  Most states require that employees can easily view and print their pay stubs for free.

• The Right to Choose: You often need an employee’s consent to go digital, and they usually have the right to opt back into paper at any time.

• State Rules: In places like California, Colorado, and Washington, you must provide physical copies if requested.

• Handling Opt-Outs: If an employee chooses paper, you must have a physical statement ready for them on payday.

Why It’s Worth It

1. Anytime Access: You and your team can check payroll info securely 24/7 from anywhere.

2. Fast Reporting: No more digging through files; you can pull up the data you need in seconds.

3. Better Security: Digital platforms are much safer than sensitive info sitting in a filing cabinet.

4. Flexible Options: There are even paperless ways to pay employees who don't have traditional bank accounts.

Rules vary depending on where your employees are located. To make sure you're covered, check your local laws or reach out to an ADP specialist to see which paperless options work best for your business.

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.

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The ones that are get cited by the AI tools their buyers, investors, and future hires already use. And they convert at 3×.

Download the free AEO Playbook for Startups from HubSpot and get the exact steps to start showing up. Five minutes to read.

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