Geek Chic 🕶

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Did you know that only 20-25% of Asian-owned businesses secure bank loans or venture capital, according to a Federal Reserve survey? That’s why 60-70% of these entrepreneurs turn to family, friends, and their communities for support.

This wild statistic shows just how powerful a community can be in turning dreams into reality. Ready to dive deeper? This week’s newsletter is packed with inspiring stories from our community and fresh insights from trailblazing entrepreneurs. Don’t miss out—your next big idea might be waiting inside!

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

UPLIFTING STORIES 📕

SK Gupta, Co-founder of GrayMatter Robotics: On AI and Human-Centered Automation

SK Gupta is the co-founder and Chief Scientist at GrayMatter Robotics, a company focused on robotic automation solutions for high-mix manufacturing applications. GrayMatter Robotics' smart robotics cells are installed in many factories in the U.S. serving aerospace & defense, specialty vehicles, marine & boats, metal fabrication, sports equipment, and furniture & sanitary ware sectors. These cells are helping companies to increase human productivity, reduce ergonomically challenging work, compress cycle times, expand capacity, and improve sustainability.

COMPANIES DISCOVERED ✅

Zen Coast
Zen Coast University (ZCU) and Asian Hustle Network (AHN) have partnered to empower Asian entrepreneurs, creatives, and professionals. The collaboration aims to provide actionable insights, mentorship, and growth opportunities. 

To join, complete the form on our website.

Hook Logistics
Hook Logistics is a team of operations experts providing simple, steadfast, and fair fulfillment services for entrepreneurs.

Paired
Paired helps businesses find the top overseas talent for as low as $5/hour. Our intensive search and outreach processes help us find amazing rockstars in places like Indonesia, LATAM, and South Africa within two to three weeks!

Starcycle
Starcycle is the "TurboTax for windup" — we help companies shut down faster by streamlining compiling, fact-finding, and other pre-filing admin for founders.

Limited Edition Collectibles
We created a first-of-a-kind LED-wrapped vending machine that sells highly desirable collectible mystery box products to customers of all ages and demographics. 

To order our mystery box machines, fill out this form!

UPLIFTING PODCAST 🎧

Creators Podcast | Ami Desai | AHN x Meta Prosper

Greetings to an all-new episode of AHN x Meta Prosper: Creators Podcast! This week, we had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sit down with Ami Desai, a trailblazing beauty and lifestyle influencer, host, and entrepreneur who has mastered the art of staying authentic in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

From the early days at CNN and Inside Edition to working with Oprah Winfrey, Ami’s journey is about resilience, representation, and redefining success.

WEEKLY FAVORITES ❤

In this series, AHN will share our top picks from last week—whether it’s music, a movie, or a random item. We hope it brings you fun and maybe even some new experiences!

我多喜欢你，你会知道 - 主题曲 (I Like You Very Much, You Will Know - Wang Jun Qi) 💌

This is one of the cutest songs ever—there, we said it. With just a simple guitar as the main instrument throughout, accompanied by Wang Junqi’s tangyuan-sweet vocals, the song is a cute, shy-bold way to send to your crush next White Valentine’s Day instead of uttering the awkward words, “我喜欢你.” This takes us back to a time when we would buy chocolates for our crush but were too shy to send them—so off you go to our bellies. Good old days!

Friend Zone (2019) 💝

The 2012 apocalypse and asteroid impact theories are getting old. This fear has been plaguing humans for centuries, leaving everyone severely wounded and battered—friendzoneD (heavy on the passive “d”).

This movie—well, you can already guess from the name—is about a beautiful childhood ✨friendship✨ where the man will do anything for the female character. When she’s happy, he’ll be there. When she’s scared, he’ll be there. He’ll even take flights to a foreign country just to hear her cry about her ex.

Yet, it’s like durian—not everyone gets why you love it, but you just don’t care. You keep falling for it.

Geek Chic, but Make It Wonyoung ✨

It’s Jang Wonyoung’s world and we’re just living it! If Wonyoungism has become pretty much a mindset on K-pop TikTok in 2024, this year, Wonyoung keeps 2025 on the run, giving a fresh spin to the geek chic style. 

Geek chic, a mix of polished prep and nerdy charms, took over the K-pop world last year. But of course, it’s Wonyoung, who brings her Wonyoungism to this trend. With rimless glasses still a must-have item, her playful mix of athletic jumpsuit dress breathes new air into this style. Well, geek chic is here to stay.

Rosé’s Departure From Her Korean Copyright Agency Could Pave the Way for Greater Freedom for K-Pop Artists 🌹

The recent decision by BLACKPINK's Rosé to leave the Korean Music Copyright Association (KOMCA) has stirred conversations in the local music industry. She is only the second K-pop artist in 22 years to take this step, and as a result, the copyrights for her songs will now be handled by a U.S.-based distributor. 

Under new management, Rosé has turned her attention to the global stage with her international hit "APT.," featuring Bruno Mars. Speculations suggest her decision to leave KOMCA may have been to avoid dual fees and simplify her path to a worldwide career. Additionally, the U.S. music industry operates on a decentralized model, giving artists more precise control over their rights and fostering greater independence and flexibility. This shift could mark a strategic move for Rose as she expands her influence internationally.

As K-pop’s influence expands, legal and copyright management becomes increasingly complex. Many artists with revenue from international markets question whether organizations like KOMCA can keep pace with the evolving needs. Nevertheless, Korea’s music industry is still expanding and has room to evolve. As stated by KOMCA, the organization has collected 37.7 billion won ($26.3 million) worth of overseas royalties in 2024, a 38.1 percent increase from 27.3 billion won in 2023.

Pop culture critic Jung Min-jae believes that Rosé’s decision could be a catalyst for other Korean artists to consider, specifically those with great international exposure. Jung states, "Only Rosé knows the exact reasons behind the decision to leave KOMCA ... However, from an artist's perspective, factors such as settlement methods and fee structures inevitably come into play. Considering these factors, Rosé's withdrawal has undoubtedly set a precedent for K-pop artists pursuing international careers."

Read the full article here.

WHAT’S YOUR TAKE ❔

When it comes to community growth, should the focus be on quality (deeper connections with fewer people) or quantity (expanding to include as many people as possible)?

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📣 Calling All Local Event Hosts for Asian Heritage Week 2025!

Asian Heritage Week (AHW) is back, and we are more than excited that we are now open for event hosts to register their events!

Asian Heritage Week is an annual celebration where we enable AHN members to host events in cities across the U.S., Australia, and Canada to honor the history, culture, and achievements of the Asian community. Each city will be highlighted during a specific week from April–June.

For more information, please visit our website here.

Be part of Asian Heritage Week and showcase the cultural richness of our communities. Let’s celebrate, uplift, and amplify ANHPI voices together!

AHN Group’s Guide to Elevating an Impactful Brand Archetype

In today’s competitive market, as a brand, saying no to stereotypes is a yes, but saying no to archetypes is… a no. Whether your brand is an explorer who inspires new experiences and adventures or a wand of sage providing guidance and inspiration, knowing how to create an on-brand archetype is essential to building a strong market position.

At AHN Group, we create custom logos and brand style guides that align your identity with customer aspirations, ensuring a cohesive and impactful presence.

If you want to explore our services more, visit the AHN Group website at ahngroup.co.

Learn how to make AI work for you

AI won’t take your job, but a person using AI might. That’s why 1,000,000+ professionals read The Rundown AI – the free newsletter that keeps you updated on the latest AI news and teaches you how to use it in just 5 minutes a day.

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Fill out this form if you have any deals or perks you would like to share with the community!

📱 A brand archetype or persona may sound straightforward…no we’re just kidding, the definition itself is already quite complex (we assure you it took a minute for us to research the definition). So why tangle yourself in the hassle? We prepared for you a cheat sheet to help you find the perfect persona for your business!

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