TWO DECADES ⏳

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Greetings 👋 

Hi, how was your weekend?

Hopefully, you had a good one. But here’s something you may not be ready to hear: BIGBANG is celebrating 20 years. Yes, 20. We’ll give you a second to process that.

Now that we’re all feeling a little older, here’s what made our radar this week. 👀

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

🤝 Build connections, grow your business, and meet fellow Asian American founders at the ACE NextGen Unity Conference 2026!

Join 200+ founders, entrepreneurs, and community leaders from across the country in Houston for a weekend of learning, networking, and building meaningful relationships. 

Event Details:

🗓️ September 19–20, 2026
📍 Houston City College – West Loop Campus
📌 5601 West Loop South, Houston, TX 77081
🍹 Cocktail Party: September 19, 6:00–9:00 PM at Skylab Social

Why You Should Attend:

💡 Learn from experienced founders and business leaders through panels, workshops, and breakout sessions
🤝 Connect with 200+ founders, entrepreneurs, and community leaders
🛍️ Discover AAPI-founded businesses at the Biz Showroom

AHN Community Exclusive: Get 25% off General Admission with promo code AHN25, valid for up to 5 additional registrations.

THIS WEEK: RETAIL BRANDS

Building a brand or business?

Join the AHN Directory and get discovered by the community.

The CEO Who Made Customer Service Zappos’ Biggest Advantage

When Tony Hsieh became CEO of Zappos, he believed the company shouldn’t just be known for selling shoes. He wanted it to be known for delivering exceptional customer service.

That philosophy shaped the entire business. Zappos empowered its customer service team to spend as much time as needed with customers and focused heavily on building a company culture that supported that experience. The strategy helped Zappos stand out in online retail and build a loyal customer base. In 2009, Amazon agreed to acquire Zappos in a deal valued at roughly $1.2 billion at closing.

The takeaway: Customer service doesn’t have to be just a support function. Done well, it can become one of your brand’s biggest competitive advantages.

Interested in supporting founders building impactful brands?

Join our private investor network and stay connected to future opportunities across the AHN ecosystem.

Lee Chang-dong's 'Possible Love' Wins Venice's Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize

South Korean director Lee Chang-dong’s Possible Love won the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, the festival’s second-highest film honor. The win marks another major moment for Korean cinema and comes 24 years after Lee won Venice’s Best Director prize for Oasis in 2002.

The film is Lee’s first feature since Burning in 2018 and stars Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, Zo In-sung, and Cho Yeo-jeong. It follows two married couples whose lives cross through a documentary project, exploring class, relationships, and the fallout of losing work.

Read the full article here.

Rafael Manuel’s ‘Filipiñana’ Is Headed to the Oscars as the Philippines’ Official Entry

Rafael Manuel’s Filipiñana has been selected as the Philippines’ official entry for Best International Feature Film at the 99th Academy Awards. The film was chosen by the Film Academy of the Philippines from a shortlist of eight Filipino films.

The selection puts Filipiñana in the race for a spot on the Oscars’ 15-film international shortlist, set to be announced on December 15. The final nominees will be revealed on January 21, 2027, ahead of the Academy Awards in March.

Read the full article here.

Studio Ghibli’s Largest Immersive Exhibition Is Making Its World Premiere in Singapore

The Story of Studio Ghibli will make its world premiere at Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay on December 18. Spanning nearly 3,500 sq m, the immersive exhibition will feature 12 life-sized recreated worlds inspired by films like My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Spirited Away. The Singapore edition will be the largest presentation of the exhibition to date.

Fans can wait beside Totoro for the Catbus, explore the mysterious streets of Spirited Away, and encounter the giant Ohmu from Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. One of the biggest highlights will be the world’s first 8m-tall 3D recreation of the iconic bathhouse from Spirited Away. The exhibition will run at the West Lawn of Gardens by the Bay through July 4, 2027.

Read the full article here.

The Marketing Insights Hiding in Your Competitors’ Comment Section

Your competitors’ comment sections can reveal what customers are asking for, struggling with, and expecting from brands in your space.

Look for questions that keep coming up, recurring complaints about products, pricing, or customer experience, and the words people use to describe their needs. These patterns can help you spot gaps and create content and messaging that speaks directly to what customers care about.

The takeaway: Don’t just study what your competitors are saying. Pay attention to what their customers are saying, too.

A $10,000 Grant Opportunity for Eligible Small Businesses

AHN and National ACE are proud to share a valuable opportunity for entrepreneurs looking to invest in the growth of their businesses. 

Through Verizon Small Business Digital Ready, eligible small business owners can apply for a $10,000 grant after completing two Digital Ready learning resources and submitting an application.

The program is designed to help businesses strengthen their digital capabilities while providing access to funding that can support future growth. If your business meets the eligibility requirements, we encourage you to explore this opportunity and apply.

Unlock Payroll Tax Benefits and Savings With ADP’s SMB Solutions

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.

What does a $120k hire actually cost you?

A $120K salary might look straightforward on paper. But once you factor in employer taxes, statutory benefits, payroll, and country-specific employment costs, the number can look pretty different.

And those costs can vary significantly depending on where your employee is based. Before you build your hiring budget, or make an offer, it helps to know the full picture.

Oyster’s Global Hiring Cost Calculator lets you compare employment costs across 120 countries and estimate what a hire could really cost your business.

Run the numbers

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