Happy Pride

Happy Pride Month! 🏳️‍🌈

Can you believe it’s already June? This year is flying by, and we’re now halfway through 2024! It’s a great time for us to pause and reflect on our progress so far – celebrate wins, learn from setbacks, and set new goals for the months ahead!

UPLIFTING STORIES 📚

Weee! Co-Founder and CEO Larry Liu Reflects on His Underdog Journey

We’re excited about this interview with Larry Liu, co-founder and CEO of Weee!

Weee! is the leading online Asian supermarket in America—think Amazon but for Asian groceries. Larry is an exceptional founder, and his journey of immigrating to America without any connections into founding a company worth $4.1 billion truly exemplifies the American dream. 

UPLIFTING LEGENDS 📺

Meet these two Legends who have pioneered great innovations in their respective industries: Without Jensen Huang, the digital world would be very different today. Meanwhile, Chitra Agrawal has raised the bar on Indian premium sauces, not just in Brooklyn but in most of America.

Want to be highlighted in the AHN Legends series? Apply now!

UPLIFTING VOICES 🎧

Welcome back to Season 3, Episode 208 of the Asian Hustle Network Podcast!

Suneel Garg is a Principal and Founder of Stella Oak Financial and Insurance Services in Los Angeles, CA. With over 16 years of financial planning experience, Suneel excels in wealth accumulation and tax minimization, ranking among Northwestern Mutual's top 100 advisors. He frequently speaks at industry events and trains new advisors, always focusing on the future of his industry and clients' financial success.

More Than Medals: ASEAN Schools Games Promote Friendship and Sportsmanship! 🏸 

Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà officially declared the opening of the 13th ASEAN Schools Games 2024 in Đà Nẵng on June 1, emphasizing sportsmanship, honesty, solidarity, and friendship among the athletes. 

Over 1,300 participants will compete in six sports from June 1-7. Bayu Rahadian, representing the ASEAN Schools Sports Council, praised Vietnam's hospitality and highlighted the event's role in fostering friendships and cultural exchange. 

Minister of Education and Training, Nguyễn Kim Sơn, underscored the games' importance for promoting unity and mutual understanding among ASEAN students. Đà Nẵng’s Chairman, Lê Trung Chinh, committed to providing optimal conditions for the event, encouraging visitors to explore the city’s natural beauty.

Japanese Billionaire Calls off Moon Trip Over SpaceX Rocket Issues 🚀

Yusaku Maezawa, Japanese billionaire and founder of online shopping mall, Zozotown, canceled his planned SpaceX moon trip due to uncertainties in rocket development. Initially set for 2023, the project became unfeasible without a clear timeline, as SpaceX's Starship faced multiple test failures. 

Maezawa, who selected eight companions from a million applicants for the "dearMoon" project, expressed regret and apologized to supporters for the cancellation. He cited the inability to plan his future and the prolonged wait for his crew.

Hijabi Metal Trio “Voice of Baceprot” Rocks the World Stage 🎸

On a pulsating bass line, heavy metal riffage, and empowering statements, Voice of Baceprot, an all-female hijabi Indonesian band, emerged onto the world’s music scene as a powerful new force.

The trio was formed during their secondary school years in a small town named Singajaya, West Java after being introduced to metal by their school counselor who taught them how to play instruments. 

Named after the Sudanese word for “noisy,” the Voice of Baceprot loudly represents the directions that these artists are aiming for. Slathered with heavy metal elements, socially charged lyrics and a mix of their native language, Sudanese and English, the band’s music is a very conscious statement of their identity and feelings.

Despite heavy metal’s thriving popularity in Indonesia, these women still face sexism within their own sphere, let alone outside. Despite the odds, they were honored on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list in Entertainment and Sports this year, and are set to become the first Indonesian musicians to perform at Glastonbury, inspiring many individuals alike to follow their dreams and stand for their own voices.

This week’s newsletter is presented by The Raiden Science Foundation (RSF).

The Raiden Science Foundation's mission is to harness the power of the community to develop cures for rare diseases, starting with UBA5 disorder. RSF was inspired by Raiden Pham, a four-year-old boy battling UBA5 disorder, an ultra-rare, and progressive neurological condition. This disorder manifests through symptoms such as movement impairment, intellectual disability, and epilepsy. In 2021, when Raiden was diagnosed, there was no treatment or research, leaving little hope. However, in 2024, a potential cure for UBA5 disorder is on the horizon, and RSF is engaged in a race against time to bring it to fruition. RSF strives to scale its research and advocacy efforts to offer hope to other families and children affected by rare diseases around the world.

Join the fight against rare diseases—visit their website to donate and support the Raiden Science Foundation's mission to find a cure for UBA5 disorder.

For newsletter sponsorship opportunities, please reach out to [email protected] 

Apply for the 2024 AAPISTRONG Restaurant Fund

Independent restaurants across the country can now apply for a grant made possible by the Grub Hub Community Fund. Grants between $5,000-$25,000 are available with the grand prize winners receiving their awards at National ACE's 2024 Annual Conference in Santa Clara, CA on September 4th.

The application deadline for the 2024 AAPISTRONG Restaurant Fund has been extended to June 22nd! If you or someone you know is in need of funding for their AAPI-owned restaurant, now is the time to apply.

Los Angeles #AsianHeritageWeek: Finding Your True Voice Through Wellness

Join us for an unforgettable evening of self-discovery and care at "Finding Your True Voice Through Wellness." Whether you're an entrepreneur, creative, professional, or anything in between, our goal is to provide you with a toolkit to stay grounded and mentally resilient in your day-to-day life, navigating both highs and lows.

• 🗓️ Saturday, June 22: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM (PDT)

• 📍 Los Angeles, California, US

Sydney and Melbourne #AsianHeritageWeek: Welcome to Asian Heritage Week

We're thrilled to announce that Asian Heritage Week has officially arrived in both Sydney and Melbourne!

With thriving Asian communities comprising about 17.4% of the Australian population in 2021, Sydney and Melbourne are the ideal locations to experience the richness of Asian heritage and diversity.

As we celebrate, we invite you to join us in appreciating the rich cultural diversity and remarkable contributions of the Asian diaspora in Australia. 🎉

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Join Verizon's June Small Business Digital Ready Events!

Enhance your skills with expert-led sessions on content creation, overcoming imposter syndrome, and pitch deck building.

• 📌 Writing Compelling Content: June 11 | 12:00 - 1:30 PM ET

• 📌 5 Ways to Starve Imposter Syndrome as an Entrepreneur: June 24 | 12:30 - 2:30 PM ET

• 📌 Pitch Practice and Deck Building: June 26 | 5:00 - 6:00 PM ET

🎨 This June, as we celebrate Pride Month with its explosion of color, it's a great time to learn about the power of color in branding. Just like the rainbow flag, colors in branding can influence how we perceive a company and the emotions they evoke. Understanding how color psychology works can be a powerful tool for businesses to create a lasting and impactful brand identity.

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