AAPI Founders — navigating business in the midst of AsianHate crime.
Let’s share the take away of the conversation (ClubHouse April 9) with 5 inspiring AAPI founders who are not only dealing with the usual craziness of the startup life but also having to navigate their businesses in the light of Anti Asian crime attacks happening all around us. Let’s share insights in how to cope with the situation and also help us heal, and act to join the movement to Stop AAPI Hate.
A conversation co-hosted by Claire Chang IgniteXL Ventures, Palo Alto, CA
and Chloe Takahashi CosmeHunt San Francisco, CA. With:
David Yi,Good light world and Very Good Light community, NYC,
Angela Chau Gray, YINA, San Francisco,
Sindhya Valloppillil, Skin Dossier, NYC.
(And Odile Roujol Founder of the community co-hosting in LA, Chloe and Claire being Fab chapter leaders Tokyo and Seoul).
First a few words by Chloe and Claire:
“Though many of us Asian Americans have experienced some level of discrimination throughout our lives, but the shocking number of recent attacks, close to 4,000 cases since COVID outbreak in March 2020, and the seriousness of these attacks, especially on those vulnerable elders and women, have all of us feeling frustrated and angry.
There’s so much about Asian culture that calls for endurance, perseverance, and not to be the sore thumb that sticks out. But at times like this, we MUST speak out and say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. First and foremost, we believe that it is important for us to create a safe space where people can feel okay to share their frustrations, fear, sadness and vulnerability. We are coming together as a community to share our own experiences with hope that it empowers us knowing that it is NOT just I who have been subjected to this discrimination. That it was NOT I who needed to be ashamed of but that the shame belongs to the racist. As Min Jin Lee, the author of Pachinko wrote: “I will never be ashamed of being hated for my race. This shame belongs to the racist. It is not my shame.” — Claire
“We need to speak up. I’m eager to continue talking about being an AAPI Founder in America, and support other founders wherever they are. It’s great to connect today with some of them in Europe and Asia who are experiencing the same sadness. We are stronger together.” — Chloe
For AAPI Founders and ALL OF US:
Let’s share what is Asian Culture, and speak up.
“Stay true to who you are!” — Angela.
“ For us, as founders of YINA, it’s Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). We put forward TCM doctors and experts sharing the cumulation of 2,000 years of wisdom on holistic healthy living, we are proud of our roots. Authentic to who we are.”
“By raising our voices, sharing our learnings and knowledge we can build a more inclusive conversation for all.
Support the legislators, law makers, and citizens that are fighting for AAPI & BLM rights. We stand stronger together. Go back to the basics of humanity, just be kind.” — Angela
“As Asian Americans, we are part of the society. We have a rich culture of Asia. Some of the people hating us love tea and rice, and are not even aware of what Asia brought to America.”
— Sindhya
“We belong. We are the backbone of this country. We should be proud of who we are. Speak up. Show up for the Asian American community” — David
Let us protect those in need, especially the elders in the rise of hate crimes:
“If a tree falls in the forest, and there’s nobody around to hear, does it make a sound?” In line with that axiom, we must use our voices to raise awareness and stop AAPI hate. It’s important to not only report these hate crimes but also to talk about them so people understand the magnitude of pain and injustice it causes our community.”
“By calling 911 or reporting an incident to the local police or FBI that you either experienced or witnessed, you can help bring greater awareness and increase the chance a perpetrator will be prosecuted.”
We should be vigilant about watching each other, especially elders when they are alone on the city streets on the subway. We should be prepared to assist, intervene or videotape and/or report an incident. AAJC partnered with the organization Hollaback! to offer bystander intervention trainings so people can learn how to stop anti-Asian and xenophobic harassment when they see it.
— Sindhya
Let’s stand together. Raise our voice and demand change.
“Let’s make a difference between Diversity and Inclusion. We need to be vocal. As a Very Good Light community we tackle underserved needs, we amplify voices. We empower people, make them more confident, to become advocates. Everyone has a voice!
“Leadership, and team? Ask them how they feel. We stand alongside with them.”
“We are vulnerable in our internal meetings. Check with your employees. We are human. We need to understand our feelings, define what we can do today as a company and team: write a story , invite a speaker , donate to a non-profit. We have stand up meetings in the morning and in the afternoon. We communicate with the team: « How are you doing in this moment, how can I support you ». — David
“As during #BlackLivesMatter and #MeToo movements, many companies and VCs engaged in a lot of performative activism and not much changed. In fact, the amount of funding for female founders actually went down last year from the previous year. It’s time we demand more. In doing so, we need to amplify our voices and outline solutions. With respect to #StopAsianHate, we need to ask people not to be silent bystanders. They must get involved and be part of the solution too.” — Sindhya
“We are stronger politically with the support of our elected officials and other organizations like BLM. With more support, people will understand that AAPI people belong here and don’t deserve these hate crimes.” — Sindhya
“Everyday I wake up as an Asian female founder, asking myself what I can do today, being consistent with my business.”
“A majority of our employees and customers are young Asian Americans and they are suffering and feeling depressed. I learned that they are willing to solve this situation. CosmeHunt is curating Japanese beauty brands to embrace diversity in beauty, and helping to raise awareness.” — Chloe
“We need to understand why we are hiring people or why we are not” — Sindhya
What is our CALL TO ACTION?
“Social media. LIKE. SHARE content that helps raise awareness and show your support, be the voice. “ — Angela
We had some media curating Asian American founded companies such as Brit and Co, or just raising awareness like Beauty Matter, Kelly Kovack sharing the Vogue Business Article.
“We write about StopAsianHate. We are vocal about it. HATE TOWARDS ASIANS needs to stop.” — David.
“First, reach out to empower those around you who may feel isolated or frightened by what’s happening. Let them know you are there to listen and to support them. Second, share relevant articles, books, organizations on social media and more. Education is a big part of this solution. Thirdly, donate if you can to support these organizations such as STOPAAPIHATE.” — Claire
Donations, Articles, and other Resources:
This is the GO-TO organization to REPORT, LEARN, ACT, and DONATE: STOPAAPIHATE
For Legislative Reform Movement: RISE NOW
Recent Related Articles:
I am Asian American Beauty Entrepreneur And I Am Afraid To Leave My Apartment Right Now
https://news.yahoo.com/hundreds-asian-american-business-leaders-193609644.html
Short Bios:
Claire Chang. Founding Partner of igniteXL Ventures, a Silicon Valley based global seed fund focused on backing game changing female/diverse founding teams at the intersection point of technology, beauty, and wellness. Claire loves connecting people, building bridges especially with Korea and Asia. Also the FAB Chapter leader of Seoul (with Hana Lee founder of Melixir).
Chloe Takahashi is the founder of Cosme Hunt, J-beauty curated platform based in SF. Cosme Hunt carefully hand-picks the highest quality and sustainable J-beauty products. Cosme Hunt builds a community to celebrate diversity and embrace beauty in your own way. Also the Fab chapter leader Japan.
David Yi is the co-founder of Good Light World, a gender inclusive beauty brand and founder and editor of Very Good Light, a men’s and masc-identifying beauty publication. He’s also the author of the upcoming book, PRETTY BOYS. His beauty brand, Good Light Beauty, launches in March 2021. In 2020 he was named Glossy’s 50 alongside entrepreneurs like Selena Gomez and Venus Williams. In 2019, Marie Claire named him “25 People Changing the Beauty Conversation.” He’s been written about in the NYT, LAT, Forbes, Allure, among others as the thought leader in men’s beauty, identity, and Asian American advocacy. A founder of AIM, Advocates for Inclusion in Media, he is a GLAAD and Webby nominee.
Angela Chau Gray is Co-founder of YINA, a beauty and wellness company powered by Traditional Chinese Medicine. She heads the product development and business operations. She is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist with a passion for health education. She was awarded the PAAWBAC Monarch Leadership Award for her vision and work with YINA. She holds a Masters in Traditional Chinese Medicine from ACTCM and a BA in Integrative Biology from University of California, Berkeley.
Sindhya Valloppillil is the Founder of Skin Dossier, an AI and deep learning powered hyper-personalization platform for skincare utilizing multiple diagnostics. She is also a contributor to TechCrunch, Crunchbase and BeautyMatter, a Venture Partner at NextGen Venture Partners, and a Mentor to TechStars and the Ember Company.
Odile Roujol, Founder of Fab community. 7000+ founders- in 15 chapters -have met in the last 3 years now in webinars and clubhouse conversations, supporting each other, learning together.
Odile is also the Founder of Fab Ventures, seed stage, D2C brands, conscious fashion and beauty. She lives in LA.
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