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Hi, how was your weekend?

Last week marked the start of AAPI Heritage Month with many great achievements from our community. From the omnipresent empire of Canva to a peace-inspired coffee shop near the border in South Korea, this newsletter highlights the stories that made us smile, reflect, and feel proud.

PS: Missed our last edition? Catch up here!

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

LAST WEEK, ASIAN LEADERS DID 🎉

🚀 Canva, co-founded by Melanie Perkins, recently became the world’s top female-led startup and surpassed $3 billion in annual revenue.

🚀 Aditya Agarwal, alongside founder Ruchi Sanghvi of South Park Commons, announced the launch of South Park Commons Fund III, a $275M fund to support exceptional founders from day one.

💸 Joy Liu, CEO and founder of Plenful, announced the company has raised a $50 million Series B to continue automating administrative workflows and supporting healthcare teams.

💸 Wesley Chan and Pegah Ebrahimi, Managing Partners and Co-Founders of FPV Ventures, announced closing $525M for Fund II, bringing assets under management to nearly $1B, focusing on resilient, mission-driven founders.

🌟 Neil Ruiz, Head of New Research Initiatives at Pew Research Center, was named an A100 honoree by Gold House for his work amplifying the voices of Asian Americans and other underrepresented groups through data and public opinion research.

🌟 The Gold House A100 list celebrates the 100 most impactful Asian Pacific leaders in culture and society over the past year, recognizing individuals for their influence and unique contributions.

📄 Yup Kim, Chief Investment Officer of Texas Municipal Retirement System, was featured in the Venture Capital Journal.

🎙️ David Ko, CEO of Calm, launched a podcast called Recharge with David Ko to explore how people restore mental energy, building on themes from his bestselling book Recharge.

Persona: The $2B Startup Fighting Back Against AI Bots 🤖

Persona, a $2-billion startup, is on its way to supporting big corporations such as OpenAI, LinkedIn, and Reddit with user identity authentication amidst the rising threat of AI bots. When the conventional methods of getting those bots busted are becoming outdated, Persona is using the magic of biometrics, behavioral data, and custom flows to ensure users are human—in real flesh and soul.

Founded in 2018 by Rick Song and Charles Yeh, the company now supports 3,000 clients and recently raised $200 million. Its success lies in tailoring ID checks to specific risks—like food delivery versus loan applications—while maintaining user privacy. While AI frauds may be rising, Persona is here for authenticity!

Sipping Coffee at the Edge of Two Koreas 💌

At Daonsoop Cafe in Paju, South Korea, there’s a one-of-a-kind experience that can be found nowhere else: sipping a cup of coffee while looking out at the borderline, only 2 km away from North Korea. The coffee shop was built by Lee Oh-sook and her husband, children of refugees from North Korea. 

Due to its unique location near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the coffee shop must arm itself with a bunker and tank fortifications. Inside is a gallery of reunification-themed art walls that portray separated families and unfulfilled dreams. “Our parents always hoped to return to their homeland,” says Lee, “but they died before realizing that dream. We built this place to remember them.” For those reasons, the coffee shop is beyond an ordinary coffee shop—it’s also a place for reflection and silent hopes.

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List Your Event for Free With Asian Heritage Week 2025! 🇦🇺🔊

To mark Asian Heritage Week’s second year, we are excited to announce our return to Australia across two cities: Melbourne and Sydney.

Asian Heritage Week (AHW) is an annual celebration that amplifies your events through our network, embracing and honoring the cultural heritage of Asian communities.

To unfold the beauty and creativity of the Asian community, we would love for event hosts to join us on this journey through two beautiful cities:

• Melbourne | May 19 - May 25

• Sydney | May 26 - Jun 1

Be part of Asian Heritage Week 2025 in amplifying Asian culture and recognizing our community’s contributions to Australia. 💫

Looking for Volunteers in Sydney!

We’re calling on our amazing community to help out at the Asian Heritage Week launch event on May 15, 2025, in Sydney!

We’re looking for volunteers to support with:

• Event setup

• Guest check-in at the front desk

• General assistance during the celebration

This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with others, support local Asian-led events and businesses, and be part of something meaningful.

Interested? Email us at [email protected].

Event info: https://lu.ma/jy7mrak0

The OOO Summit 2025

The OOO Summit offers $100 off tickets with code AHN—join on May 16 to hear from speakers like Sahil Bloom, Andrew Yang, and Justin Welsh.

2025 iFlyVC Consumer Summit

The 2025 iFlyVC Consumer Summit is offering 50% off tickets with code AHN2025—an exclusive offer for the AHN community to join the main event. Event details and registration here.

2025 iFlyVC Consumer Summit After Hours

For those interested in networking afterward, the iFlyVC After Hours Social runs from 5–7 PM and offers a relaxed space to connect over drinks and light bites. Use code AHNFRIENDS for 10% off admission. Register here.

Gratitude to America: 50 Years of Strength, Culture, and Community

The Vietnamese American Business Association (VABA) is offering AHN members a 30% discount for our signature event, Gratitude to America, taking place on May 31. To redeem, use code AHN30 at checkout. 

Got deals to share with the community?

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COMPANIES DISCOVERED ✅

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!

WORKPLACE ESSENTIALS 🌟

Stressed about office life and looking to make it more fun? Here are our editors’ weekly top picks for workplace amenities to uplift your hustle workspace.

Lucky Charms 🐈

In many Asian cultures, lucky charms are tiny, portable, yet meaningful items believed to bring good luck and peace to the carrier. There are various examples, including the world-famous Maneki-neko (beckoning cat) from Japan, Chinese coins, and marbles. These charms are often kept on desks or shelves in offices as quiet companions of encouragement and cultural pride.

✨ Branding and marketing are like companions; they may always go together hand-in-hand, but they are two different entities with different purposes. Understanding the differences is key to building a business that not only reaches people—but resonates with them.

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